Actors on strike are posting their tiny residual checks on social media, revealing earnings as low as $.03 per quarter for unlimited streaming on Hulu and Disney.

Actors on strike are posting their tiny residual checks on social media, revealing earnings as low as $.03 per quarter for unlimited streaming on Hulu and Disney.

Actors Demand Fair Pay as Streaming Giants Rake in Billions

While streaming giants like Disney continue to generate billions of dollars in profit, actors are coming forward to reveal that their pay is not reflective of the success of these blockbuster movies and TV series. In fact, some actors claim to receive as little as $0 for their appearances in these highly-streamed productions.

“I’m an actor. I don’t want a yacht, but I’d love to be able to save for retirement,” expressed jana (@janaunplgd) on Twitter.

William Stanford Davis, known for his role in the show “Abbott Elementary,” recently shared a video on TikTok revealing that he received a grand total of 3 cents for his work in May. Holding up his minuscule residual check, he remarked, “I showed this to my brother, and he fell on the floor laughing. It ain’t f—ing funny.”

Even Robert Carradine, who played Hilary Duff’s father on the Disney Channel’s hit show “Lizzie McGuire,” experienced the same issue. He took to Instagram to share a photo of a residual check from Disney for an astonishing amount of $0.00, captioning it “Why we’re striking.”

The Actors Strike for Better Pay

Carradine and other members of SAG-AFTRA, which represents around 160,000 actors and performers, have been on strike for two weeks. They have joined forces with the striking members of the Writers Guild of America who initiated their strike in May.

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Both unions are demanding that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) – a trade association responsible for negotiating on behalf of studios, television networks, and streaming platforms – provide better pay. The actors are fighting for fair compensation for their work.

Understanding Residuals

Residuals are payments made to actors and theatrical workers when a TV show or movie is rerun or aired after its original release. Previously, actors would receive a cut whenever an episode or film they were a part of was re-aired anywhere.

However, with the rise of streaming services, actors have noticed a decrease in their residual checks. Platforms like Disney Plus, for example, make all their content available on-demand, rather than re-airing episodes. As a result, actors are receiving smaller residuals.

For instance, Emma Myles, known for her appearances on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” still earns approximately $600 per year for episodes dating back to 2004. In contrast, her 6-year recurring role in Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black” only earns her $20 per year. This discrepancy highlights why greater residual payments are one of the key demands in the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

The Need for Steady Income

While actors are indeed paid upfront for their roles in movies and series, significant gaps between projects can leave them without a stable income. Residual paychecks offer a steady stream of revenue during these periods.

Kimiko Glenn, a main cast member of “Orange is the New Black,” expressed that even starring in a highly popular show doesn’t always result in substantial upfront payment. “We did not get paid very well – ever,” she revealed in a viral TikTok video. Glenn emphasized that the cast had to take on side jobs to make ends meet, despite their worldwide fame.

“People were bartenders still. They had their second jobs still,” Glenn disclosed. “They were f—ing famous as s—, like internationally famous, couldn’t go outside, but had to keep their second jobs because they couldn’t afford to not. We couldn’t afford cabs to set, you guys.”

The actors’ testimonies shed light on the financial struggles faced by even the most successful performers. The demand for fair pay is not only for the present but also to create a secure future for these artists.

ANBLE reached out to Disney and Netflix for comments on the matter, but no response has been received as of yet.