- Netflix announced it has launched a $100 million relief fund to help those in the creative community who were left without a way of making income
Netflix announced it has launched a $100 million relief fund to help those in the creative community who were left without a way of making income due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. And Netflix said a majority of these funds will be used for supporting laid-off crew and cast members. Around 120,000 crew and cast members in the entertainment industry have lost jobs since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID-19 crisis is devastating for many industries, including the creative community. Almost all television and film production has now ceased globally — leaving hundreds of thousands of crew and cast without jobs,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “These include electricians, carpenters, and drivers, many of whom are paid hourly wages and work on a project-to-project basis. This community has supported Netflix through the good times, and we want to help them through these hard times, especially while governments are still figuring out what economic support they will provide.”
Of the $100 million fund, $15 million will go to third-parties and non-profits offering emergency relief to out-of-work crew and cast in countries where there is the largest production base. And of that, Netflix is going to donate $1 million each to the SAG-AFTRA COVID-19 Disaster Fund, the Motion Picture & Television Fund, and the Actors Fund Emergency Assistance in the U.S. along with another $1 million going between the AFC and Fondation des Artistes.
Sarandos also pointed out that Netflix is working with a number of other industry organizations for bolstering relief efforts in Europe, Latin America, and Asia where many of its movies and shows are filmed.
“What’s happening is unprecedented,” Sarandos explained. “We are only as strong as the people we work with and Netflix is fortunate to be able to help those hardest hit in our industry through this challenging time.”
