Napoleon Dynamite star had contract clause added after solely being paid $1,000
The lead actor from Napoleon Dynamite had a singular clause added to his contract after being paid solely $1,000 for the movie.
This was regardless of the cult traditional movie incomes a large $46,000,000.
Jon Heder starred because the titular character in Napoleon Dynamite, a socially awkward teenager who embarks on a marketing campaign to try to assist his classmate Pedro win college president.
Additionally starring Efren Ramirez and directed by Jared Hess, the film turned a significant traditional regardless of having been made for an incredibly low amount of cash.
The indie traditional was made for simply $400,000. To position this within the context of contemporary films this was 0.5 p.c of what Robert Downey Jr alone was paid for Avengers: Endgame, and 0.27 p.c of the funds of Hess’ latest movie, A Minecraft Film.
Hess’ cult traditional was capable of be made on such a low funds partially as a result of small quantity the actors have been paid, but in addition as a result of it was filmed quickly over a interval of simply three weeks.
Primarily based on a typical robust working week of fifty hour, this might imply he was paid just below $7 an hour for his time, and he was possible working even longer hours on the film than that.
When Napoleon Dynamite turned a shock hit, nonetheless, Heder was left feeling a little bit of a chump for a way little he made in comparison with the field workplace.
In an interview with Stuff NZ on the time, Heder confirmed that he had ‘initially’ solely been paid that a lot earlier than stating they’d gone ‘a little bit bit larger’.
This was as a result of the star was capable of renegotiate his contract to ensure he obtained a share of the earnings when the cash started rolling in.
A part of the movie’s producers with the ability to negotiate this regardless of having such a low funds is the bidding struggle that occurred between distributors.
Sony ended up shopping for the rights for a large $5 million, a lot of which might’ve gone to the producers however which might’ve additionally allowed them to pay the actors extra earlier than the film got here out.
Along with this, Heder, Ramirez, and Hess have all expressed curiosity at numerous factors in returning for a sequel.
Ramirez told ComicBook in 2024 that ‘everybody needs a sequel’, saying: “I can say this, legally, that the door’s not closed but.”
He added: “When you’ve got a very good story, whether or not you make a prequel or a sequel, you’ll be able to actually discover the depths of those characters – the place they’d be, or the place they got here from, or what led them to be the place they’re at.”
Heder mentioned of a attainable sequel: “I’d come again if Jared [Hess] determined, ‘Hey, let’s go forward, and let’s see if we are able to pull off the magic.’
“We’ve thought of it. We’re all the time taking part in with the concept. I do know I’ve talked a little bit bit with Jared, and it’s his child, so I’m similar to, ‘You pull the set off on that.”
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