Even with burgeoning technologies and new delivery platforms disrupting the norm for media industries, the soaring ’20s seemed to hold such promise just a few months ago. The coronavirus changed all of that. SAG-AFTRA moved quickly to protect its members during this pandemic — and is laying the groundwork for what could be a new normal.
In a few short weeks, the world turned upside down. Empty streets, offices and store shelves silently proclaim the anxiety we all feel. Since the coronavirus became part of daily life, our vocabulary has included phrases such as “social distancing,” “PPE” and “flatten the curve.”
It all began in late 2019, when a novel coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, and four days later the disease claimed its first life. It wasn’t long before it moved beyond China’s border, officially arriving on U.S. shores in January.
The impact of the virus on the media industry was being felt as early as February. As an outbreak took hold in Italy, Paramount Pictures announced it was delaying shooting for the latest Mission Impossible film, which was to have shot in Venice. It was a prescient warning of what would eventually happen to productions of all kinds in the United States and around the world.
SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White met with elected leadership and key staff to discuss safety planning and create a Business Continuity Team of senior staff to expand contingency plans and scenarios, assuring the business of the union could continue with little disruption.
By March 3, messages were delivered to members and staff about safety practices and social distancing in the workplace and at home. Additional messages would follow with safety resources and, by March 9, SAG-AFTRA announced that to further protect members and staff from exposure, it was implementing organization-wide crowd reduction measures, including postponement or cancellation of in-person meetings.
SAG-AFTRA staff worked with employers to assure precautions were being implemented on set, the newsroom, recording studio and anywhere our members work. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson announced on March 11 they had been diagnosed with COVID-19, underscoring the fact that anyone could be infected.
The next day, NBCUniversal announced out of caution that it was suspending production on the majority of its television series, including Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, Law & Order: SVU and New Amsterdam.
On March 13, SAG-AFTRA launched an online hub, sagaftra.org/covid-19, as a national and local resource for information about the novel coronavirus, which the World Health Organization had deemed a pandemic two days earlier.
Additionally, the union developed preliminary safety guidelines for multiple areas of work, including recording artists, performers, broadcasters and voiceover artists, both for members and employers during this fast-moving crisis.
The hub began listing all productions that were temporarily halted, instructing members to contact production before showing up for work.
WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF
Assessing the likely trajectory of the pandemic, SAG-AFTRA’s Business Continuity Team took decisive action in mid-March. SAG-AFTRA’s offices were closed to the public to minimize exposure. This was soon followed by the implementation of remote work for staff. Residuals processing and other essential services continue on site at SAG-AFTRA Plaza to reduce disruption to member service.
Workspaces and schedules shifted to conform with social distancing and safety precautions.
As the situation worsened, however, virtually all production would come to a standstill. SAG-AFTRA’s contracts staff continues to work tirelessly with performer reps and attorneys to ensure compliance with the provisions of force majeure production stoppages. Force majeure is a contract clause that allows production to stop due to unforeseen events.
On March 20, President Gabrielle Carteris addressed members in a video:
“We are in this together. During this time of significant economic impact, we must do everything we can to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help those in greatest need.”
Responding to the severity of the situation, on March 24, the union’s National Board voted to acknowledge and reaffirm the Executive Committee’s constitutional authority to act as necessary to address matters between meetings of the National Board. In light of these extraordinary circumstances, the National Board authorized the Executive Committee to establish a program for relief from dues, late payment charges and other related matters. The board also ratified the president’s and national executive director’s decision to postpone the April in-person National Board meeting in Los Angeles.
The President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach and Engagement held a virtual town hall on March 30 for hundreds of elected leaders from across the country to keep them updated on the union’s efforts during this time. It followed up with a livestream presentation for all members on April 7, where more than 4,100 people tuned in at one time to learn about applying for unemployment assistance and the benefits of the CARES Act.
The following week, SAG-AFTRA co-sponsored a webinar featuring a representative from the California Employment Development Department to review state unemployment assistance for those working in the entertainment industry.
As we move into the third month of the pandemic, the union continues to use every channel available to keep members informed of the latest developments.
Resources and comprehensive FAQs are regularly added to the union’s COVID-19 hub. Videos, podcasts and messages from leadership are shared via email and social media. Be sure to download the member app (sagaftra.org/app) to find out about the latest news, events and assistance on your mobile device.
