The gaslighting of actor Marcus Chong

money makes people nutty

Fucking with their money makes them even nuttier.

I'm sorry but what exactly is this supposed to be about?

Sounds mostly like yet another anti-trans thread.

R3, see link. R4, STFU!

How old is that video?

I've never understood his background. He's the son of a well-known local market TV newscaster, still living, but was given up for adoption to Tommy Chong of Cheech & Chong? So strange. Marcus acts like a hustler instead of the kid of two celebrity dads.

Ummm....I watched the video at the link.

It was just some no name actor bitching that he wasn't offered enough money for the Matrix. And then he went in to talk to cops.

That still leaves those of us not current on all this celebrity conspiracy nonsense in the dark.

So...again...what us this supposed to be about?

Based on the soliloquy by the driver at the end, I think the implication is that he went to file a report about the dispute and ended up arrested on trumped up charges that may or may not be the result of the Wachowski family connections and influence...

This story sounds fishy.

The biggest media empire in the world would not be hiring this unknown on a verbal contract.

Were the Wachowskis well connected? I thought they were self-made. Wasn't this guy in Black Panther, though?

He had a solid career trajectory at one point. Pitty things went south because he's a good actor (and was fine as fuck). There's always the comeback. People like a good comeback story.

Yes, he was fine as fuck. But not queer as fuck.

R13, he's 51 and never been married. Turn in your gay card.

1) This is old as hell. 2) He's crazy. 3) He's an idiot.

He wanted more money for the films, the Wachowskis balked, he was written out of the subsequent films. Instead of realizing he overplayed his hands he lost his mind and began harassing the siblings. He went to arbitration with the guild and he wasn't owed anything. The Wachowskis didn't blackballed him, people saw how irrational he was acting and chose to not continue working with him. It' s not too dissimilar to when Terrence Howard ego got him out of "Iron Man". He should thank Lee Daniels every day for giving him a steady gig.

R15 = Lilly Wachowski

Bump

Doesn't SAG-AFTRA have some form of salary dispute resolution that its members can turn to?

I like him in The Matrix. It was disappointing that he was written out after the first. The first was the best one and the only one I would even bother watching now. I believe him for what it is worth.

Supposedly, one of the other minor characters in the film received $1 million to Chong's $250K salary. He found out about it later and was brushed off when he called out the Wachowskis. I believe his story about his fued with C. Thomas Howell, who is the ex of his cousin, Rae Dawn Chong. FWIW, I enjoyed his performance.

i believe wong wanted a bigger piece of the pie but the negotiations went sideways and he was written out.

the first film was a bigger hit than anyone anticipated, keanu received a portion of the gross in addition to his salary, he never has to work again.

the second and third films were quickly written, thrown together to cash in on the success and do not hold up as well.

wong should have been accommodated, there was enough to go around

[quote] Doesn't SAG-AFTRA have some form of salary dispute resolution that its members can turn to?

All the major guilds do, it's called arbitration and apparently this guy went through it and it was found he was not due anything more than what he had already been paid.

Sum Ting Wong r21

Really shitty of the Wachowskis not to renegotiate his contract. The Matrix instantly became just as iconic both the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises. Surely, the legal teams on both sides could have hammered something out. Why wreck someone's career and your reputation?

R24, the only reputation wrecked was Chong's. I didn't even remember he was in The Matrix and yet people behave like he was somehow essential to it. New and upcoming actors should know how to build up their resumes and not expect a big payday at the start of their careers. He came off as unreliable and vindictive. He ruined his own career.

A quarter of a million dollars for an unknown name in a minor role in a single film with an opportunity to repeat the performance? He should have kept his ego in check and parlayed his exposure into bigger roles with bigger paychecks. He got greedy and played it entirely wrong. Too bad, so sad.

I agree with R26 and R25.

hold on a sec, jada smith was added onto this wannabe franchise, her presence contributed nothing to the film and i doubt she is a box office draw but im almost certain her salary demands were met.

everything is negotiable right?

those films made a lot of fucking money, theres enough to go around.

Dear R28 your last sentence shows you would not make a very good capitalist.

I agree with R28. And by the way, r29, Trump is a capitalist, so what does that tell you?

Chong's bone of contention was not the salary, but that he was not paid on par with other lesser known actors (with less screen time) in the film. By the way, he was not a new comer. He's been a working actor since he was 10 and has a substantial resume.

R30 Chong is trying to make a living inside a capitalist industry. He needs to play by their rules and get a VALID written contract.

The crazy thing is Im wondering how wild he is in bed.

When I see a viral stealth video of him bagging groceries at Trader Joe's maybe then I'll feel sorry for him.

The Wachowskis should have let Dozier live and knocked Tank off before the credits rolled on Matrix I.

^*And I'm no fan of the Wachowskis.

asking for more when that group has an abundance is unreasonable?

its a negotiation that did not favor chong.