Photogenic Actors Display Meager Residual Checks Through Captivating Pictures

In a striking revelation of the realities faced by actors and writers, it has been revealed that the residual payments they receive for reruns of their shows and movies are often disappointingly small, with some checks amounting to as little as $0.01. These residuals were originally intended to support individuals between jobs, but many are finding them inadequate. This discovery has prompted a strike among actors and writers, and examples of these tiny payments are being shared online by stars, including Kamil McFadden who starred in Disney’s KC Undercover, as reported by NPR.

• Kamil McFadden took to Twitter to express his frustration, sharing a video that displayed residual payments as low as $0.01 and even negative amounts. He questioned, “Y’all ever seen negative amounts on your residuals?” In the two-minute video, he revealed that he only received a net amount of $2.77, stating that the math does not add up.
• Jana Schmieding, known for her role in Reservation Dogs, also shared her residuals on Twitter, shedding light on the meager amounts: “$.03 each quarter for UNLIMITED worldwide streams on fx/hulu/DISNEY.” She added a sarcastic comment about Disney CEO Bob Iger’s extravagant lifestyle.
• Another example was revealed by William Stanford Davis, who plays Mr. Johnson on Abbott Elementary. Through an Instagram video, he shared a residuals check for $0.05, humorously pointing out that the cost of the paper and postage would have been higher. “This is what they think of us as actors,” he lamented. “This is why we’re on strike.”

The strikes currently taking place are centered around several key issues, including the need for increased residuals and other forms of payment, health care and retirement contributions, and the use of AI. A group of actors and writers recently picketed outside Netflix headquarters, highlighting the company’s responsibility as a leading streamer to fairly compensate its workers. Screenwriter Kirsten Smith emphasized the importance of residuals, stating, “Residuals are one of the main reasons I’m striking. As someone who came of age writing movies in the 2000s and then would sometimes have movies not get made, residuals are how we lived and how we survived the lean times to get to the next project.” (Read more residuals stories.)