RELIEF FOR MEMBERS
SAG-AFTRA and other organizations that serve the media industry and many members have stepped up during this crisis to offer assistance in many different shapes and forms.
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation and SAG-AFTRA Motion Picture Players Welfare Fund created the COVID-19 Relief Fund for those suffering financial distress from the pandemic. The fund was announced on March 16, and in its first two months distributed more than $4.6 million to over 5,000 SAG-AFTRA members.
The fund continues to work to raise millions to help those in need. Netflix stepped up with a gift of $1 million and members are taking care of members with big and small gifts to support their own. (To donate, please click here.) The union’s Executive Committee enacted a due-date extension and payment plan for those unable to pay dues at this time. The SAG-AFTRA Health Plan waived COVID-19 testing fees and announced a temporary 50% cut to many of the plans’ premiums for the current quarter.
Behind the scenes, SAG-AFTRA-elected leaders and staff extensively advocated for policies ensuring that members were included in federal and state relief efforts. The most sweeping of these was the federal CARES Act, the relief bill that puts money directly in many members’ pockets. The lobbying efforts have ensured that SAG-AFTRA members, many of whom don’t have traditional employment arrangements, are eligible for the unemployment aid the bill provides.
Crucial to all efforts are SAG-AFTRA’s rank-and-file members, who reach out to elected leaders during this time via email and phone to make their voices heard. Lobbying continues for future relief efforts.
GETTING BACK TO WORK SAFELY
The world may have changed, seemingly overnight, but there’s still a need for the work members do — perhaps more so with many people safer at home and hungry for news and entertainment.
Voiceover performers have seen an increase in job opportunities during this crisis. For those without home studios, the stay-at-home orders have provided the impetus to build out home facilities to create work remotely.
Late-night and daytime talk shows have returned to television with hosts broadcasting from home. The Daily Show has temporarily rebranded itself The Daily Social Distancing Show with Trevor Noah. Saturday Night Live also returned with remotely produced episodes.
Sesame Street aired a special, Elmo’s Playdate, on April 14 to help kids and families around the globe who may be feeling isolated feel connected in this time of uncertainty. The special featured members Anne Hathaway, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tracee Ellis Ross in segments recorded remotely.
In what could be considered a grand experiment for producing scripted programming virtually, the CBS courthouse drama All Rise returned to production and took on the coronavirus as part of its plot. Shot remotely using FaceTime, Zoom and other online tech, actors were recorded in their homes for the series finale, which aired May 4.
While much work is happening from home, broadcaster members face the challenge of on-the-street reporting while observing social distancing guidelines, and the possibility of harassment from members of the public in a time of anti-journalism political rhetoric.
As sets and other workplaces come back to life, the union understands it all needs to be done cautiously so that SAG-AFTRA members and other workers are not put in harm’s way. The SAG-AFTRA President’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Safety contacted epidemiologists, labor relations, and industrial sanitation and external experts to create guidelines on best practices.
UCLA professor and former L.A. County public health director Jonathan Fielding has also joined the Commission to lend his expertise. As part of the effort, Carteris, White and other entertainment labor leaders are collaborating closely.
“No one yet knows when the industry will be able to return to work, but we intend to be ready at the earliest possible time to ensure the safety of our members,” said White.
The Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee, which has been implementing safety procedures for decades, is coordinating the safety protocols. Formed in 1965, the committee is comprised of guild, union and management representatives who research, write and recommend guidelines for on-set safety practices.
“Importantly, we are … focused on the protective measures that will need to be enacted to keep professionals safe on production sets and other work environments once people can return to work,” the leaders of SAG-AFTRA, the DGA, the WGA East, IATSE, the Teamsters and the American Federation of Musicians said in a joint statement on April 20.
“We share a great faith that our industry will return with vigor and present abundant opportunities for our members to work and to reengage in the craft of delivering entertainment to audiences around the world,” the statement continued.
The coronavirus has shaken our industry and our world. Most devastating has been the human toll, but it has also had profound effects on the economy, our relationships and every other facet of our lives. SAG-AFTRA understands; its leaders and staff are struggling with the same issues as every other member of the union family. Leadership will continue to find new ways to offer help and protect members during this difficult time, and we will get through this the same way we have faced adversity in the past: together.
Whether it’s remotely or six feet apart, you can’t stop solidarity.
This item originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA magazine spring 2020 issue.