Obsession is making one person a lot of money, and it’s not anyone in the cast or crew

Indie horror film Obsession has sparked a widespread conversation about pay in the film industry, as David Blum allegedly takes home a massive paycheque.

Curry Barker’s feature Obsession was made on a $750k budget, typical for an indie film. This meant the cast and crew were paid far less than the film ultimately earned. It’s eyeing a $300 million box-office finish, but art director Sally Choi claims she earned only $6k from her work on the film. The creator detailed all the work she put into the film’s production, including wearing multiple hats and working overnight shifts, to the point where she claimed she lost a significant amount of weight.

Additionally, viral rumours claim that leading star Inde Navarrette only made $20k for her award-worthy performance in the film. Nobody close to Obsession has publicly verified this number.

In the middle of all this, one person is making millions from the film’s success, according to an insider who spoke to The Wrap. David Blum, CEO of horror production company Blumhouse, is credited as an executive producer for Obsession.  According to an insider, he struck a deal for a $2 million bonus after the film reached $25 million. This would mean David Blum has made around $17 million from the massive success of Obsession – scores more than anybody else involved, according to anonymous sources.

“He gets to brag about a movie he got put on after they acquired it, and he gets paid more than anybody else; that’s Hollywood,” another insider said.

Unfortunately, this is a common part of indie filmmaking. When films like Obsession or even Paranormal Activity blow up unexpectedly, it’s regularly reported that the cast and crew don’t take home the profits. However, in Obsession’s case, Capstone Pictures, which helped produce Obsession, is sharing its profits with Curry Barber and other crew members.

For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page.