Uncredited actors

[Stewie]

I'm watching Anchorman: The Legend... and I'm wondering why actors with speaking lines are uncredited. In this case Vince Vaughn and Jack Black. Is there a reason why this happens? Is it a monetary issue?

Maybe Dane would know.

[BigMeatballDave]

I've wondered this as well.

[DaneMcCloud]

In most cases, actors that have less than two speaking roles on film are not members of SAG and therefore, aren't credited.

In the case of "Ron Burgandy", the producers chose not to advertise Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, etc. because they didn't want to "ruin" the surprise. The actors still receive their SAG residuals, so it doesn't affect them monetarily.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

In most cases, actors that have less than two speaking roles on film are not members of SAG and therefore, aren't credited.

In the case of "Ron Burgandy", the producers chose not to advertise Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, etc. because they didn't want to "ruin" the surprise. The actors still receive their SAG residuals, so it doesn't affect them monetarily.

I always assumed that when a well-known star shows up in a bit part like this that he's friends with the filmakers and is basically doing it as a favor (and working at a greatly reduced rate).

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by frazod

I always assumed that when a well-known star shows up in a bit part like this that he's friends with the filmakers and is basically doing it as a favor (and working at a greatly reduced rate).

Well, usually when guys sign on at a reduced rate, they'll make it up with back-end royalties, generally from ticket sales. Otherwise, it would impossible to pay these guys their normal quote because it would cost $60-$70 just for the actors alone.

That can be risky but it could also pay huge dividends. Tom Hanks earned like $38 million from Forrest Gump by eschewing his regular quote and taking back end.

Where the risk comes in is that studio accounting divisions are well-known for making top earning films into losers on the ledger. I think Seth McFarlane even alluded to that during this year's Oscar broadcast. I think I've shared in the past that Disney made the original POTC film a loser, even though it earned in excess of $400 million domestically.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I think I've shared in the past that Disney made the original POTC film a loser, even though it earned in excess of $400 million domestically.

Holy cow.....thats amazing. But surely over time they made their money back right? Overseas market, DVD sales, etc??

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Well, usually when guys sign on at a reduced rate, they'll make it up with back-end royalties, generally from ticket sales. Otherwise, it would impossible to pay these guys their normal quote because it would cost $60-$70 just for the actors alone.

That can be risky but it could also pay huge dividends. Tom Hanks earned like $38 million from Forrest Gump by eschewing his regular quote and taking back end.

Where the risk comes in is that studio accounting divisions are well-known for making top earning films into losers on the ledger. I think Seth McFarlane even alluded to that during this year's Oscar broadcast. I think I've shared in the past that Disney made the original POTC film a loser, even though it earned in excess of $400 million domestically.

I remember hearing that Forrest Gump was also a "loser" as well.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

I remember hearing that Forrest Gump was also a "loser" as well.

I was at Uni at the time and while they certainly had some "creative accounting", Hanks was paid $38+ million.

If it had been a "loser", he would have earned zero.