As a movie reviewer, I definitely felt the impact of 2023. Hollywood essentially ground to a halt that summer because of a really lengthy strike by the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA – it was the longest one they’ve *ever* had. It meant delays for so many projects and a lot of uncertainty for the industry.
A fund, often called the “Robin Hood” fund, which was promised a long time ago to distribute the profits from streaming, has now been established as one of the last agreements reached in negotiations.
Just before Sean Astin was named the new president of the union, SAG-AFTRA announced a new fund to distribute money to producers and performers. This fund will allow actors in popular streaming shows to receive additional income based on how many people watch their shows – a first for many of them, according to the union.
This system lets revenue be distributed to union members who work behind the scenes, including stand-ins, stunt riggers, and background actors.
How does the fund work?
To end the 118-day actors’ strike, SAG-AFTRA and the studios agreed to create a bonus program for actors on popular shows. Some of the money from these bonuses will go into a new fund to provide extra payments to even more performers, especially those working on streaming platforms.
If a major streaming show draws 20% of a service’s viewers within its first three months, it usually triggers a bonus payment. Of that bonus, 75% goes to the show’s actors, while the remaining 25% will be allocated to a fund managed jointly by the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, and the studios’ negotiating group, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. SAG-AFTRA projects this streaming bonus could total around $120 million over the three-year contract.
Who benefits?
Currently, only people working on streaming shows that premiered on or after January 1st, 2024 are eligible.
Why is this important to actors?
Fran Drescher, recently the president of the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA, created this fund to help performers adjust to how streaming services operate. Traditionally, actors earned extra money when their shows became popular in reruns (syndication). However, streaming doesn’t have the same system, leaving many actors without those extra earnings if their shows don’t meet specific bonus requirements.
According to a statement from Fran Dresher, this agreement completes the 2023 contract for TV, film, and streaming work. For the first time ever, performers working as stunt doubles or in background roles – those who work at least 25 days on a project – will also be eligible for a bonus.
Hollywood actors face a significant gap between the top earners and everyone else, with only a small percentage enjoying high salaries. While the union, SAG-AFTRA, represents around 160,000 performers, just 14% earn enough – at least $26,470 – to qualify for health insurance, and only 7% make $80,000 or more annually. A proposed bonus fund aims to make acting a more financially viable profession, especially with the rise of streaming services.
What’s next?
A committee made up of representatives from both the employers and the union will determine how the funds are distributed. The union has also broadened the range of projects that can qualify for funding. Details about when and which projects will be eligible, as well as the specific rules of the fund, haven’t been released yet.
SAG-AFTRA’s current contract is set to expire in June 2026.
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2025-09-16 19:31