When you work, you’re supposedto get paid. As simple as that sentence is, in the movie business, sometimes things happen that make being paid a stressful challenge. Usually, those hardships fall onto the lesser-known cast members and crew members who work long, tiresome hours to bring a production to an audience. The stars of a project work hard too, but they’re usually paid, and most times don’t have to worry about when their checks are coming. This is why it’s imperative for those in higher positions to stand by their fellow cast and crew members, just likeBryan Cranston. The actor is starring in an indie film,Lone Wolf, that hashad a few financial setbacks, and he’s speaking out about the situation.
Cranston has spent decades building a resume full of credits that span all areas, including television, movies, music videos, theater, and more. His ability to be versatile has garnered praise from his peers and fans, who followed him fromSaving Private RyantoMalcolm in the Middle, Breaking Bad,and more. So, he has experience with different-sized productions and has been around long enough to know when something needs to happen quickly, like unpaid cast and crew members getting what they’re owed. The actor released a statement toDeadline, which has beenfollowing theLone Wolffunding challenges since April. Cranston said he was paid for his part in the film and will not be promoting it or finishing filming until the crew, vendors, and some cast members are paid.
‘Breaking Bad’ Star’s New Action Movie in Financial Trouble Despite Already Being Wrapped
The upcoming thriller starring Lily Gladstone has run into some financial trouble.
For some reason money that was promised to be deposited into the escrow accounts for the cast and crew were not done so in a timely manner. That caused a couple stoppages to the shooting. Then, apparently some portion of what was promised was deposited, and that lifted the DO NOT WORK order and we started up again.
Right now, there is a strong effort to raisethe necessary capitalto finish the film, and I think that will happen for two main reasons: One, because the missing few scenes (approximately over two shooting days) are vital to the story. And two, that I (and I think I speak for Lily as well) will not do anything to promote the film until every cast and crew member is paid back in full, and we will not appear on screen again (ie return to filming) for this movie until that happens.
In full transparency, I was paid for my part in this film even before the last temporary work stoppage – so I was surprised when I found out that we had to stop again, and that most of the crew didn’t get, as far as I know, their last two weeks of pay, nor did the co-stars in the movie.
Deadlinereported that there’s about a $2 million shortfall infunding, and filmingwas paused a few months ago; the unpaid are owed at least one week’s wage, with more filming to be done. The film stars Cranston and Lily Gladstone, with O’Shea Jackson, Jr. (Straight Outta Compton), Jennifer Ehle (Pride and Prejudice), Chet Hanks, and Spencer Garrett.
What Is ‘Lone Wolf’ About?
Lone Wolffollows a veteran (Gladstone) who is dealing with an addiction. The veteran ends up getting recruited by a contractor (Cranston)to assassinate ahigh-level politician. In his statement toDeadline, Cranston said the crew on this film is fantastic, and he believes the film will be completed.
That is where it stands now…I’m distressed that this has caused so much grief and distrust, and so sorry that this crew (which was fantastic) were not treated with the respect they deserved, but I really believe that the producers will manage these difficult times by making everyone whole, and we’ll finish the film….Man, what a mess. BC.
