Netflix Donates $625K to Sam Mendes' New Fund to Help U.K. Theater Workers

The Theatre Artists Fund, spearheaded by Sam Mendes to help support freelancers in the U.K. stage industry struggling during the lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, has raised £1.6 million ($2 million) since it launched on July 6, with donations from a number of major stars.

Jamie Lang Sam Mendes’ Theatre Arts Fund has raised £1.6 million ($2 million) to support out-of-work theater professionals across the U.K. by offering quick and easy access to a £1000 ($1,276) grant.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterThree weeks after filmmaker Sam Mendes teamed up with Netflix to launch a $620K (£500K) fund to support the UK’s embattled theater workers, the pot has swollen to $2M (£1.6M) and counting.Prominent figures to contribute include the estate of the late Peter Saunders and Lady Saunders, the UK theater impresario behind The Mousetrap, which joins Netflix as the headline supporter.

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The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.The streaming service will control the release of the movie in most territories outside of the USA, excluding Canada and China.It had originally been set to debut in cinemas in May, before the coronavirus pandemic forced a delay in its arrival.In the States, the movie has been earmarked to debut on premium VOD in the early part of 2021 before heading to Paramount’s sister streamer CBS All Access.According to Variety, Netflix is “not beholden to the 2021

coronavirus crisis and haven’t received any financial support.The multiple award-winning film and theatre director, whose most recent work was helming war epic 1917, has established the fund for those who are at most need, with a view to granting those eligible as quickly as possible.“It is specifically designed for theatre workers who find themselves at breaking point, for those unable to put food on the table or to pay bills, or for those considering leaving the profession altogether”, Mendes

Tom Grater International Film ReporterSam Mendes, The Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre and Netflix have established a fund to support beleaguered workers in the sector during the ongoing COVID-19 closures.The streamer is donating $620K (£500K) to launch the initiative, which will give out grants of up to £1K per person. To be eligible, applicants must have worked in theater between March 31, 2020, and the beginning of 2019.

Manori Ravindran International EditorA new U.K. theater fund spearheaded by “1917” director Sam Mendes has been created with the support of Netflix, and the backing of Steven Spielberg and Armando Iannucci.Industry orgs Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre will set up the fund, which is supported by a £500,000 ($623,000) donation from Netflix.

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Greg Evans Associate Editor/Broadway CriticWith thousands of out-of-work theater professionals likely to become ineligible for their union insurance over the next six months as the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown continues, The Actors Fund is launching a campaign to enhance its health insurance counseling and enrollment support services.A lead gift of $1 million from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will launch The Actors Fund’s “Every Artist Insured” campaign.