Part 2/11:
Recent coverage has been rife with articles portraying actors and writers as undercompensated, emphasizing their financial struggles. A recurring theme is that performers claim they earn "little money" from residuals—fees paid when a show or movie is rebroadcast or streamed. However, these reports often overlook a crucial point: many actors and creators received large upfront payments for their work, making residuals a secondary matter.
The Residual Debate: Frontloaded Payments vs. Streaming Royalties
Aaron Paul, renowned for his role in Breaking Bad, publicly revealed that Netflix pays him zero residuals for his performance—despite the show's success and its status as an award-winning series. This has ignited discussions about the fairness of residuals in the streaming era.