Disney/John Argueta
Jimmy Kimmel is once again trying to help his SAG-AFTRA allies.
Recent Cast Announcements Jimmy Kimmel Live! The job posting lists actors who are just short of the minimum required to qualify for health insurance. According to a job posting currently circulating on social media, actors must earn a minimum income of $1,401 to qualify for the role. The posting was confirmed to Deadline by a source close to the production.
In 2023, SAG-AFTRA will require its members to earn at least $26,470 from acting to be eligible for union health insurance, a figure that is set to increase by 2% each year.
This isn’t the first time Kimmel has tried to help working actors: Two years ago, during an episode guest-hosted by Kerry Washington, actors were invited onto the show to say lines in order to claim for their health insurance.
But this year has been especially tough for many actors, following last year’s historic double strike by SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, which saw actors sign off on new contracts with studios in the hopes of returning to work soon after more than 100 days of picketing. So far, that hasn’t happened.
Production was weak in the first half of the year as the industry weathered a contraction, partly due to studios cutting spending as they try to recover from years of financial hardship caused by strikes and the coronavirus pandemic.
But many in the entertainment industry still see light at the end of the tunnel. The IATSE is set to ratify a new three-year contract on Thursday, and the Teamsters are set to finish contract negotiations by the end of the month. In addition to cutting spending, Deadline’s sources say studios are hedging their bets by carefully delaying new productions in case the union goes on strike.
A new contract for subcontracted staff is on the way, but it remains to be seen whether it will provide the impetus needed to reinvigorate the industry and move full steam ahead.
