Why ‘Obsession’ Actors And Crew Were Allegedly ‘Underpaid,’ Despite Record Success

InnovationGamingWhy ‘Obsession’ Actors And Crew Were Allegedly ‘Underpaid,’ Despite Record SuccessByPaul Tassi,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. News and opinion about video games, television, movies and the internet.Follow AuthorJun 09, 2026, 10:02am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ObsessionFocusThis past week, Obsession stumbled into its first major controversy, with the art director of the film going public about how much she was paid, and why, given the record success of the movie, it didn’t seem like enough.Obsession’s art director, Sally Choi, took to Instagram to reveal that she made $6,761 after taxes on the film, a rate of $300 a day, for a movie that she says will go on to make $250 million. Some analysts are now predicting over $300 million.Choi talks about how many members of the crew were volunteers, and how she wore many hats besides art director, doing work like set dressing, graphic design and even being a background actor. She calls for the industry to change its policies and invites other crew members to share their rates so they can “turn a tide in the film industry.”The reaction on social media has been rather brutal, with many believing that Choi, who could parlay her time on a megahit like Obsession into other jobs, may have burned bridges. But now, there are further, as of yet unconfirmed figures circulating about how star Inde Naverrette only made $20,000 on the hugely grossing film, inflaming the debate further.MORE FOR YOUIt’s a complicated issue, but it’s one more of hindsight from everyone involved. As previously revealed and mentioned by Choi, the entire film's budget was $750,000, and the payment received by everyone was for a month of shooting. At the time, there was no expectation that Obsession would become the unprecedented hit it was, so none of that was reflected in the initial contr...