Artists union sets up streaming fund

SAG-AFTRA's 'Robin Hood' pool aims to share benefits of success

- BY CERYS DAVIES

MYUNG J. CHUN Los Angeles Times FRAN DRESCHER speaks during an appearance at a Netflix picket line in 2023.

During the summer of 2023, Hollywood weathered the longest strike by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists in the performers union's history.

One of the final negotiation points, a long-promised "Robin Hood" fund meant to share the benefits of streaming success, has finally been set up.

Last week moments before the union named its new president, Sean Astin - the guild anounced that a SAG-AFTRA Producers Success Distribution Fund had been formally established. Performers in popular made-for-streaming shows who previously might not have been compensated for their show's viewership can now earn their "first-ever secondary income stream," the labor group said in a statement.

The system allows for revenue to be shared with a pool of union workers, such as stand-ins, stunt riggers and background actors.

How does the fund work?