WGA-ATA Showdown

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…

Veteran writer William Schmidt is running for president of the WGA West in opposition to the guild's handling of its three-month battle with the Association of Talent Agents. Schmidt, who is currently co-executive producer of Paramount Network's Yellowstone, describes himself as a member of the guild's "loyal…

The Abrams Artists Agency was unable to reach a deal today with the WGA, despite chairman Adam Bold's offer to forego packaging fees and any affiliation with related production entities. Bold spoke for about 20 minutes with WGA West executive director David Young, but they couldn't come to an agreement. If Bold had…

Studio-based production companies are sharing horror stories about packaging deals, according to the WGA’s latest communique to its members. "These stories provide even more evidence of how packaging fees hurt writers and drive decision-making in a way that places the agencies' interests above their clients," the…

Adam Bold, chairman of the Abrams Artists Agency, has reached out to the WGA in the hopes of making a deal. "I would like to talk with you about a way to let your members and my staff get back to work," he wrote Monday night in an email to David Young, executive director of the WGA West. "Is there a good time on…

The WGA is conducting a survey of its members to learn about their experiences during the guild’s 11-week standoff with Hollywood's talent agencies. "This survey is designed to find out how you and other members are doing since the Code of Conduct was implemented on April 13th, and what you are thinking about the…