Entertainment Community Fund Has Provided Financial Assistance To More Than 400 Non-Writers Affected By WGA Strike

EXCLUSIVE: The Entertainment Community Fund has provided financial assistance to more than 400 industry workers affected by the ongoing Writers Guild strike. Recognizing that WGA members aren’t the only industry workers affected by the strike, the WGA and several of its prominent members – including J.J. Abrams, Greg Berlanti, Adam McKay, Ryan Murphy, Shonda Rhimes, Mike Schur and John Wells – donated $1.7 million to the Fund back on May 10 to help out non-WGA members during the strike. Since then, donations have exceeded $2.2 million.

“The Fund has received more than $2.2 million in donations in support of film and television professionals,” Joe Benincasa, president and CEO of the Entertainment Community Fund, told Deadline. “And, we’ve helped more than 400 people with emergency financial assistance and have directed them to our additional programs and services to help with areas of need including health and wellness, career and life, housing and more.”

More from Deadline

• Tony Awards: WGA Asks Nominated Members Not To Attend Ceremony

• Labor Is Rising": Hundreds Of Union Workers Gather In Solidarity With WGA At Los Angeles Rally

• Max Credits Snafu Could Take Weeks To Fix; Execs Didn't Know About New "Creators" Label Until After Launch

The WGA West, meanwhile, has a separate $20 million strike fund to help its own members during the walkout. The WGA East provides strike loans to its members, as well.

The WGA strike, which is now in its 25th day, began May 2 after negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to reach an acceptable deal. The guild’s core issues include significant increases in compensation, minimum staffing, duration of employment, the establishment of viewer-based streaming residuals and curbs on the use of artificial intelligence to create scripts.

Best of Deadline

• TV Shows Affected By WGA Strike: 'Duster', 'The Really Loud House', 'The Old Man' & More - Updated List

• 2023-24 Awards Season Calendar - Dates For Oscars, Emmys, Major Film Festivals, Guilds & More

• WGA Strike Explained: The Issues, The Stakes, Movies & TV Shows Affected — And How Long The 2023 Work Stoppage Might Last

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.