This past week, Obsession stumbled into its first major controversy, with the art director of the film going public about how much she was paid, and why, given the record success of the movie, it didn’t seem like enough.
Obsession’s art director, Sally Choi, took to Instagram to reveal that she made $6,761 after taxes on the film, a rate of $300 a day, for a movie that she says will go on to make $250 million. Some analysts are now predicting over $300 million.
Choi talks about how many members of the crew were volunteers, and how she wore many hats besides art director, doing work like set dressing, graphic design and even being a background actor. She calls for the industry to change its policies and invites other crew members to share their rates so they can “turn a tide in the film industry.”
The reaction on social media has been rather brutal, with many believing that Choi, who could parlay her time on a megahit like Obsession into other jobs, may have burned bridges. But now, there are further, as of yet unconfirmed figures circulating about how star Inde Naverrette only made $20,000 on the hugely grossing film, inflaming the debate further.
It’s a complicated issue, but it’s one more of hindsight from everyone involved. As previously revealed and mentioned by Choi, the entire film’s budget was $750,000, and the payment received by everyone was for a month of shooting. At the time, there was no expectation that Obsession would become the unprecedented hit it was, so none of that was reflected in the initial contracts.
There is a debate to be had about how those involved with or starring in a film could be allowed to share in the gross, but it’s a rarity in Hollywood, and something you often only see with huge actors like Tom Cruise or Leonardo DiCaprio. Cruise, for instance, has “first dollar gross,” a percentage of the studio’s revenue off the top before other costs, which he’s secured for many Mission Impossible films and Top Gun: Maverick.
It is reasonable that a microbudget film like Obsession would not build something like that into its contracts, for actors or especially crew. And even the payments listed for what at the time was a month’s work aren’t exactly nothing. This isn’t to say there couldn’t be some sort of bonus spread around, given the huge success of the film, but something like that would have to be voluntary.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: (L-R) Michael Johnston, Curry Barker, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless and Andy Richter attend the Los Angeles Special Screening of Focus Features’ “Obsession” at the Hollywood Legion Theater on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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When a movie is a huge hit like this, the real prize is often in the next project. Curry Barker just sold a new movie, sight unseen, for millions. Star Inde Navarrette might still only have her relatively small initial payment, but there are genuine conversations about her being an awards contender this year, and it stands to reason she’s being pursued for many projects. She has expressed interest in starring in a major Amazon series adaptation of the fantasy series, Fourth Wing. That certainly does not seem like a reach, given her current profile. In Choi’s case, again, the next logical step there would be to put “art director for Obsession” on her resume and go from there.
I’ve reached out to Choi for comment and have yet to hear back. Others involved, like Barker or Naverrette, have yet to speak on the issue. We’ll see where things could go from here, or if it simply blows over.
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