Actors Launch 'One Job Away' Campaign as SAG-AFTRA Insurance Crisis Deepens

Key points

• Cheyenne Jackson started the 'One Job Away' campaign on Instagram to feature actors who are close to meeting the SAG-AFTRA health insurance earnings minimum.
• The SAG-AFTRA health plan requires $28,000 in annual earnings, a threshold that is rising by 1% annually due to healthcare inflation.
• Jackson, who was $6,000 short last year, secured a small role on 'Matlock' through Kathy Bates to maintain his coverage for himself, his husband, and their twins.
• SAG-AFTRA reported that less than 1% of its 160,000 members will receive the streaming success bonus, with only about 700 performers set to receive $1.5 million from 2024 projects.
• Actors like Drake Bell, Jack Haven, and Heather Matarazzo have publicly criticized the union for failing to provide adequate support and coverage.
• Union president Sean Astin admitted to a 'palpable disconnect' between the union's work and the reality faced by working-class actors.

Background

This crisis follows the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which secured a streaming success bonus that has proven difficult to access. Recent industry consolidation, production declines, and rising healthcare costs have exacerbated the issue. Earlier this month, Drake Bell publicly denounced the union after failing to meet the earnings threshold, and actors like Jack Haven and Heather Matarazzo warned of losing coverage. The current situation reflects a broader trend of financial instability for performers, with many questioning the efficacy of the 2023 strike given the current lack of opportunities.

How outlets are covering it

The Hollywood Reporter and Variety emphasize the human impact of the insurance crisis, highlighting individual stories like Cheyenne Jackson and Bayne Gibby, who describe the stigma and fear associated with losing coverage. Deadline focuses on the structural failure of the union, citing the low percentage of members receiving streaming bonuses and the union's internal struggles. Cynopsis provides a broader industry context, linking the actor crisis to media consolidation and the decline in domestic production. While Jackson and Gibby focus on immediate relief and removing stigma, Drake Bell and others criticize the union's leadership and the effectiveness of the 2023 strike. SAG-AFTRA, through Sean Astin, acknowledges the issues but urges members to remain patient as the union works to implement new agreements.

Why it matters

The 'One Job Away' campaign and the SAG-AFTRA data reveal a deepening crisis in the entertainment industry, where veteran actors are struggling to maintain basic benefits. This highlights the fragility of the current labor model and the need for systemic changes to support performers in a rapidly changing media landscape. The issue extends beyond individual actors, affecting the stability of the industry and the livelihoods of thousands of workers.

What to watch

SAG-AFTRA is expected to announce changes to its health plan and the distribution of the streaming bonus fund in the coming weeks. The union will also enforce its regular membership policy at the end of October, terminating members who are not caught up on dues. Cheyenne Jackson plans to continue the 'One Job Away' campaign, potentially expanding it to other guilds like directors and hair/makeup artists. The industry will likely see further public discourse around the effectiveness of the 2023 strike and the need for new labor agreements.