JP Nunez
Okay guys, I want to take a step back from all the horror goodness we normally talk about here on Horror Obsessive and address something a lot less pleasant. As I’m sure you’ve heard, SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, has officially joined the writers’ union in their strike, so the movie and TV industries are facing a big problem. With both the writers and the actors striking, film and TV show production will pretty much have to grind to a halt, and that means that countless people who work on these projects, not just the actors and writers, will be struggling to find work.
It’s disheartening to see negotiations between these unions and the AMPTP (the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) break down like this, but the strikes are a necessary evil. Writers and actors deserve to be treated and paid fairly just like workers in any other field, so I, for one, fully support them in these trying times.
However, as an outsider to both of these unions, I didn’t think there was much I could do to support them. I figured this was just between the writers/actors and the studios, so I didn’t think I could really make any difference in this whole fiasco.
That all changed earlier this week. A few days ago, before the actors went on strike, news broke that the studios would literally rather see writers lose their homes than treat them fairly and pay them what they deserve, and that pissed me off. Sure, I understand that film and TV is a business, and I don’t begrudge the studios trying to protect their interests.
But despite the old adage, all is not fair in love and war. Basic morality and common human decency still apply, so the studios have crossed a line. Waiting for people to lose their homes so they can come crawling back to you and accept your unfair terms is nothing short of evil, so as a big movie fan, I felt like I had to do something to help.
And thankfully, I found a way to do just that. Sure, I can’t directly impact the negotiations, but I can provide some financial support to the actors and writers (and all other film and TV professionals) who are struggling to make ends meet. And if you’re a movie and TV fan too, I’d like to invite you to chip in as well, if you’re able. There are a few charitable organizations that specifically help people in these fields, so if you’d like to contribute, just click on the links below and help support the writers, actors, and other film and TV professionals who might be out of work for a bit longer than their current means allow.
The Entertainment Community Fund supports a wide array of entertainment professionals, and you can easily direct your donation specifically to movie and TV workers.
SAG-AFTRA has an emergency assistance and disaster relief fund for its members.
