How do primetime drama actors 'spend' and invest their salaries?
Many artists revealed that their TV show salaries are not high, but they will have many other sources of income when their roles take the screen by storm.
During the conversation, actress Thuy Anh shared stories revolving around the topic of salary.
Accordingly, Thuy Anh said that for each different project, in different genres, she will receive different salaries. In the film industry, Thuy Anh once received several hundred million VND for a role. In recent years, Thuy Anh participated in a series of television projects such as Love and Ambition, Don't Say When in Love, Us of 8 Years Later...
In the TV series genre, different production units will also have different payment methods.
If movies pay a "lump sum" based on the role, in the television industry, producers can pay based on the scene, the episode, or the filming day.
People's Artist Bui Bai Binh once revealed that he was paid 800,000 VND for an episode of "Ma Lang" which aired in 2007. In 2008, People's Artist Bui Bai Binh filmed "Gio Lang Kinh" with a salary of 600,000 VND/episode. In 2010, People's Artist Bui Bai Binh participated in the project "Thai Su Tran Thu Do" to celebrate 1000 years of Thang Long - Hanoi, he was paid 1.5 million VND/filming day.
In recent years, some artists have revealed to reporters that they are paid based on the scene. For each scene they appear in, they will receive a salary depending on the supporting/main role, the amount fluctuates between 350,000 VND and 500,000 VND for each scene.
Director - People's Artist Khai Hung said, "The salary for TV dramas in Vietnam is still low. Film crews often joke with each other that after filming a TV drama, they will... run out of money. Actors participating in TV dramas who only rely on their salary for acting will have a very difficult life. Even actors who act in a few projects a year will have other sources of income when the drama is broadcast and gets attention. Currently, attending events, filming commercials for brands... are the actors' biggest sources of income."
For actors, getting a role that makes a splash has become the ultimate goal. When getting a successful role, the actor not only leaves a mark in the profession but also has a "huge" income from the appeal and influence of the role.
Many artists, when taking on a role, have spent billions of dollars investing in everything from appearance, costumes, hairstyles... to putting in the effort and trying to deepen the role.
Actress La Thanh Huyen is famous for spending hundreds of designer dresses and expensive handbags to play the role of Tue Lam in the movie "Love and Ambition". When asked about her salary and the amount of money she spent on costumes for the role of Tue Lam, La Thanh Huyen said: "Of course, the salary is not enough for me to pay for the costumes when playing Tue Lam in Love and Ambition. But, I am determined to do everything I can, invest all my effort, and bring out the character's qualities. Tue Lam is portrayed as a talented, successful, and individualistic woman, so I want to aim for a luxurious and fashionable image for the character. I have bought up to 100 dresses from different famous brands for Tue Lam."
When filming "Ex-husband, Ex-wife, Ex-lover", La Thanh Huyen also had hundreds of new office outfits tailored to suit the personality and work of the character Giang she plays.
Actress Phuong Oanh is also famous for her extravagance, comparable to La Thanh Huyen. When filming “Fate Choice”, Phuong Oanh also revealed that she spent billions on costumes. The amount of money she “spent” on costumes was greater than the salary she received.
“I invested meticulously in clothes, shoes, and accessories to bring out the character of Thien Trang. Every time I go filming, I have to bring 3 suitcases of clothes to appear in the most neat way” - Phuong Oanh said.
