Film and television productions are paused, and folks out of work are struggling to make ends meet.
She was excited to have made the leap to lead and to work with Homegrown Pictures and Macro.
The show subsequently became a BET+ original.
L to R: Holly Cinnamon, Kyra Jones, Ashli HaynesHolly Cinnamon photo courtesy of Shani Hadjian
I was in five out of eight episodes for Season 1 and three episodes in Season 2.
It was something I manifested, she said.
Industry standard is you receive initial payment two weeks after the episode wraps, she said.
Then all of a sudden those checks were in the mail, she added.
The series has not officially been canceled, but it also has yet to be renewed.
I am stressed out.
I have bills to pay, she added.
To help, Haynes set up her own business a mobile spiritual shop calledThe Star Magic School Bus.
For Haynes, she believes that television and film has to be a collaborative effort.
People at the top have to give a shit about everyone regardless of status.
Without mutual support, the magic of cinema and television wouldnt exist.
We reached out to BET on the issue of residual payment, but they declined to comment.
Holly Cinnamon and the Five-Month Hold
Canadian actress Cinnamon got her break starring in Netflixs Marvel seriesDaredevil.
She played Julie Barnes, the object of Bullseyes obsession, which allowed her to join SAG-AFTRA.
I didnt know a lot at that point, she admitted.
I just joined immediately once I knew I had the job.
She said that the lack of clarity around pay provided a crash course into the industrys complexities.
It was unpaid but optional.
I could not get a copy of the script without going to this optional and unpaid meeting.
She added that working for free was frustrating and the unpredictability of residual income made consistent financial planning tricky.
I think the highest residual check Ive gotten was just under $4,000, she said.
The lowest one Ive gotten was one cent.
I never know how much its going to be, and I dont know how its calculated.
We need more transparency.
She believes that the strikes are crucial for the industrys future, though she admitted that shes struggling.
I dont have any security, Cinnamon said.
I dont have a huge store of savings if this strike lasts until the fall.
I need to work to continue to pay my rent.
I am going back toteaching yogain hopes that will keep me afloat.
She also highlights other issues including AI.
I just dont think AI can be a part of the creation process, she said.
If theres no humanity in something essentially about human storytelling, what kind of quality material can it produce?
Cinnamon remains proactive and is working on her first studio album under her labelThe Female Gayze.
She hopes for a quick resolution and more information on determining pay.
I want to see breakdowns of all the numbers.
Jones also was in ShowtimesThe Chiand has worked as a writer on series including ABCsQueensand HulusWoke.
She made her writing debut in 2021 but didnt stop at acting.
I got staffed on the showWoke.
She said her experiences unveiled the cracks in the system.
Residuals proved an even more jarring issue.
I dont think Ive seen any residuals forThe Chi, Jones said.
My agents had to chase that down.
She added that shes worried that she will lose momentum as a result of the strikes.
But she admitted that she has a back-up plan meaning she wont be destitute.
I do have a part-time job at Northwestern University thats helping me pay my rent.
Thank goodness for that, she said.
Jones is also worried about AI.
Studios dont just want to pay humans.
They want AI for quantity, not quality, she said.
Would it be easier for AI to replace an executive or a writer?
Clearly, its executives.
However, she admitted that she has found a silver lining to the strikes.
