Following last year’s Hollywood strikes, George Clooney is shedding light on the salary details regarding his latest project.
At a Venice Film Festival press conference on Sunday, the Academy Award-winning actor mentioned an article by The New York Times, which reported that he and his co-star Brad Pitt each received more than $35 million for their roles in the film. Clooney countered this claim, stating, “Whatever her source was for our salary, it is millions and millions and millions of dollars less than what was reported.” He expressed concern about how such inflated figures could negatively impact the industry, asserting that believing those figures could set unrealistic standards for salaries, which he described as harmful and a barrier to film production.
His remarks come in light of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes from the previous year, which highlighted the issue of inadequate compensation for talent within the industry. Earlier this summer, Clooney pointed out that “actors and writers in large numbers have lost their ability to make a living”.
During the press conference, he reiterated, “This is an inflection point in our industry,” emphasizing the need for change if the industry is to survive. He called for a transformative journey for actors to begin immediately.
In the movie “Wolfs,” directed by Jon Watts, Clooney and Pitt portray rival fixers hired to obscure the same high-profile crime, forcing them to collaborate as the night descends into chaos. The film received a warm welcome with a five-minute, 35-second ovation at its world premiere in Venice.
Clooney also addressed the decision by Apple to launch the film with a limited theatrical release on September 20, followed by a streaming debut on September 27. He expressed disappointment about the narrower release, stating, “Yes, we wanted it to be released [in theaters].” He reflected on past experiences, elaborating on the unpredictability of film releases and the adjustments required in the industry as it navigates the aftermath of the pandemic.