The Anne Hathaway-produced film guarantee a Hollywood opportunity for thousands of background actors. But some say their “Little Five” experience came with sweltering temperatures, disappointing food and frustrating waits for their paychecks.
Two actors described their experiences, with one single mother saying the delays in payments left her struggling after arranging childcare and taking time off work. Now, Pigasus Pictures CEO Zachary Spicer is responding to the complaints and making it clear that he, not Hathaway, was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the production.
Inspired by the Little 500 bicycle race at Indiana University, “Little Five” follows a group of collegiate women who helped redefine the sport. Ariana Greenblatt and Rain Spencer lead the cast, with Hathaway’s Somewhere Pictures and Indiana-based Pigasus Pictures behind the project.
For one background actor based in Chicago, recording at first seemed like an interesting way to earn extra money. “At first, I was excited,” she told the Daily Mail anonymously. “I didn’t know about her involvement [prior to signing up]but I was a big fan. “
She traveled to Bloomington, Indiana, for filming to stretch from late July to August. Once the work started, however, she said the combination of outdoor shoes, summer temperatures and a fall wardrobe was difficult. “We were all fried, burned,” she said. “They had sunscreen for us and tried to relax us, but it was brutal.
Cycling views added another challenge. The actress said she saw Greenblatt and Spencer riding again for intimate scenes, although she never heard a complaint from either. “They tried their best but they are not advanced cyclists,” she said.
A second player told the service that they experienced “a slight case of heat exhaustion” and had to miss work later in the week. “It was a hot fire,” said the source. “Most of the time I was on set, we were out in really hot and humid weather. I have asthma, so I had to be careful.”
A representative says cooling stations and medical teams were available
The second player also gave credit to production by allowing breaks and providing drinks and electrolyte packs, especially earlier in the shoot. “They gave us a break,” she said. Spicer defended the precautions taken during outdoor filming, telling the Daily Mail that safety was the company’s “biggest concern”.
“Production maintained extensive safety measures throughout outdoor filming, including cooling tents, portable air conditioning, shaded areas, specialized irrigation personnel, on-site medical teams, EMTs and ambulances,” he said. “The cast and crew have been encouraged to report any health concerns immediately and have been asked to put their own personal health and safety first before any desired outcome on appearance or performance.”
Both sources confirmed the availability of a medical tent. Spicer also confirmed that production removed a background player after raising concerns about his behavior. While one source said the response took time, Spicer said the production “responded immediately.”
“The individual was removed from the building, and additional security measures were implemented,” he said.
One player compared the food to ‘Prison’
Food became another source of disagreement. The first actress said that food mainly depended on chicken and rice, leaving her with few options because she does not eat chicken. “It was a bit like prison, to be honest, chicken and rice every day,” she said. “It seemed like people weren’t taking the food because it wasn’t that good.”
She said she was “just eating rice all week.”
The second performer offered a different account, saying the buffets were “better” than the food they encountered on other productions.
Spicer disputed the suggestion that there were few food options. “Meals for all teams, crews and backgrounds were provided daily, with a variety of protein, starch and vegetable options available,” he told the outlet.
The first actress also questioned how travel reimbursement and accommodation options were communicated. According to the Daily Mail, these arrangements were usually coordinated through a third-party background casting company.
Delayed paychecks left a single mother waiting for her money
For the actress in Chicago, the biggest frustration came after filming ended. She said she earned $1,025 during the week but received the money in separate checks, with the last payment coming in October. “I expected that if I worked for the week they would send me the full amount, but they didn’t. “As a single mother, it’s very difficult. It was brutal when they were just trying to get in because I needed the full amount.”
The second player said they were still missing a payment of about $200 when interviewed. The Daily Mail also reported that they received three unpaid wages complaints filed with the Illinois Department of Labor seeking $2,950, $4,015.12 and $1,369.80. These figures represent the amounts sought in the complaints, rather than the department’s decisions.
Spicer previously acknowledged the payment problem in a statement to Fox59. “The payment issue has been resolved, and we apologize to those who contributed their time and talent to the film and were affected by the issue,” he said.
He has since told the Daily Mail that all actors, crew and extras “have been paid in full” and that “the production remains in good standing with its unions.” According to Spicer, additional time was required to process paperwork and daily records for more than 10,000 background participants.
Boss Pictures Pigasus says responsibility falls on him
One source did not confirm that they saw Hathaway on the set, although the first actress recalled a video message in which the star thanked the background actors. She described the move as “very sweet.” Hathaway and Somewhere Pictures had not responded to The Daily Mail’s requests for comment at the time of its report.
Spicer, meanwhile, said Pigasus independently financed the film and managed the physical production. He also directly addressed efforts to link the complaints to others involved in the project. “I am responsible for financial administration, payroll, personnel and day-to-day operations,” Spicer said. “Any attempt to associate issues or concerns with anyone other than myself would be wrong, unfair and rude.”