Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, have joined other celebrities as they donate to the strikers’ needs. The couple has donated about $1.5 million to the Entertainment Community Fund.
Throughout the strikes, the Fund and SAG-AFTRA’s Emergency Financial Assistant Program provided the necessary funds for strikers to survive and continue their protests without fearing for their financial needs. These needs range from living expenses to general mental health needs. Overall, both have donated an impressive amount to both unions, with the Fund donating about $6.5 million as of September 8th and the Foundation donating $2.5 million.
With their donation to the Community Fund, Spielberg and Capshaw have joined the ranks of many celebrities who have offered their funds, like Seth Macfarlane and Rhonda Shimes. Many well-renowned actors like George and Amal Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Oprah Winfrey have donated to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. A few industry giants like showrunners Ryan Murphy and Greg Berlanti have even created their funds to support the strikers.
With the WGA on its 133rd day and SAG-AFTRA on its 60th, they need all the assistance they can get to continue their efforts. The latter has not reconvened with AMPTP to create a proper agreement, but the former has met with the producers many times to try to end the strike.
With an AMPTP spokesperson denying any claims about looking for a solution to these crises, donations from across Hollywood will help keep the strikes going strong in the foreseeable future.