Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike has passed 134 days of its strike and SAG-AFTRA actors have protested for over two months now demanding their deserved remuneration for their work from the studios.
Evidently, it hit several movie lineups and television shows but the strike is far from over as there is no update of solid negotiation from both parties. The worker in the entertainment industry was also hit hard for not going to work only with the hope of a better future. But this time Steven Spielberg came in for help.
Steven Spielberg Donated For the Aid of the Strikers
Hollywood gentleman Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw joined the list of celebrities that came out for the aid of the strikers. Recently, the couple donated $1.5 million to the protesting entertainment workers to support their cause and for financial aid, Deadline reported. After the stoppage of work due to the strike the families of the entertainment workers have suffered a great deal but they have stuck to their cause.
The donation went to the Entertainment Community Fund and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program to keep the industry-working professionals afloat during their tough times. The ECF recently released a statement thanking the director and his wife:
“Thanks to the transformative support from Kate Capshaw & Steven Spielberg, along with numerous other generous donors, the Fund is helping film and television workers in need with emergency financial assistance to cover basic living expenses (rent, groceries, health insurance, medical bills, etc.), mental health support and more.” (via Variety)
However, Black Rain actor, Capshaw and her husband Spielberg are the latest to join the helping hands of celebrities. Several other celebrities have come in support and aid of the protesters as well.
Dwayne Johnson and Several Others Came in For Aid
Action megastar and Hollywood A-lister Dwayne Johnson also hopped in for the aid of the strikers earlier. SAG-AFTRA Foundation president Courtney B. Vance acknowledged the actor’s generosity and urged others to join the helping hand in the time of the crisis. “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 (via Variety).
“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.”
Although the exact sum of the donation is kept confidential, Johnson’s generosity definitely helped a lot of workers. Alongside Johnson and Speilberg, several other celebrities have also written sizable checks for the foundations. George and Amal Clooney, Luciana and Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, and Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Julia Roberts, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Meryl Streep, and Oprah Winfrey, among many.
Additionally, Ryan Murphy and Greg Berlanti launched their own funds in support of the community.
