The writers’ and actors’ in Hollywood has seen production on a huge chunk of projects shut down, and creatives are having to find new ways to earn money.
It’s now been months – and in some cases their own premieres – as part of the Sag-Aftra strikes, and even longer since writers put down their pens.
While some shows are controversially returning amid major backlash, in many cases TV shows and films have simply been paused, in site.
It means those involved in the strikes, aiming for better pay and promises around the rise of AI, may not have been paid in all this time – but the Union Solidarity Coalition is aiming to help those most affected.
The charity was set up to financially support Hollywood crew members, with net proceeds benefitting the healthcare fund, the auction – – reads.
Dozens of items or even services have gone up for auction on the site: Natasha Lyonne helping the winning bidder to solve the New York Times Sunday crossword has been bid on 45 times and is currently at $5,100 (£4,100).
John Lithgow will paint a watercolour picture of your dog if you’re the winning bidder, currently on $4,250 (£3,400), or Girls star Lena Dunham will paint a mural in your home for a minimum of $5,100 (£4,100).
Parks and Recreation icon Adam Scott is offering to bring your dogs on a walk for $2,500 (£2,000) while one massively popular offer is Bob Odenkirk and David Cross joining you for dinner – an offer currently at a whopping $10,000 (£8,000).
You can draw corpses over Zoom with Charlie Day and Mary Elizabeth Ellis, get serenaded by the cast of Bob’s Burgers, interview Sarah Silverman, hang out virtually with the cast of New Girl and more.
The auction is open until September 22, at which point there are sure to be some incredible stories of regular people doing regular things with some not-so-regular Hollywood stars.
While the strikes are being held by US unions, it’s also affecting productions across the pond, with The Graham Norton Show recently reported to be in ‘crisis’ as it struggles to sign major guests for the new series.
A source told : ‘The BBC is in crisis as the Hollywood strikes are causing its flagship chat show an absolute headache for its next run later this year.
The insider added that even British stars have refused publicity and promotion ‘out of solidarity.’
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists represents 160,000 television and movie actors, .
The last time there was a writer’s strike was in 2007 when work stopped for 100 days and had massive effects on the economy, costing California alone $2.1 billion (£1.6 billion).
