WGA-ATA Showdown

Candidates for the WGA West's board of directors are almost evenly divided between those who want to stay the course and those who want a course correction in the guild's ongoing fight with Hollywood's talent agencies. All 17 candidates vying for eight open seats on the board make reasoned, and often elegant…

Marjorie David, vice president of the WGA West, says the guild is "operating in good faith" to resolve the ongoing feud with Hollywood's talent agencies, and believes it will be in good shape going into next year's negotiations with the studios for a new film and TV contract as long as members stay united. "Our…

Marc Guggenheim, opposition candidate for the WGA West board of directors, has floated a proposed solution to the guild's 20-week standoff with Hollywood's talent agencies: Writers and agents would share packaging fees 50-50 after the agents are "made whole" from the 10% commissions they give up in packaged deals…

Jason Fuchs, an opposition candidate for the WGA West's board of directors, is urging members to take another look at a proposal from the Association of Talent Agents about sharing revenue from their packaging fees. When their last round of bargaining broke off June 7, the ATA offered to share 2% of their backend fees…

UPDATED with David Goodman response: ICM Partners has accused the WGA of dropping the lawsuit it had filed in state court against the Big 4 talent agencies because "WGA leadership knew their lawsuit against the agencies was about to be found baseless and be dismissed." The agency on Tuesday claimed the guild dropped…

UPDATED with UTA response:The WGA East and WGA West have dropped their lawsuit against the Big 4 talent agencies, and have answered and filed counter-claims in the federal antitrust case that CAA, WME and UTA brought against the guild. Click the link below to read the counterclaims. The guild filed its original suit…

The WGA West has appointed a committee to enforce Working Rule 23, which prohibits members from being represented by  non-signatory agencies – meaning that members who refused to fire their agents could be hauled before disciplinary panels. "While individual members have a voice and vote, after the Guild…

Four months into the WGA's standoff with Hollywood's talent agencies, SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris says her union is reviewing its relationship with agents. "I fully support the WGA in doing what it needs to in order to protect its members," she said in a written statement in advance of last night's town hall…

The first of three WGA membership meetings this week to discuss the status of the guild's ongoing standoff with Hollywood's talent agencies drew polarizing reaction. Opposition candidates are accusing the guild’s leaders of electioneering at the Wednesday night gathering, a claim denied by WGA West president David Good…

John August, a member of the WGA's agency negotiating committee, says it's going to be a “slog" before the guild reaches a new franchise agreement with the major agencies – a standoff, now in its 115th day, that's already a long slog. On his latest blog, he also takes on the naysayers who claim the WGA hasn't been…

WGA West presidential candidate William Schmidt has offered to drop out of the race and support incumbent president David A. Goodman over Phyllis Nagy if the guild returns to the bargaining table and engages in “serious negotiations” with the Association of Talent Agents by Sept. 1. The offer was made over breakfast…

EXCLUSIVE: The Buchwald agency has signed the WGA's new franchise agreement, marking another big win for the guild in its efforts to realign the agency business. Buchwald is the second Association of Talent Agents member agency to break ranks with the organization this week. The Kaplan Stahler agency signed the guild's…