Actors, writers, and directors are collaborating to bring their fans specific experiences and items on eBay for a charity auction. The proceeds will go towards helping crew members whose healthcare benefits are currently at risk during the strike.
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Celebrities auction off services on eBay
Among several of the experiences you can win include Zoom calls with the cast of New Girl or Bones, or Nicole Kidman. You could also play Mortal Kombat 1 with Kumail Nanjiani. If you live in the United States, you can have dinner with celebrities Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, or have Adam Scott walk your dog.
Other mementos up for sale include a watercolor portrait of your dog by John Lithgow, a blue apron signed by the cast of The Bear, and Parker Posey’s memorabilia from Dazed and Confused and Party Girl. Since the auction went viral, some celebrities’ bids have entered the thousands. The dinner with Bob Odenkirk is up to $10,000 at the time of publishing.
The Union Solidarity Coalition was founded by striking Writers Guild of America members to connect industry workers across unions, even those not on strike. The proceeds will support crew members who have lost their health insurance due to the strike.
“We want to acknowledge that what you’re going through right now is not easy. We know when you refuse to cross our picket line, you risk being reprimanded, losing a day’s pay (or much more) and you have to go home empty-handed,” coalition founders wrote in an open letter to crew members. “The irony of this happening during a labor movement where we’re advocating for everyone’s work to be valued and compensated fairly is infuriating to us.”
Fans react
After gaining traction online, the celebrities with auction bids became a new meme template for social media users to share edited screenshots of their desired auctions. One fan posted to X, previously Twitter, with their idea of “fall asleep on a FaceTime call with Daniel Kaluuya”, and received over 2 million views.
yh take my money. https://t.co/aGgTFjI0Bc pic.twitter.com/QHSwB1OYr6
— bobz. (@boujeebx) September 14, 2023
Other fans are up for Christopher Nolan talking to them about Cillian Murphy for an hour after Murphy said he loves working with Nolan, and that their 20-year-friendship is one for the ages.
oh my god?? https://t.co/AZdibPU2WU pic.twitter.com/TXHEim2pNs
— alan b. (@inceptstellar) September 14, 2023
Since the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike in early May, followed by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) in July, the union members have taken various initiatives to support one another during the period of financial instability.
WGA members organized an online garage sale which managed to collect more than $170,000 this summer. They have also established a mutual aid fund that grants grocery support to the strikers.
Celebrities’ auction bids are up until September 22nd. Now is your chance to do any of these activities or buy any of the memorabilia available.
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