Obsession Crew Member Goes Viral Over Shockingly Low Pay on $170m Hit (& Spielberg Reveals his Review)

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For the past few weeks, the movies Backrooms and Obsession have been the big topic of conversation at the box office. These low-budget horror films have surprisingly done better than more expensive productions like The Mandalorian & Grogu and Masters of the Universe. However, the discussion around Obsession is now shifting. A crew member recently went viral after sharing how little she was paid, despite the film only costing $750,000 to produce. This post sparked a lot of debate, dividing both people in the film industry and general movie fans.

Sally Choi, the Art Director for the film Obsession, recently shared on Instagram that she earned only $300 per day, totaling under $7,000 after taxes for the entire project. This was her first major film, and she explained she’s sharing her experience to both feel better and to advocate for change within the industry. Choi knew the low pay upfront, acknowledging that low-budget films often have limited resources. Her story offers a rare glimpse into the often-overlooked financial realities for many film crew members, especially now as the increasing use of AI threatens jobs and prioritizes profits.

Okay, let me be frank. I’ve been wrestling with how to talk about this for a while now, especially after working on ‘Obsession’ for the last two years. Here’s the deal: the film cost $750,000 to make, but it’s now expected to gross a massive $250 million. As the Art Director, my personal take? I earned $300 a day, which worked out to $6,741.36 after taxes – and that’s without factoring in any travel expenses.

I was aware of and accepted the pay rate initially, but at the time, I was struggling financially. This is common for many filmmakers, particularly those working in technical roles. We’re often seen as a small expense to minimize in the budget. On this particular production, some crew members even volunteered their time, receiving only gas money and mileage reimbursement. And even that wasn’t always paid promptly. It’s incredible to think that to create a film that ultimately grossed $250 million, some incredibly talented people had to personally cover their own work expenses.

Honestly, I really regret not taking a different role on this film. I was talked out of it, and looking back, I shouldn’t have listened. It was one of those low-budget shoots where everyone does a little bit of everything. Officially, I was the art director, but I ended up being a production assistant, set decorator, graphic designer, even an extra and driver – basically filling in wherever needed. I was constantly running errands for the art department without even getting reimbursed for mileage! I’d be shopping, loading, and returning things while everyone else was actually filming – huge thanks to Jeff Barker for his help with that. Then, I had to completely clean up after a previous location, ‘Bear’s House,’ which was left in terrible shape, with no supplies left at all. And on top of that, I had to shop and load an entire new location, Ian’s house, all in one day, preparing for an overnight shoot. It was crazy!

Filming was incredibly hard on my body, and I dropped to just 90 pounds during production. I’m sharing this now because I need to move forward. This isn’t about one specific film, person, or even the film industry as a whole – it’s a larger issue. If you’re willing to talk about it, especially if you worked on ‘Obsession’ and want to share your experiences or pay rates, please reach out. I’m open to being corrected, as I know I don’t have the full picture and my viewpoint is limited. Hopefully, by sharing information, we can start to improve things in the industry.”

Obsession’s Art Director Prompts Support and Backlash

It’s no surprise the internet is buzzing about Choi’s post. While many are expressing strong support and outrage over her low pay – especially considering the film is expected to earn $250 million – others are offering a more nuanced perspective. Some people working in the industry have explained that the situation is even more concerning than a $300-a-day rate might suggest. Director Joseph Kahn (known for his film Ick) shared on X (formerly Twitter) about the realities of working in Los Angeles and how pay actually breaks down in the industry.

Honestly, I’ve been seeing some takes online saying Choi shouldn’t have spoken up about the low pay on that film, worrying it’ll hurt her career. It’s frustrating, because that kind of thinking – prioritizing keeping your head down over speaking out – is exactly what keeps unfair systems in place. If no one shares what it’s really like, things never get better, and it just feels wrong to try and silence someone for being honest about their experience. Now, it’s not totally simple. I saw Luke Barnett make a good point: the film probably wouldn’t have been made for so little – $750k – if they’d paid people more or had a bigger crew. And Choi was early in her career, so the pay was agreed upon beforehand. But none of that changes the fact that it feels pretty awful when a movie goes on to make a potential $250 million, and the people who actually made it happen are essentially forgotten. It’s a really complicated situation, for sure.

While attending an early screening of Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg shared his thoughts on the success of Obsession and Backrooms in an interview with Popdrop. He expressed his excitement for the independent films, saying he was thrilled to see them do so well despite their low budgets – Obsession cost less than $1 million and Backrooms around $9 or $10 million. He praised their achievements and added that he’s enjoyed Obsession and plans to watch Backrooms soon.

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2026-06-06 16:45