Obsession Cast and Crew Allege Underpayment Despite Film's Record Box Office Success

Sally Choi, the art director for the microbudget indie film 'Obsession,' posted on Instagram revealing she earned approximately $6,741 after taxes for roughly a month of work at $300 per day, while the film is projected to earn between $250 million and $300 million at the box office. Choi acknowledged she agreed to the rate in advance but described living paycheck to paycheck and taking on additional duties beyond her contracted role, including set dressing, graphic design, and background acting. She called on other crew members to publicly share their rates in hopes of shifting industry norms. Separately, unconfirmed reports suggest lead actress Inde Navarrette earned only $20,000 on the film, further fueling the controversy. Industry observers note that profit participation for crew is extremely rare in Hollywood and typically reserved for major stars like Tom Cruise, who has negotiated 'first dollar gross' deals on franchises like Mission: Impossible. Many commenters online argued that Choi, who agreed to the rate and bore no financial risk, is nonetheless well-positioned to leverage the film's success for future opportunities, while others expressed sympathy for the systemic underpayment of below-the-line workers. Choi has since posted a follow-up defending her decision to speak out, framing it as part of a broader pattern affecting workers across industries.