Film making is a tough business.  It is all about the money.  Wes Anderson's 2001 film "The Royal Tenenbaums" is a good example of this.  It featured a mix of veteran Hollywood actors and rising stars, and they all got the same paycheck.  This is not a common practice in Hollywood.  It was a bold move by Anderson.

Anderson's flat-fee salary approach caused a stir, especially with its star, two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman.  Hackman was not happy about the money.  He was furious.  He did not want to do the film.  Anderson had to talk him into it.  He just did not go away.  Hackman eventually accepted the role and the salary after the rest of the cast, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelica Huston, and Ben Stiller, all agreed to accept the same, undisclosed amount.

Hackman's performance in the film was praised by Anderson.  He said that Hackman "gave us everything he had" for "that small amount of money. "  Hackman's agent once joked that the actor didn't "open his eyes for less than $3 million. "  This shows the difference in pay expectations between actors.  Hackman's role in "The Royal Tenenbaums" was one of his last major roles.  He passed away in February 2023 at age 95.

It was not all smooth sailing on the set.  Anderson and Hackman had friction during production.  Hackman left without saying goodbye after filming ended.  He was grumpy.  This is not uncommon in the film industry.  Tensions can run high.  Actors and directors often have different visions for a project.  This can lead to disagreements and friction.  It is all part of the creative process.

Anderson's flat-payment model was not a one-off.  He used it with his 1998 film "Rushmore. "  It appears to have continued with his 2023 movie "Asteroid City. "  The cast operated with no hierarchy or call sheet that placed the most important actors at the top.  This is a different approach to film making.  It is not about who is the biggest star.  It is about the project and the story.

This parity model is not unique to Anderson.  HBO's Emmy Award-winning series "The White Lotus" has a similar model.  They get paid the same, and they do alphabetical billing.  This means you are getting people who want to do the project for the right reasons.  The 2023 Oscar-nominated film "Sing Sing" paid everyone on set the same daily wage.  This includes the lead star and the production assistants.  This is a fair approach to pay.  It shows that everyone is valued equally.

This is a good lesson for the film industry.  It is not always about the money.  It is about the project and the story.  It is about the people involved.  It is about the creative process.  It is about making something special.  This is what Anderson has done with his films.  He has shown that it is possible to make a great film with a fair pay model.  It is possible to make a film where everyone is valued equally.

Pay Parity: How Wes Anderson's Fair Pay Model Ruffled Feathers

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