How WGA and SAG Strikes Affect Crew Members: ‘Dire Straits’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Crew members are suffering from the lack of work since the WGA and SAG strikes have shut down the entertainment industry.
“A lot of people are really in dire straits,” said Annette Bening, a chair member of The Entertainment Community Fund. “They are getting clobbered by this. They are losing their homes. They are getting their cars repossessed. They are losing their health insurance.”
Workers in the entertainment industry are starting to lose benefits, like their health plans, because they cannot meet quotas. To qualify for The Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans (MPIPHP), members must work 400 hours over six months.
The writers’ strike slowed down productions when it began three months ago, and nearly all productions stopped when the actors began to strike last month. With an extremely limited number of ongoing productions, even long-time industry veterans cannot find enough work to meet their quotas.
“I’m trying to cope with this the best way I can,” Bill Bridges, a 54-year-old grip, said. “I’ve been in the film industry my entire adult life, and I can’t get ahead.”
To help with the lack of work, MPIPHP announced they would credit workers up to 201 hours to help them reach the 400-hour mark. MPIPHP has also allowed its members to withdraw a one-time “hardship withdrawal” from their retirement fund. This hardship withdrawal allows members to receive up to 20% of their contributed funds, up to $20,000.
“Each month that the strike goes on, people aren’t making qualifying hours,” said Mike Miller, who runs the West Coast office of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. “So it’s going to increase every month.”
These special allowances from MPIPHP are similar to the steps they took during the pandemic when the industry shut down.
Currently, only 100 indie projects are in production. All other scripted shows and movies have been brought to a halt.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Despite an industry-wide strike, Lionsgate’s series THE CHOSEN was given a waiver from SAG to continue filming.
THE CHOSEN shared on their Twitter, “Update: Great news! We just received word from SAG that we have been approved for a waiver. We’ll continue shooting on Monday.”
In addition, creator and producer Dallas Jenkins posted a photo on his Instagram which stated, “We’ve submitted all the requested paperwork immediately. We fit all qualifications for an exemption. Every day that goes by without your response costs us hundreds of thousands of dollars while your actors are stuck in Utah.”
