Ask HN: Does the film industry use stock options for compensation?

1 pointspoonie2 comments

Maybe not stock options per se, but a payment structure where workers (actors, writers, artists, prop makers, editors, operators, ...) get a (risky) share of the profits of the venture?

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Not knowing much about the industry I have 3 guesses:

1) they do but the options are for fame rather than financial gain. E.g. working for small productions hoping to get noticed.

2) No, because actors usually work with agents, and the agents want real money.

3) No, because everyone knows about "Hollywood accounting". ("Yeah the box office numbers are great, but we broke even, sorry!")

Re: 3, the studios aren't about to give the talent a cut of the real profits, see for example http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2011/10/simpsons-a...

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