Earlier this month, negotiations broke down between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the US actors union SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Union-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), with talks related to base salary, waste and the use of artificial intelligence in the industry.
On July 13, the day the strike was declared, the president of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Courtney B.Vanceand the executive director, cyd wilsonwrote a letter to 2,700 of the union’s highest-paid actors to highlight the financial hardship industry professionals would face if they were laid off.
After sending the letter, Johnson’s team reached out to offer help. However, the exact seven-figure financial sum is being kept confidential.
“It was a party of love. It’s like, ‘Man, you’re stepping up in a way that lets others know the dire need to do it,’” Vance told Johnson of his contribution. “This is him saying, ‘At a time like this, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere, whatever you need me to do.’ And that sends a great message to other people to do the same.”.
Wilson also told Variety: “Having been through this during COVID and having such a great response from our own membership to take care of their own, when the strike was decided, Courtney and I sat down with our team and said, ‘Here we go again.'”
How the Screen Actors Guild Helps Members in Need
“We depend on donations and grants to provide services; we have been very fortunate to have raised enough money to cover all of our programs,” added Wilson. “But when we’re facing a crisis like this and we’re going to spend millions and millions of dollars in financial assistance, that’s when we need our high-profile talent who can afford it, who’s in a position to help others.”
Wilson said SAG-AFTRA Foundation grants offer up to $1,500 per individual member, but under certain conditions this can increase to $6,000.. The executive director also estimated that between 7,000 and 10,000 members will need those services.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
