Screenwriters in Hollywood have been on strike for 134 days. The members of the actors' union SAG-AFTRA have now been on strike for 61 days. In view of the financial hardships faced by filmmakers in the U.S., legendary director Steven Spielberg (76) and his wife Kate Capshaw (69) have now jointly donated 1.5 million U.S. dollars to alleviate the financial hardships of strikers in the film and series industry in the United States. This was reported by the industry magazine 'Variety', among others.
US stars donate millions to strikers
The generous donation went to two programs that provide financial assistance to filmmakers, the Entertainment Community Fund and the Foundation's Emergency Financial Assistance Program of the actors' union SAG-AFTRA. Basic living expenses of the strikers such as rent, food or health insurance should be able to be paid by the funds.
Spielberg and his longtime wife are among a host of Hollywood celebrities who have provided financial support to those affected by the strike in recent weeks and months. Previously, superstars George Clooney (62) and Matt Damon (52), three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep (74) and many other big stars also distinguished themselves with generous financial donations.
Hardly any movement in the Hollywood double strike
The fronts between the striking unions SAG-AFTRA and WGA on the one hand and the producers' and studios' association AMPTP on the other seem to have hardened. Although representatives of authors and producers returned to the negotiating table several times in August, an agreement has not yet been reached.
In fact, the actors' union SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP have not even resumed their negotiations to settle the strike since SAG-AFTRA announced the start of the work stoppage on July 14 of this year.
Numerous film and series productions are affected by the double strike in Hollywood. For example, the eagerly awaited blockbuster 'Dune: Part 2' starring Timothée Chalamet (27) and Zendaya (27) has been postponed until next year. Popular series such as 'Grey's Anatomy' will return to screens with new seasons later than expected, and major events such as the 75th Emmy Awards have also been postponed. The awards ceremony, originally scheduled for September 18 of this year, will now not take place until January 15, 2024.
