Film Industry Lends a Hand During COVID-19

Mister Rogers’ message about looking for the helpers during scary times couldn’t be ringing more true than right now. “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news,” he said, “my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” As we’re all facing uncertainty around COVID-19, and when production work will return, it’s important to follow Mister Rogers’ lead, and “look for the helpers,” even look for the helper in ourselves.

IATSE Canada shared that their members are doing just that!  IATSE 873 members have gathered and donated 1,480 N95 masks, 10,000+ latex gloves, 60 protective sleeves, and 80 N95 respirator filters to #thePPEdrive to help the City of Toronto healthcare workers fight COVID-19.

Variety.com shared that the Costume Designers Guild is rallying members to sew masks for hospital works in order to deal with the shortage. Guild President Salvador Perez told Variety that he called upon local 892 and 705 guild members who can sew to begin making masks for the hospitals.

Variety also noted that several medical shows like Grey’s AnatomyThe Good Doctor, and Station 19 have already donated their masks and gowns to local hospitals in need.

The executive director of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, Cathy Repola, also called upon members who sew to take up their needle and thread for a good cause or to volunteer to deliver finished masks.

Behind the Scenes is a charity whose mission is to provide financial support to entertainment industry professionals who are seriously ill or injured. BTS has launched a free and anonymous online behavioral health screening program as part of its new Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative. The aim is to help provide people with resources for mental health support during this stressful time.

Have any other stories of the film industry lending a hand in this crisis?  Tell us about it!  Email Development Coordinator Juli Johnson at [email protected] so we can spread some good news and how others can get involved.