By Mayuran Tiruchelvam
Tens of thousands of film workers lost their jobs as Covid-19 became a global pandemic. In addition to current productions that shut down, upcoming shoots postponed, financiers pulled out of independent films, and all the movie theaters closed. Some of us might be able to access state unemployment services, but for a vast number of us, massive economic insecurity lies ahead.
It is uncertain when the film and television industry will be back up and running, putting people at risk of food insecurity or homelessness. People ineligible for unemployment, lacking health care, or union protections may be questioning how to survive this pandemic. They’re not alone.
Those of us who need support should not be afraid or ashamed to ask. Those of us privileged with time, money, health, or a lack of caretaking responsibilities must contribute to folks who need help.
Community organizers have established mutual aid networks to help us care for one another during the pandemic. Mutual aid projects include contributing food to those who need it, providing digital companionship, taking care of children and the elderly, and specific funds for vulnerable populations (disabled people, folks with housing insecurity, the LGBTQI community, people of color, sex workers, or undocumented immigrants).
We can get through this by helping each other.
A list of Mutual Aid and disaster care networks by state, city, and nation HERE
Organizing resources and news, including a list of victories (like eviction moratoriums in various states and cities) HERE
Resources for freelance artists, including emergency funds HERE
List of arts resources during the COVID-19 outbreak compiled by Creative Capital HERE
Resources for Artists in the COVID-19 Crisis complied by Kickstarter HERE
Women Make Movies Resources for Artists with Lost or Reduced Wages HERE
Financial Relief Resources for Artists During COVID-19 compiled by Artwork Archive HERE
A Coronavirus resource kit, including guides for artists HERE
Cinema Worker Solidarity Fund HERE
Alamo Drafthouse relief fund for furloughed staff members HERE
IATSE petition to tell Congress to include displaced entertainment workers in relief package HERE
Relief Fund for Hollywood Support Staff HERE
SAG-AFTRA COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund HERE
Emergency Fund for independent women and non-binary photographers who have been impacted by COVID-19 HERE
RollingStone’s list of how you can support independent musicians HERE
Recording Academy’s MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund Apply for Assistance HERE
Humanity in times of COVID-19: How to help each other properly HERE
Canadian artists and freelancers can find help during COVID-19 shutdowns HERE
QueerDOC Slack Channel for queer filmmakers HERE
PGA Producers Guild of America Members Relief Fund HERE
POV Fund for Documentary Filmmakers HERE
PEN America Applications for Writers’ Emergency Fund HERE
American Documentary Artist Emergency Fund for Independent Documentary Community Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic HERE
Canadian artists and freelancers can find help during COVID-19 shutdowns HERE
Field of Vision and Topic Studios Documentary Freelancer Relief Fund HERE
Takes Our Village to #SupportOurCrews HERE
Documentary Producers Alliance Covid-19 Resources HERE
IDA COVID-19 Grants Directory HERE
Film Independent Emergency Filmmaker Support Fund HERE
Artist Relief Fund HERE
Lastly, as much as we need to meet our basic economic needs, isolation causes tremendous harm to our emotional health. HERE is 88 Ways to Not Freak the F*ck Out During Isolation, including excellent resources for mindfulness, time management, and other forms of self-care.
We will continue to update this list as new resources come in. If you have seen a resource you think should be added to this list, please email it to hello@dearproducer.com.
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