SAG-AFTRA — the union comprised of the Display screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Tv and Radio Artists — introduced a strike on July 13.
Why the strike? One of many essential causes is compensation. If you consider actors’ paychecks, you may think everybody raking in obscene quantities of cash. However that is truly not the case for therefore, so many people within the leisure trade. Previously few weeks, actors have spoken up concerning the shockingly low residuals they obtain, partially as a result of rise of streaming.
Effectively, in a brand new interview with Selection, SAG-AFTRA Basis president Courtney B. Vance and government director Cyd Wilson shared that they just lately obtained a historic donation to help actors on strike.
Throughout Covid, the SAG-AFTRA Basis offered reduction to most of the 160,000 members by means of the Emergency Monetary Help Program. Cyd defined, “We depend on donations and grants to offer providers — we’ve got been very lucky that we raised sufficient cash to have the ability to cowl all of our packages. However once we hit a disaster like this and we’re going to spend hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in monetary help, that is once we want our excessive profile expertise who can afford it, who’re in a scenario to assist others.”
After they despatched a letter to 2,700 of the union’s best-paid actors and highlighted the troublesome monetary scenario many members would face whereas on strike, Dwayne Johnson hopped on a name with Courtney.
“It was a love fest. It’s like, ‘Man, you’re stepping up in a approach that’s permitting others to know the dire necessity of it.’ That is him saying, ‘In such a time as this, I’m right here, and I’m not going anyplace, no matter you want me to do.’ And that sends an enormous message to people to do the identical factor.”
“It’s a name to arms for all of us to know that we simply need to step up nonetheless you possibly can,” Courtney continued. “In case your step up is $10, step up. As a result of that $10 goes to assist any person. If it’s $10,000, if it’s $10 million, step up, as a result of we’ve got to. Everybody is aware of what occurs while you go on strike, while you stand for one thing — because the saying goes, in case you don’t stand for one thing, you’ll fall for all the things — you possibly can’t stand except you will have help beneath you, on the aspect, up prime and up entrance. So Dwayne is letting everybody know, ‘I’m right here. What are you going to do?'”
Cyd added, “It’s the most important single donation that we’ve ever obtained from one particular person at one time. And what’s superb is that that one examine goes to assist hundreds of actors hold meals on their desk, and hold their children protected, and hold their automobiles working. And it’s not misplaced on me that he’s very humble about this, however it’s a strategy to get us began.”
Courtney thanked Dwayne for his “large generosity, compassion, and initiative to step up on this vital and significant approach for our neighborhood.” He concluded, “On behalf of the hundreds who might be helped by his historic donation, thanks, thanks, thanks.”
LOVE this! So cool for Dwayne — one of many highest-paid celebs in Hollywood — to open up his pockets and help his fellow actors throughout this time of uncertainty and monetary hardship. That is the way it’s carried out, people!
