Amid Hollywood’s summer of strikes, the Directors Guild Foundation is pledging $100,000 in financial assistance to the Motion Picture & Television Fund for crew members affected by strike-related production halts.
“Our film crews are our work family. We need to help everyone who’s suffering,” said Todd Holland, Directors Guild Foundation film chair.
“The DGA Foundation supports the vital mission of the MPTF to support the crews who work alongside us with crucially important financial assistance. The need is so great, and we are glad the Directors Guild Foundation can help meet the challenge.”
The $100,000 donation to the MPTF is an addition to DGF’s existing assistance efforts, which includes its interest-free loan program and the Directors Guild of America’s emergency relief grants for its members. The DGA has also been a longtime supporter of the MPTF, to the tune of “millions of dollars of contributions to the general MPTF fund,” the guild stated.
Bob Beitcher, president and CEO of the MPTF, said of DGF’s contribution, “The generous support of MPTF and the community it serves by the DGA and the DGA Foundation is a true blessing to our industry. Our appreciation is immense.”
The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since May 2; SAG-AFTRA went out on July 14. Hollywood directors avoided a work stoppage in June when they ratified a three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on June 23. However, production activity ground to a halt more than two months ago and no signs of progress at the negotiating table between the AMPTP and WGA or SAG-AFTRA.