Heartbreaking story of lead actor who was only paid $300 for film that made $90,000,000
Topics: Film and TV
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: CAT Films
Topics: Film and TV
An actor who starred in a movie that made a whopping $90 million was only paid $300 for his efforts.
The film industry is a tricky one, there's no doubt about that - and there's one actor in particular who discovered that the hard way.
In a day and age where some actors are being paid millions before they even begin filming on set, the late N!xau Toma received a measly upfront wage for his performance in Jamie Uys' comedy, The Gods Must Be Crazy.
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The 1980 comedy follows the story of a South African tribe who discover a glass Coca-Cola bottle which has fallen from an airplane. They believe it to be a gift from their Gods, as it arrived on their lap so suddenly.
It is far from a simple story behind told, however, as everybody wants to get their hands on the mysterious object, leading to pure and utter chaos.
Tribe leader Xi (Toma) tries to return the bottle in a bid to restore peace, but such decision takes him on a comical journey to the 'end of the world'.
The well-performed protagonist part sees the main character cross paths with a biologist (Marius Weyers), a newly hired village school teacher (Sandra Prinsloo), and a band of guerrilla terrorists.
I think you can tell how whacky of a story is being told here.
Toma was everywhere in this movie, but he was paid such a small sum for all his efforts.
When payday arrived, film director Uys said he gave Toma $300 for his first 10 days of work, but the actor did not understand the value of currency.
Toma reportedly let the notes blow away in the wind, and he was then given 12 heads of cattle instead, it was claimed.
He later received $100 a month since filming ceased, on top of that, $20,000 was added to a trust account that was set up in his name.
Born in Namibia, Toma had quite the life before he even stepped food into an acting role as he was one of several people known as Bushmen, which points to him being an Indigenous hunter-gatherer.
He spoke fluent Jul’hoan, Otjiherero, Tswana, with his rise to fame thanks to The Gods Must Be Crazy being Toma's first experience outside of a his local community.
Filming for the film took place in both Namibia and Botswana, though Toma was reportedly flown back home to the remote area of Tsumkwe in the Namibian part of the Kalahari every three or four weeks to help lower the culture shock.
Toma died in his late fifties in 2003, with police officials from where he lived being the ones to confirm his passing.