It’s been simply over two years since The Flash accomplished its nine-season run, marking the tip of the Arrow-verse (since Superman & Lois wasn’t essentially a part of that universe on The CW). The crossovers have been no extra, however in the event you have been to ask a number of the solid members, which may have been a superb factor. For the followers, it was enjoyable seeing characters from all these exhibits come collectively, however now Danielle Panabaker is opening up concerning the challenges that got here with filming crossovers, they usually’re not all nice.
First off, let’s speak concerning the pay…
How A lot Have been Crossover Actors Supplied Pay-Sensible?
Crossovers have been an integral a part of the Arrowverse and have been an annual factor as soon as The Flash joined the enjoyable. On paper, it is nice for the followers; it is nice for the casts to get to mingle. Based on Danielle Panabaker, it additionally led to low morale for her and a number of the different younger actors on the present.
That first 12 months was a little bit of a studying curve for everybody, and never simply due to what was concerned to carry the crossover to life. Panabaker, who portrayed Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost on The Flash, was requested by Michael Rosenbaum on his Within You podcast if actors are paid extra in the event that they crossed over. She admitted she was solely paid $10K, a lot lower than what she made for an everyday episode on the time.
This was one of many first surprises to me. So in Flash’s first season, they did the primary crossover, and it was simply The Flash and Arrow. It was Stephen Amell, David, and Emily crossing over to The Flash, and Grant, Carlos, and I crossed over to Arrow. And the supply to do two jobs on the identical time — to do the identical position — after we guest-starred on Arrow was the highest of the present. So, on the time, lower than $10,000.
The actress additionally defined that when The Flash had simply come out, they didn’t “bake crossovers,” which means they didn’t put the crossovers into their contracts. As soon as Supergirl and Legends got here round, crossovers have been within the contracts. Even then, she alleges it was acknowledged that in the event that they did the crossover, they have been solely going to be paid a fraction of no matter they have been being paid for an everyday episode.
Given a number of the crossovers had myriad massive names connected, I do not discover this to be an enormous shock, neither is it a shock that not everybody was glad concerning the quantity they was being paid. She admitted there have been instances when individuals had refused to do the crossovers due to the low wage, they usually have been written out.
Even working twice as laborious, the wage wasn’t nice, as Panabaker identified:
This was the primary inclination of like, ‘That is loopy. You employed me to play the position of Caitlin Snow.’. . . ‘And also you’re gonna do that job on the identical time, you’re gonna work twice as laborious. You’re doing two jobs, and we’re gonna pay you a fraction of what I’m paid to try this job on The Flash.
Sadly, the low pay was not the one downside for the crossovers.
Extra Points With The Crossovers Plagued The Solid
The Sky Excessive actress additionally opened up about having to be a “crew participant.” This meant doing her finest, ensuring that she was punctual and ready, and that she knew her strains. Wanting again at it, Panabaker doesn’t know if being so eager served her, particularly since individuals who weren’t behaving the identical approach she was have been receiving higher remedy, in her estimation.
I actually satisfaction myself on being punctual and ready and figuring out my strains and doing my finest. And never everybody works that approach. And it is laborious, it was laborious for me after I felt like unhealthy conduct was being rewarded when individuals who weren’t behaving the identical approach I used to be, you recognize, have been receiving higher, completely different, no matter remedy. However, you recognize, on the finish of the day, it is prefer it’s my job to maintain my facet of the road clear. Like, I can simply deal with myself and determine. And that is what, you recognize, you understand how it’s.
Danielle Panabaker did reveal issues had modified because the years went on, however that it was largely for Stephen Amell, Grant Gustin, and Melissa Benoist, who have been the highest billed Arrowverse solid. Sadly, there was nonetheless little enchancment for the remainder of the solid. On the very least, she was in a position to direct some episodes and department out, even when she did not love directing herself.
It’s a disappointment figuring out how issues have been behind the scenes when the crossovers have been arguably among the best components concerning the Arrowverse, however not less than nearly everybody was in the identical boat. Followers can see the sweat and tears that went into the crossovers with an HBO Max subscription and a Netflix subscription.