The following was sent to my by Joel:
No, Tom Cruise is not making a film called Unemployed, he’s actually facing some serious career choices. To get his act together AND agree to a smaller paycheck or get a job somewhere else. This is the result of all the Cruise-isms over the last years. news.com.au gives us this:
The Hollywood studio that bankrolls his films is not backing any more Cruise movies until he agrees to a significant pay cut.
The 44-year-old actor is eager to get back to work to put behind him disappointments such as Mission: Impossible III, but last week his 13-year deal with the Paramount studio was allowed to lapse. Executives say Cruise faces a “financial adjustment and reality check” before he can continue his illustrious career
…and this:
Hollywood studios are influenced by Q Scores, an annual poll of a celebrity’s likeability. In the last poll, the percentage of Americans who liked Cruise fell from 30 two years ago to 19, while people who disliked him jumped from 14 to 31. The next Q Score, due to be released confidentially to the studios next month, is expected to be even worse.
This is a good thing. I love this. With Hollywood losing money at the rate they are, they should look into the paychecks that goes out actors and directors. Even though the director is the backbone of the film, there are some directors (I won’t mention Spielberg by name) that pulls in obscene amounts.
Now with the success of Pixar and films like Superman Returns the studios are beginning to realize that the name of an A-list actor isn’t necessarily money in the bank. John’s been saying this for years and I think we all agree that it’s about the story and how you tell it.
Just my two cents…
/Joel
Related links:
Cruise joins the jobless
Q Score at Wikipedia
