How much were these half-naked extras paid in ‘Squid Game’?
There are background actors who make six figures! Now, we’re not saying a six figure income from background work is a guarantee. (Though you can make a living off of it if you reside in or near Los Angeles or New York.) But nevertheless, depending on where you are, you can make good money as a movie and/or show extra. And it seems like it’s pretty easy money!
After all, you’re just in the background and chances are, you’re not going to have a speaking role. And then even if you do, it’ll be nothing like having to memorize much longer scripts. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an extra in a movie or show? It’ll be especially great if it’s your favorite story. Plus, you’ll get paid! Maybe, you’ve wondered how much the extras on your favorite shows were paid.
You know those painted figures next to the VIPs in Squid Game? They were real-life human beings with stories of lives as vivid and complex as our own. Maybe they were different from some of us, maybe they were a lot alike. But the bottom line is, they were real people. And we’re going to tell you how much those extras were paid to stand half-naked! For a sneak peak, it was a huge amount for an extra.
Squid Game
Squid Game hasn’t been around for long so here’s a nice little brush up. The story is a South Korean survival drama show that was written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. The series consisted of nine episodes, starring Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo and Wi Ha-joon. They follow a group of four hundred and fifty six people who were invited to risk their lives!
They embarked on a mysterious survival game with a 38.7 billion USD prize. It was released around the globe on September 17, 2021 and distributed by Netflix.
Ending explained
Chances are, you’re a fan. And if you’re a fan, you have some burning questions. One question we all have: will there be a season 2 of Squid Game? Hopefully you don’t mind any spoilers but if you’ve watched the whole show, you know the game doesn’t really end with the ninth episode. It continues, and the future of “winner” Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) is left with uncertainty.
Are we ever going to see what happens after he gets off that plane? The answer has been called “resounding”. Writer and director Hwang Dong-hyuk told Variety that he might return to feature films before thinking about a Squid Game sequel. He said, “I don’t have well-developed plans for Squid Game 2.
“It is quite tiring just thinking about it. But if I were to do it, I could certainly not do it alone. I’d consider using a writers’ room and would want multiple experienced directors,” he added.
Squid Game’s success will certainly have Netflix executives craving more. But we just don’t know if the director is returning.
Half-naked extras
Back to the extras 一 exactly how much did the production pay those people to merely stand half-naked in Squid Game? We’re getting word that the pay was a bit high compared to what background talent is usually compensated.
If you’re all caught up with the show, Squid Game, you remember the painted figures that decorated the VIP room. The figures were composed with various animal prints in-keeping with the Animal Kingdom theme. Honestly, it looked pretty cool. We saw a painted figure with leopard spots lingering behind the VIP, for instance.
When the fees were announced, everyone was shocked (and probably very joyful). The recruiter offered around 5,000,000 KRW which translates to $4243 USD for just three days.
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Do you think that’s good pay for a non-speaking role? Can you see yourself appearing in the Squid Game? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
