The Union Solidarity Coalition (TUSC) has launched an eBay auction featuring unique items and experiences to raise funds for film crew members who have been impacted by the current work stoppage in the film and television industry.
After initially raising $315,000 earlier this summer, TUSC is now offering one-of-a-kind items and experiences to the highest bidders, including memorabilia signed by celebrities and personalized artistic creations.
The auction includes items such as an apron autographed by the cast of The Bear, including Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri, the iconic Hawaiian shirt from “WEIRD” signed by Weird Al Yankovic and Daniel Radcliffe, Tom Waits’ signature fedora, and a Parker Posey package featuring personal items from Dazed and Confused and Party Girl along with a signed letter from the actress herself.
Paul Scheer, a founding member of TUSC, expressed his excitement about the auction, stating, “The items in this auction blow me away. Not only is it a way for TUSC to continue to raise money in between our bigger fundraising events, but it also shows off the creativity of the donors who are personally connected to this cause and want to offer one-of-a-kind packages that will raise the most amount of money for fellow crew members who they work side-by-side with every day.”
TUSC was founded by Lena Dunham and other striking writers who feel a strong bond with the crew members (IATSE, LiUNA, and Teamsters) that make their work possible. The organization aims to support crew members, particularly in terms of healthcare, during these challenging times. The auction will benefit the TUSC Fund of the Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF).
In addition to celebrity-signed memorabilia, the auction includes artistic offerings:
- home mural by Lena Dunham
- custom watercolor pet portrait by John Lithgow
- a personalized song by the cast of Bob’s Burgers
- pottery class for two with Busy Philipps
Zoom experiences are also available, allowing bidders to interact with industry professionals like Barry Jenkins & Nicholas Britell, Sarah Silverman, Rosemarie DeWitt & Ron Livingston, and more. In-person experiences range from Adam Scott walking your dog to lunch with The Handmaid’s Tale actress Ann Dowd
Or you can grab dinner with the creators of Mr. Show, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross.
Additional experiences, such as an LA gay bar hop with actress Dolly De Leon (Triangle of Sadness) and Zoom sessions with Amy Aniobi (Insecure) and Lulu Wang (Expats), will become available for auction later in the week.
TUSC is actively partnering with the Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF) and its Entertainment Health Insurance Solutions (EHIS) to ensure affected crew members receive the healthcare support they need. The TUSC fund covers health insurance premiums to ensure access to high-quality healthcare.
The auction is live now and will continue until Friday, September 22nd, at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT. Bidders can find available items at ebay.com/TUSCauction.
Filmmaker and founder of Free The Work, Alma Har’el, who has recently become involved as a key organizer, expressed her hope and inspiration regarding TUSC’s work, saying, “What started as a brainstorm in a WGA-DGA What’s App thread is now an active community that focuses on bringing solidarity amongst all the unions.”
For more information about TUSC, please visit TUSC’s official website.
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