Aspiring actress Sarah B. asks:
I am an newcomer to Hollywood, having recently moved here from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I have been taking acting classes and submitting headshots for independent films. I recently auditioned for a small independent feature and was offered a part. The role is perfect for me and I feel it will help me advance my acting career. But the offer is for deferred pay. Is this normal? Should I work for deferred pay?
Deferred Pay Means No Pay
There is an aphorism in Hollywood: Deferred pay means no pay.
Many an unfortunate actor has signed onto a project with high hopes of a big payoff. But when the movie scored a big hit, no pay was forthcoming. First of all very few movies are commercially successful. Hardly any of the independent films being made will even make it into the big film festivals, let alone get a distribution deal. And the ones that are sold and make decent box office, will always show zero net profit as a result of accounting tricks–tricks like the producer’s rental business charging his own production ten bucks per day to rent an apple box. No matter how much money the movie grosses it miraculously never shows a profit. That’s Hollywood accounting.
Every year thousands of wannabe producers and directors migrate to Hollywood in search of their own version of the Hollywood dream. Some have degrees from prestigious film schools. Some have prior producing or directing experience. And they all have a script to pitch. But few of them have any money or resources to pay cast and crew. So all offer either no pay or deferred pay. Once you understand that deferred pay and no pay are the same, you can make a more intelligent decision about accepting the part or not.
The fact is that the vast majority of the actors in independent movies get zero pay for their performance. That’s why actors need to have day jobs.
Working for Copy, Credit and Meals
So what can you get out of it? You usually see copy, credit and meals listed as the benefits. Just like an army travels on its stomach, even the lowest budget production needs to feed the cast and crew well, and I am not talking about sending out to Taco Bell. They should provide decent catered meals for all workers on set. Plus drinks and snacks at craft services. Also, you should get a line in the crawling credits at the end of the film. This will also show up on the IMDB.com website. If you are the star you should get in the opening credits along with the other above-the-line people. Finally you get a DVD copy of the final film.
But most of all you get experience in the trenches. Experience preparing for a role, experience on set, experience in front of the camera. In other words, you have to pay for acting classes but real acting experience on film is far better and is free. Plus they feed you!
So evaluate the role. Look at the production values. If it matches where you are in your career, go for it. Who cares about money when we are creating ART!
