With Hollywood dropped at a standstill by the coronavirus pandemic, there are literally thousands of leisure {industry} employees left questioning how they’ll make ends meet, for nevertheless lengthy the lockdown lasts. But over the previous week, the leisure {industry}’s unions have gathered assets to assist employees discover monetary help.
Guild officers who spoke to TheWrap say that they don’t have sufficient to assist all employees in want, and that federal help will likely be wanted, not just for direct restoration checks, however to assist be certain that leisure employees qualify for presidency aid regardless of the unconventional nature of their employment. Still, they encourage those that instantly discover themselves with out earnings due to the industry-wide shutdown to achieve out to their respective guilds for help, and for individuals who can afford it to contribute in any manner they’ll.
General help teams are listed right here under, adopted by hyperlinks for members of particular guilds:
#PayUpHollywood
Founded final yr by “Chicago Fire” author and WGA board member Liz Alper alongside Jamarah Hayner and Deirdre Mangan, the activist group was created to arrange Hollywood employees round calls for for higher pay and security within the wake of the #MeToo motion. Now, they’re elevating funds to ship out small, short-term stipends to employees in want.
Together with WGA board member John August and “Chernobyl” creator Craig Mazin, hosts of the podcast “ScriptNotes,” #PayUpHollywood has launched a GoFundMe account that up to now has raised over $320,000. The aim of the group is to offer emergency checks of $450-900 to Hollywood employees who had been engaged on initiatives that had been both filming or set to enter manufacturing when the pandemic hit.
$450 checks will likely be obtainable to those that qualify and who’re at present receiving unemployment checks from the California Employee Development Department (EDD). $900 checks will likely be obtainable to certified candidates who can not get checks from the EDD for numerous causes, comparable to 1099 worker standing. Information on EDD companies, together with help to these contaminated or caring for somebody contaminated with coronavirus can verify their web site for extra data.
Those who want to apply can fill out the survey right here. Aid will likely be offered primarily based on order of functions obtained and stage of want. All candidates might want to present documentation of employment misplaced, EDD utility proof, and/or different data as listed within the survey. Those who want to donate to the fund can achieve this on their GoFundMe web page.
Actors Fund
Though the title means that it’s only obtainable to actors within the leisure {industry}, the Actors Fund is offering emergency monetary help and counseling to all leisure employees. The group was included as a part of a $2.5 million donation to IATSE and is now open to functions for emergency funds primarily based on monetary want. More data is accessible on their web site.
Motion Picture and Television Fund
When the disaster started final week, the Motion Picture and Television Fund introduced that it could open its monetary help and case administration companies to the {industry}. Those in want in Hollywood, significantly {industry} retirees, can name their consumption line at (323) 634-3888, or verify their web site for companies supplied.
“We have been at this place before during the 2007-2008 work stoppage and supported 630 industry members with financial assistance and case management in a challenging time,” wrote President/CEO Bob Beitcher final week. Thanks to the generosity of our group, MPTF remains to be right here for you at this time.”
Writers Guild of America
For WGA members, authorized companies are being supplied by each WGA West and WGA East to assist writers with steerage on their contracts and employment rights on any productions that had been shut down. Any members within the WGA well being plan will even be capable of have 100% of the price of testing for the coronavirus coated by the guild’s well being plan. These and different WGA companies…
