Netflix Promises $100M Relief Fund to Out-Of-Work Entertainment Community

In the wake of people being forced to stay home owing to the coronavirus scare there is always a question as to how long will it last.

With a continued lack of clarity about how the government plans to aid those workers hit hardest by novel-coronavirus-related work stoppages, several institutions are pledging money to help those most affected in Hollywood. Netflix announced Friday that it’s set up a $100 million relief fund for out-of-work entertainment professionals, including the hundreds of thousands of crew and cast without jobs.

In a letter from chief content officer Ted Sarandos, one of Hollywood’s most visible creative executives noted the unprecedented effects that the pandemic has had on the community.

“Most of the funds will go towards support for the hardest-hit workers on our own productions around the world,” wrote Sarandos. “We’re in the process of working out exactly what this means, production by production. This is in addition to the two weeks pay we’ve already committed to the crew and cast on productions we were forced to suspend last week.”

Netflix’s relief pledge is not limited to its own productions. “Beyond helping workers on our own productions, we also want to support the broader film and television industry,” Sarandos continued. “So $15 million of the fund will go to third parties and non-profits providing emergency relief to out-of-work crew and cast in the countries where we have a large production base.”

Pledges to current non-profits aiding workers include $1 million to SAG-AFTRA Covid-19 Disaster Fund, the Motion Picture and Television Fund and the Actors Fund Emergency Assistance in the US and $1 million between the AFC and Fondation des Artistes.