Art Director Reveals Earnings Under $7,000 on ‘Obsession’ Amid $175M Success
As the horror sensation ‘Obsession’ continues to perform remarkably at the global box office, one crew member is shedding light on the challenges many film workers encounter behind the scenes.
In a recent Instagram post, art director Sally Choi disclosed that she earned less than $7,000 after taxes for her contributions to the independent horror film, which is nearing $175 million worldwide and could potentially reach $250 million according to some estimates.
Choi made her frustrations known after keeping them to herself for nearly two years. She stated that she worked as the film’s art director for a daily rate of $300. While she acknowledged that she accepted this rate before production, she emphasized that it reflects a broader issue within the film industry.
“I’ve debated this for a long time,” Choi expressed. “I’ve been holding a lot of weight over the past two years since the production of ‘Obsession,’ so I’m going to say it as it is.”
She shared that her total earnings from the project amounted to $6,741.36 after taxes, and she was not compensated for mileage. Choi also pointed out that she was living paycheck to paycheck at the time and took the job knowing it was a low-budget independent production.
Despite this, she believes the film’s success has highlighted how many crew members are treated during the filmmaking process.
“This is the reality of most filmmakers, especially those who work below the line,” she noted. “We become a line in the budget sheet to keep as low as possible.”
Choi mentioned that several individuals involved in the production were volunteers who were promised reimbursement for gas and mileage. She claimed that some crew members even had to pay for expenses out of their own pockets while working on the film.
“This wasn’t even paid on time, so to make a $250M grossing film, some of these amazing people had to come out of pocket to work on set,” she stated.
Choi also expressed regret for not voicing her concerns during production. “I kick myself every single day for not flipping this production. I was encouraged not to and I naively listened,” she admitted.
Her comments have sparked a lively debate across social media, with many film workers sharing similar experiences regarding low pay and challenging working conditions on independent projects.
Film director Joseph Kahn weighed in on X, highlighting that many outside the industry do not grasp the instability of film work. “One thing people don’t understand about the film business is it’s feast or famine,” he remarked.
While some users were less sympathetic, arguing that Choi had accepted the pay rate and risked professional relationships by speaking out, many others contended that crew members should receive bonuses when a low-budget project achieves significant financial success. One viral comment suggested that all who contributed to ‘Obsession’ deserved additional compensation given the film’s remarkable performance.
‘Obsession’ was initially produced independently on a budget of just $750,000 before being acquired by Focus Features for $15 million. As the film’s success continues to rise, Choi’s remarks have reignited a broader discussion about pay, profit-sharing, and how those behind the camera are compensated when small films become blockbuster hits.
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