Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston is hosting a celebrity poker event next month, with the proceeds going towards striking Hollywood workers. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Helping those on strike

Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston will host an upcoming celebrity poker tournament. The proceeds from the event will go towards the Entertainment Community Fund (ECF), which will distribute the cash to television and film workers who are currently part of ongoing Hollywood strikes.

strike began in July as a result of a continuing labor dispute

The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike began in July as a result of a continuing labor dispute involving the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Not much progress has been made to date.

Some of the demands include pay increases, protections against the use of artificial intelligence, and better retirement and health benefits. To help people survive during the strike action, the ECF has so far handed out about $10m to more than 4,000 impacted workers.

Attracting some big names

The ’Lights! Camera! Ante Up!’ celebrity poker tournament will take place on November 12 at Candela La Brea in Los Angeles. Some of the well-known people who will attend include Mad Men lead Jon Hamm, Seinfeld legend Jason Alexander, and Academy Award nominee Andy Garcia.

The ECF, formerly known as The Actors Fund, began in 1882 and aims to provide a safety net to performing arts and entertainment professionals.

A non-playing guest ticket for the event costs $1,000 with three different types of tables on offer for reservation. They start at $10,000 for four poker seats and go up to $25,000 for nine poker seats and six non-playing tickets. Sponsorship opportunities also are available, with the ‘All-In Sponsor’ costing $50,000 and a ‘Presenting Sponsor’ position being $100,000.

Coming together in support

Bryan Cranston has been a vocal supporter of the strike, turning up to picket lines on numerous occasions. In promoting the poker event, he highlighted that Hollywood could not produce any movies or television shows without the people behind the scenes. Cranston said he wants everyone to come together to support these individuals.

raise the stakes, and the spirits, for a brighter future in entertainment.”

ECF Board Chairperson Annette Bening intends to keep providing the impacted workers with help, and has asked people who are going to the poker tournament to “raise the stakes, and the spirits, for a brighter future in entertainment.”

The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike was running simultaneously for a while with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike which ultimately came to an end on September 27 after 148 days. These disputes have led to massive disruption in the production of television shows and movies in Hollywood.