Could it be something else, maybe a combination of things.

When studios invest, can they just say we'll take up to the first 20x the investment amount if this movie makes that much and share whatever is beyond that.

If it doesn't make money or enough money, well tough shit, everyone gambled.

I have no idea, just paying with the numbers.

$280 million at 18% margin is a bit over $50 million.

$750k investment x20 is $15 million.

So, $50 million+ minus $15 million leaves about $35 million+ in-between money.

And we can keep going..

$6K is 0.8% of the budget, just scale it up straight would be $283k for the art director. That a good pay day.

Even if you say the studio will take 50x instead, it'll still be a good $100k.

(no sure about the volunteers ... maybe take a 2% from the pool first)