In this day and age, most film critics are freelancers. They get paid per piece they write. They have no guarantee of work and they have no health insurance. They do this job because they love it (and possibly also because they’re insane). The only reason I have health insurance at all is because my wife has health insurance from her job, and it also covers me. If not for her, if I got sick, I would be in real trouble.
Film writer and critic Ed Douglas is in trouble. A regular contributor to Coming Soon, Ed was recently diagnosed with acute leukemia and he doesn’t have health insurance. He’s currently in Ohio receiving treatment. The treatment will be expensive. He’s going to have to pay for it.
That’s why a few of Ed’s fellow film critics organized a fundraiser — without his knowledge — at GiveForward to help cover some of the costs. Its initial, modest goal of $10,000 was met quickly thanks to the generosity of Ed’s readers and friends. Now they’re shooting for a more ambitious goal of $50,000. As I write this, the fund has received about $18,000 dollars. That’s about one-third down, and two-thirds to go.
I don’t know Ed all that well, but he’s a constant presence at New York screening rooms. It’s going to be strange going to the movies this month and not seeing him around at least five or six (or a dozen) times. I’m also a regular reader of Coming Soon; their release calendar is one of the best on the web. I hope I see him back on his feet — and back at the movies — and feeling better soon. And I hope you consider making a small donation to help him out. I did.
Donate to Ed Douglas’ fight against cancer.
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