# Anchorman II, how did some get paid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 29, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchorman-ii-how-did-some-get-paid/677432 "2013-12-29T20:14:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchorman-ii-how-did-some-get-paid/677432/1 "2013-12-29T20:14:50Z")
Toward the end of the movie, several well-known actors (Jim Carey, Vince Vaughn, etc.) made cameo appearances. Anyone know how these guys might have gotten paid? Big bucks? Little bucks? Or might they have comped their appearances for past or future favors? Professional courtesy ? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchorman-ii-how-did-some-get-paid/677432/2 "2013-12-29T20:24:59Z")
The screen actors guild has specific minimum rates depending on the role (speaking, nonspeaking, business, etc). Usually, actors get the minimum rate for cameos – the same as what an unknown actor would have gotten for the same amount of screen time and dialog. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchorman-ii-how-did-some-get-paid/677432/3 "2013-12-30T00:15:14Z")
Photos of me in compromising positions would be required to make me consider appearing in Anchorman II. In fact, they could have outtakes at the end of Will Farrell approaching celebrities with photos of what they did while guest hosting SNL under the influence. It would be the funniest part of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchorman-ii-how-did-some-get-paid/677432/4 "2013-12-30T00:53:41Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The screen actors guild has specific minimum rates depending on the role (speaking, nonspeaking, business, etc). Usually, actors get the minimum rate for cameos – the same as what an unknown actor would have gotten for the same amount of screen time and dialog. This. It’s pocket change to the producer of the film. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchorman-ii-how-did-some-get-paid/677432/5 "2013-12-30T02:00:30Z")
In those sorts of situations where we’re talking about one single day of work, the well-known actor playing a tiny role typically accepts the Screen Actor’s Guild minimum. Film is a very small business, and people are frequently happy to do a favor for a friend, whether that friend is the director, the star, or the producer. Plus, the next time you need the same thing for your movie, you call in the favor. Money does change hands, but usually it’s small and the favor owed in the future is more valuable. In addition, some actors love to do cameos. They get a kick out of going onto the set, being the center of attention and meeting old friends, and doing a tiny bit of work in a role that’s usually lots of fun anyway. Finally, it’s good for an established actor’s perceived brand to do this sort of thing. George Takei, for instance, does cameos on television sometimes. In addition to the above reasons, it helps keep him fresh in the public mind, which opens up additional professional opportunities because kids today who might not otherwise know who he is begin to recognize him. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchorman-ii-how-did-some-get-paid/677432/6 "2013-12-30T04:53:16Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > In addition, some actors love to do cameos. They get a kick out of going onto the set, being the center of attention and meeting old friends, and doing a tiny bit of work in a role that’s usually lots of fun anyway. I’m pretty sure that’s why Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Tim Robbins had cameos in the gang fight scene in the first “Anchorman”.