boon's log 2109.01: Are movies stars overpaid?

IL and I were on (sort of) movie madness mood, just last week. 2 Sundays ago, we went and watch X-Men Origins: Wolverine and then on Thursday, we went for the opening of Angels and Demons. We have not been going to the cinema for ages and then the sudden urge. Well, and of course those are good movies to begin with - else we would not have gone to the cinemas - rather watch 'em in the comforts of our home.

Anyways, while waiting for Wolverine to start, the cinema showed the typical MPA (Movie Picture Association) warning not to use recording equipments bla bla bla and warned against buying pirated media (CD, DVD). Just then the lady next to me - whom I believe works in one of the factories in the FTZ (don't ask me how I know), it's one of those things... - said, "Yeah, and keep on paying the Movie Stars shitloads of money!"

Just then it kinda hit me - are the movie stars really overpaid? I mean, what makes their job so much more difficult than say, an engineer? or a Production Operator? I did a little digging and here is what i came out with (latest average per major studio film):

1. Tom Hanks - $25million
2. Will Smith - $25million
3. Jim Carrey - $25million
4. Brad Pitt - $20million
5. Russell Crowe - $20million
6. Ben Stiller - $20million
7. Harrison Ford - $15million
8. Reese Witherspoon - $15million
9. Jodie Foster - $15million
10. Matt Damon - $15million
11. Cameron Diaz - $15million
12. Angelina Jolie - $12million
13. Renee Zellweger - $12million

I mean, after all, most of the stunts were done by stunt-reps anyways. Are they really worth so much? Why should we be fueling their pockets with so much of money, so that they can continue to live their hollywood lifestyles, which in turn creates an example for the teenagers and young adults? While there are so many others who studied so hard to earn a degree / post grad degree and then slave themselves, working overtime - only to earn a fraction of what these folks earn.

Anyways, I guess, one day, hopefully, the MPA will discover that one of the ways to curb the USD$1 pirated DVDs that are sold along the streets of Penang is to cut the salaries of the movie stars.

So, having read this, do you or do you not support pirated DVDs? I think it is pretty clear, ain't it? ;)

boon out...