[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Blackbird45

There is a misunderstanding on what these contracts represent vs what stars and directors earn. Stars and directors negotiate their own contracts through agents. Some agreements are paid large sums of money up front others a percentage of the profits. The contracts only cover base salaries and working conditions. If you've ever worked on a film set, you will find for anyone other than the stars the working conditions are not ideal. Long hours, not the safest locations.
Do you believe all the actors and crew who work on the movie Rust enjoyed the location, the long hours and believed it was safe. The contract does pay a decent wage just because of the conditions and these are more or less freelance jobs. The filming is over, and you again are unemployed.

Nobody forces them to continue in this industry. They choose to for whatever reason.