BURBANK, California -"Set decorator for 20 years. Single mom of 15-year-old twins," said the sign above a table of cupcakes, cookies and other baked goods for sale."Struggling to pay bills, especially my mortgage."
IATSE, the union that represents lighting technicians, costume designers and others who work on film and TV crews, estimates that even though its members are not on strike, they have lost close to $2 billion in wages after productions shut down. Members have pulled $44 million from their retirement plans to cover current expenses, the union says.
Through mid-September, lost output from the strikes was estimated at around $5 billion across California and other production-heavy states such as Georgia and New Mexico, said Kevin Klowden chief global strategist at the Milken Institute, a think tank that studies the economy. Gilday, a prop maker, said he had about $2,000 in debt when writers walked off the job in May. By late August, that had jumped to more than $25,000. He sold a motorcycle and was trying to earn more cash from his collection of Star Wars toys, vintage magazines and other items.Tiffany Puterbaugh, a costume designer and stand-up comic, said the large number of people affected by the strikes left few opportunities.
It is unclear when the work stoppages might be resolved. Hollywood studios resumed negotiations with the Writers Guild of America this week, but no talks were scheduled with the SAG-AFTRA actors union.