Injured and cant work
Donation protected
Hi, My name is James Lawson. Most of my friends and colleagues know me by my professional names, Jack Lawson and more recently Jack James. I have been workng in the arts and arts education for the last 30 years. Recently due to funding cuts I left my job teaching technical theatre at a college in FL and faced with a "whats next" scenario, and having spent most of my life preparing students for a life in the theatre, I decided to finally pursue my own life long dream of moving to L.A. and trying to make it as an actor. I have been in L.A. for 6 months now and I have been trying to support myself doing technical work for theatres
here but my back has been a major hinderence. I had recently gotten to the point where I was able.to handle work again and I had just started working with a new musical at NoHo Arts Center and the designer said he would hire me for other projects as well. I have been getting by but recently while doing dishes I sliced my hand rather badly including right down the middle of a flexor tendon on my right hand pinkie. I am currently waiting to find out if i need further surgery but at this point the earliest I can return to work is estimated at 8 weeks. If surgery IS needed then it will be more like 12 weeks. Having been living paycheck to paycheck this puts me in a financial bind almost immediately. I have always been the kind of person where I want to handle situations on my own...too embarrassed to ask for help. This time I just dont know what to do and a friend reccomended this site.
I have figured out my bills for the next 8 weeks.
Rent at $500 a month - $1000
Bills like car insurance, cell, utilities and credit cards with the minimum payment total $600 a month - $1200.
Living expenses like food, TP, soap, etc aprox $125 wk - $1000.
This totals out to $3200.
I have already tried for unemplyment and or disability but since I am technically self employed (those damn 1099 jobs!) I am not eligible for either. I currently have $27 left in bank after paying rent today and about $150 available on a credit card. Thats all that I have. I could sell some of my tools to pay my bills but if I do I wont be able to earn a living when my hand gets better.
Please, If you can help me in any way I would greatly appreciate it. I dont know what I can do in return. The only thing I can think of is to offer copies of 2 independent movies I have recently finished shooting as an actor (Heres trailers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Mxo4gcoylw
and
http://vimeo.com/76023373
) as soon as they are available for release.
For the first time in my life i feel helpless and even had to have a friend type this for me. Those that know me know how hard this is for me to ask...Can you help me?
here but my back has been a major hinderence. I had recently gotten to the point where I was able.to handle work again and I had just started working with a new musical at NoHo Arts Center and the designer said he would hire me for other projects as well. I have been getting by but recently while doing dishes I sliced my hand rather badly including right down the middle of a flexor tendon on my right hand pinkie. I am currently waiting to find out if i need further surgery but at this point the earliest I can return to work is estimated at 8 weeks. If surgery IS needed then it will be more like 12 weeks. Having been living paycheck to paycheck this puts me in a financial bind almost immediately. I have always been the kind of person where I want to handle situations on my own...too embarrassed to ask for help. This time I just dont know what to do and a friend reccomended this site.
I have figured out my bills for the next 8 weeks.
Rent at $500 a month - $1000
Bills like car insurance, cell, utilities and credit cards with the minimum payment total $600 a month - $1200.
Living expenses like food, TP, soap, etc aprox $125 wk - $1000.
This totals out to $3200.
I have already tried for unemplyment and or disability but since I am technically self employed (those damn 1099 jobs!) I am not eligible for either. I currently have $27 left in bank after paying rent today and about $150 available on a credit card. Thats all that I have. I could sell some of my tools to pay my bills but if I do I wont be able to earn a living when my hand gets better.
Please, If you can help me in any way I would greatly appreciate it. I dont know what I can do in return. The only thing I can think of is to offer copies of 2 independent movies I have recently finished shooting as an actor (Heres trailers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Mxo4gcoylw
and
http://vimeo.com/76023373
) as soon as they are available for release.
For the first time in my life i feel helpless and even had to have a friend type this for me. Those that know me know how hard this is for me to ask...Can you help me?
Organizer
Jack Lawson
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
