‘The Odyssey’ Star Zendaya Surprised ‘Malcolm & Marie’ Crew with 1% Equity Share
Zendaya made a remarkable choice during the production of her 2021 film ‘Malcolm & Marie’, opting to share financial profits with the entire cast and crew instead of limiting rewards to a select few producers.
The actress elaborated on this decision during a Hollywood Foreign Press Association Zoom panel for the Sundance Film Festival, as reported by Variety and other entertainment outlets.
In ‘Malcolm & Marie’, which Zendaya produced and starred in alongside John David Washington, the film was created during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. It was written, produced, and filmed under strict conditions, with a minimal crew working in a single location.
During the panel, Zendaya expressed that the project felt deeply personal to her. She described the set as a family-like environment, particularly since many crew members had previously collaborated with her on ‘Euphoria’. This connection significantly influenced the production’s structure.
Zendaya shared that the team established a financial system where crew members would receive “points,” a form of profit share in the film industry. Each point represents a percentage of ownership, meaning those holding points would receive a share of the earnings if the movie is sold or generates revenue.
As reported by Variety, ‘Malcolm & Marie’ was sold to Netflix for approximately $30 million. This meant that crew members who received even a small share could have earned substantial payouts following the sale.
Zendaya explained her decision simply during the panel, stating, “We got to create this financial structure where all of our crew members also got points on it, so when it sold, they made money as well, so hopefully that will be a system that can continue.” She added, “I think it’s important that we take care of our people.”
In another interview quoted by Variety, she remarked, “It just felt like the right thing to do. These are the people that are laying all the tracks and were with us through the whole thing — and literally putting their blood, sweat and tears into it.”
The concept of offering crew members profit participation is uncommon in Hollywood, where such arrangements are typically reserved for top actors, directors, and producers. Zendaya’s choice stood out as it extended financial benefits to individuals who usually work behind the scenes, including camera operators, stylists, and production assistants.
‘Malcolm & Marie’ is a black-and-white romantic drama directed by Sam Levinson. It follows a couple whose relationship begins to unravel over the course of a single night after a film premiere. The movie was filmed in secrecy during lockdown and released on Netflix in early 2021.
Critics had mixed reactions to the film, but Zendaya’s performance garnered strong praise, earning her a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for Best Actress. Reviews highlighted the chemistry between Zendaya and Washington, despite some feeling the story was uneven.
Ultimately, beyond the film’s reception, Zendaya’s choice to share profits with her crew became one of the most discussed aspects of the production. It was recognized as a rare instance of a major Hollywood actor leveraging their influence to directly reward those working behind the camera.
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