It’s the day after Christmas. My family and I were lucky enough to be able to spend the last two days together (not everyone gets that luxury). We played games, ate too much food, watched a lot of rubbish, and just enjoyed each other’s time. My wife and I even managed to get a fifteen-minute nap on the couch while the kids played with their new toys. We’re truly, sincerely blessed to have had the last couple of days. Today? My wife had to head back to work, a shift from 9:30 to 8:45.
That’s a long ass day! We’re still luckier than most, but that doesn’t mean it’s any easier. The fact is that we need money to, ya know, live, and my wife has the best way to earn it for us currently. She also does well for NYC. We aren’t galavanting on Central Park West, but we’re surviving and there are plenty of people who have it worse. I would never, for instance, claim that the money she brings in at her modest job is “not a ton” because it allows us to live above the poverty line. She’s not a Hollywood director, but still.
Tim Miller, who directed the first Deadpool and has Executive Produced all three Sonic pictures was recently chatting with Collider. There, he mentioned how he thinks being a first-time Director doesn’t bring in the bucks. “You guys might not know, but it’s not really a profitable thing to be a first-time director in Hollywood, and I’ll tell you exactly,” Miller explained. “I got $225,000 to direct Deadpool. I know it sounds like a lot of money, but for two years of work, that’s not a ton of money.” Tim, I know you make a lot of comedic things, but be serious for a moment.
My favorite part of the quote is the quick, “I know it sounds like a lot of money” caveat. It sounds like a lot because it is, Tim! People work terrible jobs with awful schedules and don’t come close to clearing $70,000! Getting North of $110,000 would be life-changing for plenty of people. They’d also jump at the chance to make that much for essentially playing make-believe. Making movies is hard work, but for the love of God, you’re not working the overnight shift at Walgreens on Christmas Eve, Tim.
Is $225,000 a small amount of money in industry terms? Sure! Especially when you consider that he was making a superhero film at a time when they could not have been more popular, for 20th Century FOX. After explaining that he feels “uniquely fortunate” to have made the film, he goes on to say, “Then, then my second thought is, I wish my director deals had a piece of the merchandising so that I could get some money from all of that.” He’s correct! He should be cut in on that money!
I’m not against anyone saying they should get paid for their work or the fruits of their work. I also appreciate that Miller makes it clear that he’s grateful. But, for the love of God, just think before you try to tell people that what you’re six figures a year is “not a ton.” Also, mentioning that your agent said “[Y]ou make more on an episode of The Walking Dead” is not the save you think it is.