TV

Netflix sets up $100 million coronavirus relief fund to help unemployed crew workers


Funds raised will go to crew members who have been left without a job (Picture: Moment RF/iStock/Getty)

Netflix has set up a $100 million (£85 million) relief fund in order to help members of the creative community who have been left unemployed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The streaming service has said that funds raised will go towards
crew members who have been left without jobs and unable to provide for their
own income, as a result of many television series and films suspending production
until further notice.

In a statement, Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted
Sarandos, said: ‘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.

‘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.’

He added: ‘What’s happening is unprecedented. 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.’

Netflix will also give $1 million to several relief funds (Picture: EPA/Rex)

$15 million (£12 million) of the fund will also be given to third parties and non-profit organisations that offer emergency relief to out-of-work cast and crew in countries that have production bases.

Additionally, Netflix have promised that they will donate $1 million (£858,000) to a number of funds, including the SAG-AFTRA Covid-19 Disaster Fund and the Motion Picture And Television Fund.

The service is also taking a look at their original series
and films that were in production at the time of the disease’s outbreak to determine
if crew members and workers will need further assistance.

It comes after the entertainment industry has suffered record numbers of unemployment. 120,000 crew members have lost their jobs as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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