I don't think that the "favored nations clause" survived the 1990s.
Shatner/Nimoy: Favored Nations
- Thread starter EnriqueH
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If it ever existed at all, the clause was likely drawn up as a kind of "gentleman's agreement" between Shatner's and Nimoy's lawyers, and then presented to the studios as a kind of unified joint agreement. Despite Shatner's recollections, I doubt it goes back to the 1960s -- more likely it got drafted sometime during the movie era, and (of course) ceased to be relevant around the time of Generations, which involved Shatner but not Nimoy.
Nimoy mentions the "favored nations clause" in the Return to Tomorrow making of TMP book, stating that he didn't negotiate at all to be in TMP, but just signed a contract with the same terms as Shatner's.
So my guess is that it's mostly as Lance suggested above, more of a gentleman's agreement between the two, that they'd negotiate to get the same for participating in a joint project.
And by doing so, by the end of the movie series, the two of them accounted for about 25-30% of the pictures' total budgets - asking about $5-6 million each to appear.
So my guess is that it's mostly as Lance suggested above, more of a gentleman's agreement between the two, that they'd negotiate to get the same for participating in a joint project.
And by doing so, by the end of the movie series, the two of them accounted for about 25-30% of the pictures' total budgets - asking about $5-6 million each to appear.
Aye, it seems to me to have been drafted up as a part of Nimoy's return to the cast in TMP, an agreement that satisfied the demands of both Nimoy and Shatner equally, and was then used as leverage by both men during negotiations through the rest of the TOS movie series.
Shatner's recall that the 'clause' goes back to TOS is a faulty recollection (it's been documented that as late as TOS season three, the two men were still at odds with each other over who was the real 'star' in Star Trek -- which was probably still a hurdle that needed resolving ten years later when it came time to sign Nimoy up to TMP, hence the "favored nations" contract came into being as an agreeable settlement for both parties).
On the upside, "favored nations" is probably what made them the best buddies that they are today.
Shatner's recall that the 'clause' goes back to TOS is a faulty recollection (it's been documented that as late as TOS season three, the two men were still at odds with each other over who was the real 'star' in Star Trek -- which was probably still a hurdle that needed resolving ten years later when it came time to sign Nimoy up to TMP, hence the "favored nations" contract came into being as an agreeable settlement for both parties).
On the upside, "favored nations" is probably what made them the best buddies that they are today.
Interestingly, according to an interview in the Chicago Tribune around the time STV was coming out, Shatner says he owes his chance to direct the film to the most favored nations clause in his contact and Nimoy having the guts to ask to direct a "Star Trek" movie instead of accepting more money to put his Spock ears on again. It says Shatner would've been given STIV, but he was too wrapped up in "T.J. Hooker" at the time to take on all the responsibilities associated with directing, so he didn't invoke the clause. He invoked it for STV, and it must've included having the story idea, because by then, Nimoy had a story credit for STIV.
The article says the clauses went back to TOS, and Shatner says he and Nimoy used to joke that Nimoy didn't need an agent because he benefited every time Shatner's lawyers or agent got Shatner a raise.
It's not in the article, but if the clauses existed and their salaries weren't equal as some say, it could be that Nimoy's clause only meant that whatever raise Shatner got, Nimoy's salary got raised the same amount. So Nimoy could've been starting from a lower base, but from then on, rose at the same rate as Shatner. It could be the movie contracts were written so the clauses kept one from making more than the other.
Here's a link to the story in the Tribune from June 4, 1989:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...2060971_1_mr-spock-star-trek-iv-leonard-nimoy
The article says the clauses went back to TOS, and Shatner says he and Nimoy used to joke that Nimoy didn't need an agent because he benefited every time Shatner's lawyers or agent got Shatner a raise.
It's not in the article, but if the clauses existed and their salaries weren't equal as some say, it could be that Nimoy's clause only meant that whatever raise Shatner got, Nimoy's salary got raised the same amount. So Nimoy could've been starting from a lower base, but from then on, rose at the same rate as Shatner. It could be the movie contracts were written so the clauses kept one from making more than the other.
Here's a link to the story in the Tribune from June 4, 1989:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...2060971_1_mr-spock-star-trek-iv-leonard-nimoy
KICK ASS.
Assuming Shatner made a mistake in his recollections, maybe this is where Shatner gets confused...they drew up "favored nations" during PLanet of the Titans...well before TMP. And this leads Shatner to misremember it as during TOS?
As far as I know, the "favoured nations" contract came about as the enticement for Nimoy to play Spock in TMP, having already refused participation in "Phase II". The contract was to guarantee him a pay rise (Shatner, as star, had always received more on TOS and TAS), ie. if Shatner got increased pay and conditions during the movie era, so did Nimoy. Paramount also had to settle an ongoing grumble from Nimoy's agent: payment/approval for the use of his likeness on licensed Trek tie-ins (and pursuing illegal uses, such as the Heineken beer poster:
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=...h&sa=X&ei=lWS3VOiyI4XUmgXmr4CIBQ&ved=0CAUQ_AU )
Of course, the FN contracts ended up benefiting Shatner as well! Nimoy being granted directorship of ST III and ST IV gave Shatner the leeway to request directorship of ST V (and probably the right to consider directing ST VI, which I recall everyone being relieved when he said he wasn't interested).
IIRC, the last time these contracts were considered was the clause giving Shatner and Nimoy the right to be consulted about their screen replacements. There was a meeting reported between them and JJ Abrams, at which the new Kirk and Spock actors were discussed.
I would assume if both actors are offered roles in the future, it would still be at identical pay and conditions.
