The strike by the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) doesn’t look like it will be ending anytime soon. Many actors have been affected by the work stoppage and are feeling the effects of the strike financially.
On Monday, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation announced that Dwayne Johnson has given a “historic” donation to help alleviate some of the financial hardship brought about by the strike. While the exact amount hasn’t been revealed, it is reportedly in the “seven figures”.
In an interview with Variety, executive director Cyd Wilson revealed Johnson’s magnanimous donation to the foundation. Wilson shared that the donation will help alleviate some of the financial stress to its 160,000 members across the US through the Emergency Financial Assistance Program.
“We rely on donations and grants to provide services — we have been very fortunate that we raised enough money to be able to cover all of our programs,” Wilson shared. “But when we hit a crisis like this and we’re going to spend millions and millions of dollars in financial assistance, this is when we need our high profile talent who can afford it, who are in a situation to help others.”
Johnson’s team reached out to SAG-AFTRA Foundation president Courtney B. Vance after receiving the letter asking for donations.
“It was a love fest. It’s like, ‘Man, you’re stepping up in a way that is allowing others to know the dire necessity of it,'” Vance told Johnson about his generous donation to the emergency fund. “This is him saying, ‘In such a time as this, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere, whatever you need me to do.’ And that sends a huge message to other folks to do the same thing.”
According to Wilson, SAG-AFTRA members can receive up to $1,500 but can be increased in extreme conditions such as health issues and other situations that may place actors in serious jeopardy. A lifetime member can receive up to $6,000 in emergency financial assistance. Johnson’s hefty donation will potentially aid thousands of actors.
“It is a call to arms for all of us to know that we just have to step up however you can,” Vance adds. “If your step up is $10, step up. Because that $10 is going to help somebody. If it’s $10,000, if it’s $10 million, step up, because we have to. Everyone knows what happens when you go on strike, when you stand for something — as the saying goes, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for everything — you can’t stand unless you have support underneath you, on the side, up top and up front. So Dwayne is letting everyone know, ‘I’m here. What are you going to do?'”
The Writers’ and Actors’ Unions have not yet reached an agreement with studios as of writing. There have been reports that the strike may drag on until October which is causing significant delays in the production of movies and TV shows. SAG-AFTRA members working overseas like the cast of House of the Dragon are reportedly continuing to work despite the ongoing strike.
