Most movie actors belong to a union called SAG-AFTRA. They’re like the bouncers of Hollywood. They make sure you don’t get paid in “exposure.” (Spoiler: You can’t pay rent with exposure.)
The minimum for a low-budget movie is around $1,000 a day. For a higher-budget film, you’re looking at about $3,000 a week. Not exactly a private jet, but it’ll cover your ramen.
If you’re a background extra, you get about $200 for 8 hours. That’s $25 an hour to stand in the rain and pretend to check your phone. Romantic, right?
