An extensive list of renowned Hollywood actors and actresses made million-dollar donations to raise funds to financially help those colleagues who cannot cover their basic needs during the strike.
Hollywood is going through one of its most critical moments in years. After confirming the strike of the Actors Union on July 13, the industry has been completely paralyzed, having to put an indefinite pause on filming and productions that were underway. The measure of force applied by the union is added to that of the scriptwriters, who began their own at the beginning of June.
As the actors prepare to return to the negotiating table with the Alliance of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP) to discuss their demands, which include salary increases and regulation on the use of artificial intelligence, the Union announced the good news that could bring relief to various members of the organization.
In the last few days, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation confirmed generous donations from many of the union's members for the Emergency Financial Assistance Program. There are many renowned actors such as Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, and George Clooney, who have donated 1 million dollars to the foundation. The list also includes Dwayne Johnson, Matt Damon, Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Oprah Winfrey.
Through an official statement, the president of the Courtney B. Vance Foundation confirmed that 15 million dollars were raised in recent weeks. The SAG-AFTRA Emergency Financial Assistance Program was founded in 1985 to provide financial assistance to union members who cannot afford to cover their basic needs. The program provides grants of up to $1,500 to union members and up to $6,000 to members who have health problems or are in "serious danger."
The funds raised in recent weeks are intended to help those actors and actresses who have been severely affected by the current strike, to be able to cover basic expenses such as rent, medical expenses, and groceries.
"I remember my days as a waitress, a cleaner, a typist, even my time on the unemployment line," Streep said in the news release. "In this strike action, I am fortunate to be able to support those who will fight a long action to stand against Goliath. We will stand strong together against these powerful corporations that are hell-bent on taking away humanity, human dignity, even humanity from our profession," said the Oscar-winning actress.
"We are ready to come back to the table and make a fair deal with the AMPTP. Until then, I am proud to be able to support the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and my fellow actors who may be struggling in this historic moment. We have stood on the shoulders of people like Bette Davis and Jimmy Cagney and it's time for our generation to give something back," said George Clooney.
At the moment it is unknown when the measure of force initiated by the actors will come to an end. The president of the Actors Union, Fran Drescher, declared that they are ready to return to the negotiating table, but they are also prepared to continue the measure for several more months if necessary.
