We were all shocked! That was the first thought but then again, we also saw this coming. We were in the middle of hiring extras and ready to work and then it all stopped.
However, now that I am at home, I鈥檓 with my family. I鈥檝e been watching archeology videos with my son since he鈥檚 home from college. He鈥檚 a creative writing major but he still has to watch these videos for class. We鈥檙e all still adjusting.
I wanted to do something creative for people who couldn鈥檛 have visitors at Monroe County Hospital. My friend Laurie works there and she suggested I could make cards for the patients so I made cards for patients who can鈥檛 have visitors.
Schermerhorn works in wardrobe and is a member of Local 858. She says her local is small but they all have been texting each other and checking in.
鈥淚t鈥檚 only 13 members but we鈥檙e making sure we all have the proper resources and as much information as possible,鈥� she explained. 鈥淲e had one member help another member with every step with filing for unemployment benefits just to make sure they had everything they needed.
鈥淏ravo to the IA for providing members with as much information and resources as possible,鈥� says Schermerhorn. 鈥淓very time I receive a message from the IA on information and resources, I feel a sense of calmness.鈥�
As a wardrobe member, she says she would love for the IA to get a medical expert鈥檚 advice or direction on how wardrobe workers can move forward safely.
鈥淢y hope specifically for wardrobe members is that the IA develops some type of guidelines or standard for how wardrobe should handle costumes moving forward,鈥� says Schermerhorn. 鈥淲hen we return to work should we were gloves and wear masks when we鈥檙e handling wardrobe? It鈥檚 not possible to do our job virtually, so I just want to practice the best and safest practices to protect myself and everyone backstage.鈥�
