Los Angeles CNN —
On Saturday, a group of set and prop warehouse owners are getting together for a “Crewlateral Yard Sale,” hoping to make a few bucks selling inventory while orders for movie and TV sets have come to a complete halt over the last two months.
Hollywood productions drastically slowed down as the Writers Guild of America went on strike on May 2, and what remaining productions there were have nearly all stopped after SAG-AFTRA, the actors union, began a strike on July 14, the first time the two guilds have been on strike simultaneously since the 1960s.
Those who serve film and TV productions, but who may never be credited and are not party to any disputed contract, say they are held hostage by the overall situation. The estimated financial impact of these two strikes could be at least $4 billion globally, according to the Milken Institute’s Chief Global Strategist, shutting down set design shops, craft services, janitorial contractors and a host of other businesses that rely on the movie industry to make money.
Pam Elyea, owner of ‘History for Hire’ sets and props, is organizing the yard sale in her business parking lot, adjacent to the warehouse where she still owes $45,000 in rent every month. She expects that her business and others can make a few sales while their regular income has run dry, but she’s also hopeful the event brings together a sense of unity in troubling times.
Elyea, and other small business owners have told CNN about the various ways they’...
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