Netflix is creating a $100 million fund (Dh367 million) to help support the creative community affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The announcement was made by the streaming platform’s chief content officer Ted Sarandos, who said the majority of the fund would go towards workers on Netflix’s own productions.
“Almost all television and film production has now ceased globally – leaving hundreds of thousands of crew and cast without jobs. These include electricians, carpenters and drivers, many of whom are paid hourly wages and work on a project-to-project basis,” he said in a statement.
“This community has supported Netflix through the good times, and we want to help them through these hard times, especially while governments are still figuring out what economic support they will provide. So we’ve created a $100 million fund to help with hardship in the creative community.”
Where exactly will the money go?
Netflix already announced that all of its cast and crew will receive two weeks full pay while productions shut down, but the fund comes as additional relief.
The fund will be split across areas, but here is a breakdown of where some if will go: $15 million will go towards third parties and nonprofits, offering emergency relief to crew and cast members left out of work in places where Netflix has a large production base, in countries across Europe, Latin America and Asia.
The company will also make $1 million available to the SAF-AFTRA Covid-19 Disaster Fund, the Motion Picture and Television Fund and the Actors Emergency Assistance. A further $1 million will be split between the AFC and Fondation des Artistes.
“What’s happening is unprecedented,” Sarandos added. “We are only as strong as the people we work with and Netflix is fortunate to be able to help those hardest hit in our industry through this challenging time.”