Obsession director Curry Barker has replied to the online debate sparked by art director Sally Choi’s disclosure that she received less than $7,000 while working on the successful horror picture. The movie’s director responded:
“This movie was made for so little money.”
The controversy began when Choi uploaded an Instagram photo about her time on the project titled Obsession:
“I’ve debated this for a long time. I’ve been holding a lot of weight over the past two years since the production of ‘Obsession,’ so I’m going to say it as it is.”
She highlighted the contrast between the film’s budget and project earnings; she added that “Obssn was made for $750K and is projected to make $250M. How much I made: $300/day as Art Director. This came out to $6741.36 after taxes. No mileage.”
The art director further stated that she had accepted the rate beforehand, and argued that it was the reality of most filmmakers:
“I did know the rate beforehand and agreed to it, but atp I was living paycheck to paycheck. This is the reality of most filmmakers, especially those who work below the line. We become a line in the budget sheet to keep as low as possible.”
She went on to claim that some crew members worked as volunteers and had to wait for reimbursements, which was also not “paid on time.” Choi said that some of the crew members had to shell out from their own pockets to come work on set.
Reflecting on working on the production, Choi said that she kicks herself every day for not flipping the production. She said that she was advised not to. Other than that, Choi also revealed that she handled numerous responsibilities beyond her official title:
“As is the case for most low budget productions, everyone has to wear many, many hats. Though my official title is art director, I was also a PA, set dresser, graphic designer, background actor, driver, swing, and buyer. I was doing runs for the art dept (again, no mileage). I was shopping, loading, returning while the rest of the crew were on set (Thank you Jeff Barker for helping me during those times). I had to wrap Bear’s House that was left an absolute mess without water or crafties left behind. I shopped an entire location (Ian’s house) and loaded the truck the same day for shoot the next day which also happened to be an overnight.”
Choi even added that the production of Obsession took a huge toll on her as she kept losing weight. She mentioned that she was weighing 90lbs during the production.
Despite her criticism, Choi stressed that her criticism was not directed solely at Obsession or the director and wrote that it was “bigger than the film industry.”
She concluded by inviting further discussions and encouraging other crew members to share their experiences:
“If you feel called to have this discussion w me, please do so. I’m willing to be wrong bc I know I’m probably missing information and my perspective is just a drop in the bucket. If you were a crew member on obsession and feel called to share your rate, maybe we can turn a tide in the film industry.”
Obsession’s director responds
Obsession‘s director was asked about Choi’s remarks by The Hollywood Reporter; Barker stressed his respect for the art department and the crew’s efforts:
“I have nothing but respect for the art department, and the work they did was extraordinary. Everybody on this film worked so hard and they deserve to be recognised.”
The director further explained that low-budget independent productions often have unusual compensation structures:
“This movie was made for so little money that it’s typical that the only people who [directly] benefit from its financial success are the people who took on some sort of risk.”
Barker was not the film’s producer, which meant he was not in charge of deciding salary, bonuses, or profit participation agreements.
Although the director admitted that many crew members would not receive a direct portion of the film’s box-office proceeds, he expressed optimism that the film’s success would lead to future chances for individuals involved:
“But what I hope is that every person that worked really hard on this film will see opportunities to catapult their careers in ways that can be very financially fruitful for them – like what’s happening for me.”
The debate around Obsession continues as Choi’s viral post sparks wider discussions online.
Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.
Edited by Zachary D. Lyngdoh