Several of Hollywood’s biggest names are banding together to help SAG-AFTRA members as the strikes drag on.
Just days after Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson donated an undisclosed seven-figure amount to actors on the picket line, multiple stars have donated $1 million a piece to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. The much-needed financial boost arrives as the organization is experiencing an influx of members applying for emergency assistance in the wake of the strikes. With many being away from work, they are in need of money to help with bills, food, and other necessities until they can resume their employment.
According to SAG-AFTRA Foundation President Courtney B. Vance, 400 applications were received just last week. Some A-listers who showed up for the cause include Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lopez, and Ben Affleck, to name a few. Over a three-week period, the foundation has brought in over $15 million from generous donors. While an impressive amount, more is needed to sustain out-of-work entertainers.
“Much like the Covid pandemic, this work stoppage magnifies the precarious living conditions and financial distress of many actors living paycheck to paycheck,” Vance explained in a statement obtained by Deadline.
As of Wednesday, there did appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel. Film studios agreed to sit down with the Writers Guild of America to discuss a possible deal on Friday. This offers some hope that film companies may be ready to negotiate better pay for writers, which will hopefully trickle down to actors of the SAG-AFTRA. Until then, more of Hollywood’s wealthiest talent is encouraged to continue opening their wallets to help out their fellow performers.
