Hollywood Health Care

David Radcliffe always knew that becoming a successful Hollywood screenwriter with a high salary and health insurance was a gamble, especially for someone with cerebral palsy.

And now the risks seem higher than ever.

With studios reining in spending after years of rapid expansion, it’s becoming harder for new auteurs like Radcliffe to succeed. Approximately $44,000 This was necessary to qualify for compensation from the Writers Guild of America.

Screenwriters were out of work during the nearly five-month strike that ended in September last year, after studios had been cutting jobs even before then. Shrinking the Writer’s Room And ordered a shorter series.

Radcliffe’s last appearance on the CBS drama Tracker He was $4,000 short of receiving WGA coverage. Comprehensive and affordable.

“If I’d stayed on the TV show that I was on for one more week, my health insurance would’ve basically been extended for a year,” Radcliffe said. “So things get really tight right up to the last minute. Just a few days of work can change everything.”

He shared his plight on social media, along with other writers who were facing losing coverage, some of whom asked for help finding writing work that would put them above their income threshold.

Take a break for now

Radcliffe and other writers affected by the strike have been given a temporary reprieve under the terms of a strike settlement agreement reached with the studios last year. Coverage Extension.

Radcliffe first learned about the coverage extension a few days ago from another WGA member who saw his social media post about the loss of coverage.

Radcliffe’s insurance will be extended year-round, rather than being cancelled in the fall as expected, giving her three extra months to earn the remaining $4,000 she needs to qualify for coverage next year.

Radcliffe is helping spread the word about the extension to fellow writers like her friend Joel Garfinkel, who is $3,000 short of the income needed to qualify for coverage.

“It’s a very scary situation, especially as a single mother,” said Garfinkel, who has a 6-year-old son.

Garfinkel said a number of industry developments are converging to create a precarious situation for people working in the entertainment industry.

“The streaming bubble has burst. Sale of [the CW television network] “All of these are factors that are creating this contraction that we’re facing,” Garfinkle said.

To help struggling writers during the strike, Garfinkel Green Envelope Food Fund It continues Providing grants to help with household expenses.

She is now looking for writing work to supplement her income so she can afford health insurance, and is turning to her community of fellow writers for help.

“Many of the writers I know tend to be resilient, have grit and deep empathy,” Garfinkel said.

Lower level

As Garfinkel herself says, it’s an especially tough time for low-level, low-paid writers: Despite 16 years of experience, she remains stuck in the role of staff writer and story editor, well below the showrunners and writers with studio contracts.

Radcliffe, who appeared in three shows, said he wished he was “at a higher level”.

As the industry restructures during this tumultuous time, he says more needs to be done to retain and promote new writers, including those from underrepresented communities — an issue that’s important to him as co-chair of the WGA’s Disability Writers Committee.

For example, a mid-career writer who is credited as a co-producer will likely make enough money that they don’t have to worry about health insurance eligibility, Radcliffe said.

“You really need to pay attention to the people who are still at the bottom of the hierarchy,” Radcliffe says, “these are the people who will need the experience and the networks to build their projects in the future.”