How does Bruce Willis pull it off?

It's shocking what some people will do. I talked to a guy who persuaded his friend to take him SCUBA diving. The guy just told him that they would stop and clear. This guy was one of those people who doesn't like to show ignorance, so he just nodded his head. They went down until he couldn't stand the pain from his eardrums and he surfaced. He basically risked his eardrums rather than show ignorance.

He told me they went down to 170' deep and stayed down there for 10 minutes. He knew nothing about getting narced, or DCS, or even the dive table. He could have been seriously injured or at the least suffered from incredible pain for hours.

In 1970, Sheck Exley reached (465 ft) in salt water, but could go no deeper due to narcosis and the start of blackout (the two record-depth attempting unconscious divers died just out of reach beneath him), so I know that there is some leeway in the recommended limits, but you don't want to push those limits, especially without a decompression chamber.

Quote: Pacomartin

I understand that it is more like gross revenue for a business, and less like a paycheck.

I believe some stars are a business and have inc after
their names. The more they make the less they see
of it. And they always have people stealing from them.
Stressful life if you ask me, no thanks.

Some decisions seem so arbitrary.

Holland Taylor was cast as Evelyn Harper in 2.5 Men after Blythe Danner suggested changes to scenes, and was dismissed by the producers. Her scenes in the pilot were reshot. I am sure she made more money in those 94 episode than she made in all the rest of her 40 year career.

Charlie Sheen wasn't doing very well in his career until Michael J Fox got sick while starring in Spin City. Charlie Sheen does 45 episodes as a womanizing bachelor from 18 October 2000 until 30 April 2002. He gets cast as the lead in 2.5 Men, starting in September 2003 and he become fabulously wealthy.

A lot of it is luck or a momentary decision.

Somewhere I saw a list of highest paid actors whose movies bomb more often and don't make back the original outlay.

The actor at the top of that list.......

Will Ferrel!

As an aide, I really like him in certain movies, like Talladega Nights and his cameo he played in The Internship. Funny as hell.

Forbes 2013 list of most overpaid actors
Forbes 2012 list of most overpaid actors
Forbes 2011 list of most overpaid actors

Comedians are particularly vulnerable. Kevin James was looking like box office gold, particularly after the low budget Paul Blart: Mall Cop which was basically produced like a 2 hour TV episode, made a fortune. Then the last couple of movies he makes are bombs. His acting is identical in all the movies so you can't really blame him.

Domestic Box office
6/25/10 Grown Ups $162,001,186 (budget = $80 m)
1/16/09 Paul Blart: Mall Cop $146,336,178 (budget = $26 m)
7/20/07 I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry $120,059,556 (budget = $85 m)
2/11/05 Hitch $179,495,555 (budget = $70 m)

Quote: Pacomartin

Forbes 2013 list of most overpaid actors
Forbes 2012 list of most overpaid actors
Forbes 2011 list of most overpaid actors

Comedians are particularly vulnerable. Kevin James was looking like box office gold, particularly after the low budget Paul Blart: Mall Cop which was basically produced like a 2 hour TV episode, made a fortune. Then the last couple of movies he makes are bombs. His acting is identical in all the movies so you can't really blame him.

Domestic Box office
6/25/10 Grown Ups $162,001,186 (budget = $80 m)
1/16/09 Paul Blart: Mall Cop $146,336,178 (budget = $26 m)
7/20/07 I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry $120,059,556 (budget = $85 m)
2/11/05 Hitch $179,495,555 (budget = $70 m)

These lists must be subjective because I'm sure I heard about Will Ferrel somewhere. (Looks like he was most overpaid in 2010....can time really be going that fast?)
It is interesting that certain actors almost always make the list, Katherine Heigl, Eddie Murphy, Reese Witherspoon.

I have some advice for our budding actors. Make one hit and then change your genre because clearly if you stick to what made you famous, you get slaughtered, for the most part :)

Quote: Tomspur

Make one hit and then change your genre because clearly if you stick to what made you famous, you get slaughtered, for the most part :)

The problem is that actors are heavily paid for their previous work.

Quote: Pacomartin

The problem is that actors are heavily paid for their previous work.

Kinda like a resume builder right?

Still, diversity is an important part of life and they should embrace their diverse holdings so that they can perhaps not fall in the trappings of past successes.

mmmmm, wonder if Katherine Heigl needs an agent? :)

Quote: Tomspur

mmmmm, wonder if Katherine Heigl needs an agent? :)

Katherine Heigl is 35 and has been acting professionally for 22 years. She may have to take a paycut from the $12m-$15m per film that she was making, but she still has plenty of offers. Her agent is well paid.

I always liked her 3rd movie, "My Father the Hero" that was released when she was age 15. Gérard Depardieu costarred.

Quote: Pacomartin

The problem is that actors are heavily paid for their previous work.

The case with most professions.