אני לא יודעת אם זה יענה על השאלה
שלך, אבל הנה משהו שפורסם באחד הפורומים של שואוטיים -
The Business Behind A TV Show I recently talked with a friend of mine at the Screen Actors Guild and he certainly knows the inside business of movies and TV producion business. I though I'd pass along some info he said, because it is very interesting: See my earlier post to the guy who was equating DVD sales to loyalty of the show and its affect on season renewal. DVD sales do not affect if QAF will come back for a 5th season. DVD sales are totally separate from the programming departments decisions. Two things affect the return of QAF 5th season. 1. If the executives at programming do not like a marginal show -- it goes. 2. The bean counters do a pre-production cost audit on what the 14 shows will cost. That includes salaries, production of sets, permits, etc. If the costs are too high for Showtme's bottom line, a marginal show will go bye bye. When the series started 99% of the actors were unknowns. That means they will be amendable to signing a long contract and taking union minimum scale for pay. Union minimum is $10,000. per episode. Most unknown actors will jump at this just for the chance to work and gain fame. So you see, they signed Gale, Randy and the rest at a song. A bargain. Of course, each season brings a increase in pay per the contract but it's not that high. Gale in the third season was probably only making $25,000. an episode --still a bargain rate for the producers. So you see the actors are not getting rich off the series. It's not like "Friends" where they can demand a millon an episode. The highest paid actress of QAF is Sharon Gless, she has a lot of experience and a "name", so she has a separate contract and can demand more. Randy and Gale had little experience-- a little stage work and bit roles in Indy films. They virtually had no experience so they were signed cheaply. Fans who think the actors are getting rich, don't see the real world behind this. Since each actor is working in Canada they have to pay Canadian AND United State income taxes. At the end of the day, the actors have to have a place to live. So, they sublet an apartment in Toronto for the months they will be in town. The actors have to pay the rent on their sublet. The production company does not pay for it. In addition, they have to pay Screen Actor Guild dues that work on a sliding scale depending on salary. A out-of-work SAG member pays a low, base dues. If you are a SAG member and working, your dues are based on a sliding scale of your pay. Let's also not forget that each actor's agent take 10% off the top BEFORE taxes for their fee. If an actor has a publicist he pays a salary to a publicist. During the summer hiatus, a lot of actors do other things to "stretch their acting skills" etc. That's the reason a publicist gives. The actors take other work because they need to supplement their income. Many things they do like stage work --and if it's " Off-Broadway", it doesn't pay much. Hal sparks was on a home show recently because he now has an apartment in California. He said that his salary has tripled every year on Queer as Folk. I don't know what he started with but the pay at this time can't be too bad.
