IATSE has created an assistance program called IATSE C.A.R.E.S. to provide support to the union’s most at-risk, elderly or disabled members during the coronavirus crisis. A joint effort by the union’s Young Workers Committee and its Disaster Response Committee, the new IATSE Coronavirus Active Response and Engagement Service is a buddy system where members in need may sign up to have a volunteer check in with them as often as they choose.

“We have also created a safe and free delivery system which connects trained and healthy IATSE Young Worker volunteers with older IATSE members in need,” the union said. “Members in need may request supplies, groceries, or whatever else they may need, and another IATSE member will bring it to their doorstep through our volunteer database.”

To volunteer or receive assistance, click here.

Requests for assistance from the Actors Fund have soared during the industry’s coronavirus shutdown, and the WGA West has answered the call.

“While the Actors Fund typically processes an average of 60 grants per week, in the last two weeks it has scaled up and is providing 150 grants per day,” leaders of the WGA West told their members today in an urgent call for contributions to the Fund. To help fill the need, the guild contributed $590,000 to the Fund last week from levies it collects from foreign countries to compensate rights holders for the copying, rental and retransmission of their films and television programs.

Guild president David A. Goodman, vice president Marjorie David and secretary-treasurer Michele Mulroney said in their joint statement:  “The COVID-19 crisis has created unprecedented demand for all forms of assistance from the Actors Fund. As productions have stopped and offices emptied, many in our industry find themselves suddenly without income, unable to pay utility bills or other essential expenses.

“For 130 years,” they said, “the Actors Fund has been a stalwart of the arts and entertainment community, providing financial assistance and social services to creative professionals in need. Writers have been among the many who have benefitted from their programs…The need is urgent. Your donation will support the important emergency assistance fund and other important services. So if you are able, please donate to the Actors Fund today. If you are currently in need of help paying for basic living expenses, you may be eligible for assistance through The Actors Fund Emergency Assistance Fund.”

The guild, they noted, has contributed more than $5.9 million in foreign levies monies to the Actors Fund during the past 12 years. Since the foreign levies program’s inception in 1992, the guild has distributed nearly $250 million to writers.

By David Robb  Deadline                                                                                                                                  March 26, 2020 12:22 pm

SAG-AFTRA has yanked Hanlon Talent Agency’s franchises agreement and told its members that they cannot “engage, use, or deal through this agency.”

Run by Courtney Hanlon, the L.A.-based agency, which mostly represented commercial actors, appears to no longer be in business – not that there’s that much business in town now anyway. Its phone appears to have been disconnected, and its website is not functioning.

“All contracts in force between this agency and the members of SAG-AFTRA are ipso facto and without further notice terminated except that the agency may retain and collect any commissions earned under said contracts prior to the surrender of franchise,” the union says. “Members shall not be under any obligation to pay commissions to the agent on any moneys earned by members after the termination of the agency contracts, even though such moneys are earned by members on employment contracts in existence at the date of termination of the agency contracts.”

By David Robb  Deadline                                                                            March 25, 2020 7:04 pm

Leaders of the DGA said tonight that the major studios “have committed to two weeks of pay” for many non-director members who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus shutdown of film and television production, and that the guild has been “fast-tracking residuals” payments worth “tens of millions of dollars so you would have this important source of income in your hands immediately.” The guild is also offering “leniency” on dues for members who can’t afford to pay because of the shutdown.

Below-the-line (non-director) DGA jobs include assistant directors, unit production managers, stage managers and production associates.

“As the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on our health, our work, our community and the overall economy continues to unfold, your Guild is working hard for you,” DGA president Thomas Schlamme and national executive director Russ Hollander said tonight in their latest message to their members. “With film, television and commercial production suspended for the time being, and our members in news working hard to keep the world informed – we have been in contact with so many of you who have shared what’s on your minds. While the situation continues to remain fluid, we know you are seeking certainty in a sea of unknowns. Your Guild is here for you to be that beacon as we continue to fight on the front lines. For your protection. For your rights. And for your peace of mind.”

and field representatives have been working nonstop, connecting with hundreds of members about their individual work situations, and advocating on their behalf,” they said. “They’ve been in constant contact with studios, networks and other employers, our sister guilds and unions, agents and entertainment lawyers. As part of that work, the major studios have committed to two weeks of pay to carry our below-the-line members impacted by production

shutdowns, and we are in talks with other employers demanding they do the same or better. We are also working hard to secure relief for directors. For those of you who work in news, we are pushing the Networks and Local Stations to provide a safe workplace.

“In anticipation of the current ‘Stay at Home’ order that’s been instituted, our Residuals department (and staff from other departments) worked around the clock and on weekends in advance of the order to fast-track thousands of residuals checks worth tens of millions of dollars so you would have this important source of income in your hands immediately. As additional checks are delivered, the team is continuing its incredible work to turn them around as quickly as possible.

“We are also aware,” they said, “that a number of you have raised concerns about your DGA dues. Quarterly dues reports will proceed as scheduled in April and members will be required to report their earnings. For members who cannot afford to pay their dues, we have made the decision to refrain from suspending members for non-payment of dues through July 1st, at which time we will assess the situation. But if you have the good fortune to be able to pay your dues at this time, please do. That money goes to help operate our Guild so we can continue to protect you throughout this pandemic. But again, if you find yourself experiencing hardship and cannot pay at this time, there is leniency.”

On the healthcare front, Schlamme and Hollander said: “We know many of you are concerned and anxious about making your minimums. The Plans are in the process of preparing a newsletter that lays this out specifically. But we want to assure those of you whose current coverage expires on March 31st that if you’ve met your minimum earnings threshold ($35,000 in covered earnings) from January 2019 to December 2019 you are covered through March 31, 2021. To reiterate, even if you had no earnings in the first quarter of 2020, you are still protected for the next year.”

They also noted that the guild has been fighting for federal and state assistance for Hollywood workers who have all lost their jobs at once, and that “we are so close to seeing tangible results. Hopefully by the time you get this, a bill will have been passed with measures expected to include expanded unemployment benefits and ‘pandemic unemployment’ benefits to ensure that entertainment industry workers not eligible for traditional unemployment can receive comparable weekly benefits.”