With the new social distancing and self isolation and the film business pretty much shutting down for the moment, it’s good to look at how some creative filmmakers are finding solutions to keep going.
Russian filmmaker Timur Bemambetov found a creative solution to keep filming as reported in Deadline – read up on it here:
With theatres closing their doors, studios and distributors are scrambling to find sustainable solutions to maintain their revenue streams and looking to recoup via digital releases so I suspect we will see shorter windows between theatrical and digital releases
Read up on Sony putting out it’s latest Vin Diesel film Bloodshot out on digital 2 weeks after the theatrical release here: https://deadline.com/2020/03/vin-diesel-bloodshot-coronavirus-available-in-home-1202887011/
If you are in the entertainment business and need help – Here’s a list of helpful resources that might be useful
- Actors Fund emergency financial assistance program helps eligible applicants in need. It is not income replacement, but limited funds for basic living necessities. The Actors Fund is also administering COVID19 Assistance programs for performing arts and entertainment unions including SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, Actors Equity Association, American Guild of Musical Artists and Musicians Local 802. Additionally, The Fund is administering the Jujamcyn Theatre Assistance Program
- Arts Administrators of Color Network launched a relief fund to support BIPOC artists and administrators.
- Artwork Archives has compiled a list of emergency grants for artists.
- Boston establishes an artist relief fund.
- Dramatists Guild Foundation launches relief fund supporting individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and bookwriters.
- EqualSound launches relief fund supporting musicians who have lost gigs due to the pendemic.
- Frederick Arts Council (Maryland) launched a GoFundMe campaign for relief funding.
- Greater Columbus Arts Council (Columbus, OH) announced a relief grant for artists.
- Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council (Pennsylvania) launches a relief fund for artists in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington, Lawrence, Indiana, Greene, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
- Ijeoma Oluo has started a GoFundMe campaign to support artists in Seattle affected.
- Michigan Music Alliance’s Michigan Artist Relief Fund (in collaboration with Walk the Beat–a music nonprofit regularly raising funds to get musical instruments in kids’ hands)
- MusiCares launched a relief fund to cover things such as lost income due to cancellations
- Musicians Foundation is accepting aid applications.
- NC Artist Fund Relief Fund: a collaboration between Artspace, PineCone, United Arts Council and VAE Raleigh
- New York Foundation on the Arts launches relief fund resource page for several disciplines and geographic focus.
- Pittsburgh-area Emergency Action Fund supporting NPOs on the frontline of COVID-19 response
- Portland Area Artist Emergency Relief Fund (Portland, OR) organized by Portland’s Creative Laureate, Subashini Ganesan, and Oregon’s Poet Laureate, Kim Stafford.
- Rauschenberg announced an Medical Emergency grant program for artists.
- San Francisco Foundation (San Francisco, CA) released emergency fund for organizations.
- Spokane Arts launched a relief fund for individual artists
- Springboard for the Arts has several resources and relief funds.
- WomenArts has a fund roundup on their website
We’ve also gathered some links to various articles that might be of interest:
- PR story featuring Robert Lynch on the economic impact of the pandemic.
- Art News reports that New York small art galleries and NPOs could be eligible for emergency funds.
- Vulture article sharing some thing arts organizations can do to mitigate the disaster.
- Seattle Times article reports $1.1M and rent relief to support arts organizations.
- Variety article on how unions and studios are dealing with the shutdowns.
- Billboard resource page on national and state by state funds to support artists.
- Audio Assemble blog on short-term and long-term strategies for musicians dealing with income loss.
- BroadwayWorld reports Met Opera off all union employees including musicians and chorus.
- NPR reports Bandcamp Will Forfeit Its Share Of Sales Friday, Urges Direct Support Of Musicians
- NY Times reports Straining From Shutdowns, Theaters Ask Playwrights to Return Payments