KUALA LUMPUR: Crazy Rich Asians co-writer Adele Lim has dropped out of two planned sequels of the romantic comedy, after finding she would only be paid about an eighth of what her colleague, Peter Chiarelli, would earn.
In a recent news report by the Hollywood Reporter, Lim said that her perspective was too often used as “soy sauce”, only to “season” a project with cultural authenticity.
An unnamed source revealed that Chiarelli would be making US$800,000 (RM3.35 million) to US$1m (RM4.18 million) from the two films, while Lim would only be paid US$110,000-plus (RM460,119).
The news report also pointed out that in Hollywood, the disparity is prevalent.
Prior to Crazy Rich Asians, Lim worked in TV (One Tree Hill, Private Practice), while Chiarelli already has hit movies on his résumé including the 2009 Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds romcom The Proposal.
Crazy Rich Asians, which made US$238 million (RM987.16 million) at the box office, is credited with uncovering a new target audience.
Its sequels will be based on two other books by author Kevin Kwan — China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems.
Lim is said to have rejected an offer from Chiarelli to split his fee, saying that her concern was that producers only viewed her ability to provide a distinct cultural sensibility as her only value.
“If I couldn’t get pay equity after CRA, I can’t imagine what it would be like for anyone else, given that the standard for how much you’re worth is having established quotes from previous movies, which women of colour would never have been (hired for),” she said.
Meanwhile, it was also reported that her decision was possibly linked to other prestigious work she has — Disney Animation’s Raya And The Last Dragon (which is slated to open in November next year).