So many employees — on film projects, TV shows, Broadway productions — work on a contract or freelance basis, and the fear has been that they would be overlooked in a final deal. Last week, Rep. Adam Schiff and dozens of other House lawmakers urged House leaders to specifically address the needs of workers in the industry, including those whose future projects were canceled because of the coronavirus.
Movie theater owners have been especially hard hit, as small and large chains have been forced to shut down across the country. The National Association of Theater Owners had called for a series of measures to provide relief, including loan guarantee programs and small business interruption loans.the legislation includes a $367 billion program for small businesses to keep making their payroll, staving off potential layoffs and furloughs.