It can be hard to understand exactly how agency packaging fees and producing impacts writers’ salaries. This short explainer video does a great job visualizing the issues, and looking at why the WGA is in negotiations to address agency conflict of interest.
WGA
Twenty Questions About the Agency Agreement
Episode - 393
John welcomes WGA negotiation committee members Chris Keyser and Angelina Burnett to answer listener questions on what’s happening and what to expect. They offer insight into the history of the issues and new tools the Guild is rolling out for staffing season.
We also follow up on the Disney/Fox 2000 merger, why we won’t be saying ‘baby writers’ anymore, and upcoming meeting dates for the WGA.
Links:
- The Disney – Fox Merger
- Upcoming WGA Meetings and Voting Info
- Ask a Native New Yorker by Jake Dobkin
- Patriot on Amazon
- Money Heist on Netflix
- My Brilliant Friend on HBO
- We’re hiring a coder! If you’re interested please send an email to assistant@johnaugust.com
- You can now order Arlo Finch in the Lake of the Moon
- Submit entries for The Scriptnotes Pitch Session here.
- T-shirts are available here! We’ve got new designs, including Colored Revisions, Karateka, and Highland2.
- John August on Twitter
- Craig Mazin on Twitter
- John on Instagram
- Find past episodes
- Scriptnotes Digital Seasons are also now available!
- Outro by Chuck Eyler (send us yours!)
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com
You can download the episode here.
UPDATE 4-5-19: The transcript of this episode can be found here
Guild Sets Dates for Meetings and Vote
For the past few months, the WGA West and East have been negotiating with talent agencies over a successor to our 43-year-old agreement. I’m on the negotiating committee and it’s been fascinating.
Soon we’ll be holding membership meetings to discuss what’s going on and what’s in store:
WGA West members in Los Angeles:
- Tuesday, March 26th at Beverly Hilton, 7:30 pm
- Wednesday, March 27th at Sheraton Universal, 7:30 pm
- Saturday, March 31st at Writers Guild Theater, 10:30 am
- RSVP using the link in the email you received from “WGA Mandatory.”
WGA East members in New York City:
- Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 7:30 pm.
- RSVP and bring your Guild ID card.
WGA members will be voting on the following resolution:
To authorize the Board and Council to implement an Agency Code of Conduct, if and when it becomes advisable to do so, upon expiration of the current AMBA on April 6, 2019.
Voting for will take place for West members from Wednesday, March 27 at 9pm PDT through Sunday March 31 at 10:00am PDT. For East members, voting runs from Wednesday, March 27 at 9pm EDT through Sunday, March 31 at 10:00am EDT.
Eligible members will receive an email that includes a link to the online ballot when the ballot is activated. Please vote!
Getting Staffed
John and Craig proudly welcome back former Scriptnotes producer Megan McDonnell to tell her journey from film student to getting staffed on her first television show.
We then review a batch of Three Page Challenge submissions, covering how to keep your audience engaged, build tension, and earn interesting characters. Plus, follow up on the WGA and recent Bones ruling.
Thank you to our Three Page Challenge participants, and special thanks to Megan McDonnell for all of your work on Scriptnotes!
Links:
- The Bones Decision
- The Peter Stark Program
- Three Pages by Christopher Cramer
- Three Pages by David Koutsouridis
- Three Pages by Carrie Wong and Herman Ming
- Megan’s Desk Setup
- Light Up Phone Charger
- Russian doll starring Natasha Lyonne
- Submit to the Three Page Challenge here
- Submit to the Pitch Session here
- T-shirts are available here! We’ve got new designs, including Colored Revisions, Karateka, and Highland2.
- John August on Twitter
- Craig Mazin on Twitter
- John on Instagram
- Find past episodes
- Scriptnotes Digital Seasons are also now available!
- Outro The Stuart Special by James Llonch & Jim Bond (send us yours!)
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com
You can download the episode here.
UPDATE 3-8-19: The transcript of this episode can be found here.