re: Random question about actor's pay I have never found an answer to

Grand Isle as an example since it was mentioned ... producers pay Nic let's say 2M for two weeks. The overall budget is somewhere around 5M (before LA tax credits.) Shoot mostly locations and avoid building too much (which can add up). At that budget level the crew rates are a bargain and you are likely only shooting 25 days total (compared to most projects which are 35 days or more).

Slap together the film and put his face on the poster. The movie is likely already pre sold in foreign territories based on talent/genre .... which gives the producers secure funding for investors.

Bruce Willis has become the literal poster boy for this .