Seann William Scott recently revealed the shockingly low pay he received for his role in the iconic comedy film American Pie. The actor, known for his portrayal of ladies’ man Steve Stifler, disclosed that he was paid a meager $8,000 (£6,230) for the movie that went on to gross a staggering $235 million (£183 million) at the box office.
During an appearance on a TV chat show hosted by Rick Elsen, Scott admitted that the sum was significant for him at the time. However, he also shared how he spent his paycheck, saying, I remember afterwards I bought a used Thunderbird for like $5,000 (£3,900) or maybe $6,000 (£4,670). I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, baby.’
Curiously, Scott expressed uncertainty about what happened to the rest of his payment, speculating that the total fee may have been even less than $8,000 (£6,230) since he ended up having to work at the LA Zoo as a churro guy.
The revelation from Scott sheds light on the issue of disproportionately low compensation for actors in the industry. Just a few weeks ago, Kimiko Glenn, best known for her role in Orange Is the New Black, claimed to have earned a mere $27.30 (£20) in 2020 from streaming residuals. These residuals are described by actors’ union SAG-AFTRA as additional compensation paid when a production is shown beyond its initial use covered by the initial payment.
Glenn joined Netflix’s popular drama series in its second season and portrayed inmate Brook Soso, who was imprisoned for illegal activism. The stories of Scott, Glenn, and other actors like Matilda’s Mara Wilson and romcom staple John Cusack emphasize the ongoing struggle between organizations such as SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), representing production companies.
One of the major demands from SAG-AFTRA, similar to those of WGA, includes higher wages, increased streaming residuals, and protection against the potential replacement of their work by artificial intelligence (AI). The actors’ union believes that the industry has prioritized Wall Street and greed over the essential contributors who make the machine run, resulting in actors being victimized by a very greedy enterprise, as expressed by SAG president Fran Drescher in an emotional statement against studios.
The issue of inadequate compensation for actors raises questions about fairness and equity within the industry. While successful films and TV shows rake in enormous profits, it seems that some actors are not adequately rewarded for their contributions. As discussions and negotiations continue between organizations like SAG-AFTRA, WGA, and AMPTP, it remains to be seen how these discrepancies will be addressed and resolved.
Note: The article has been rephrased to meet the provided guidelines while maintaining the original ideas and paragraph structure.
