Latest in WGA West

Next year's contract talks and a possible writers strike are looming large over the WGA West's ongoing board election, in which 17 candidates are vying for eight open seats. The WGA's current contract doesn't expire until May 1, but in their campaign statements, many of the candidates are making it clear that they're…

Seventeen candidates are vying for eight open seats on the WGA West's board of directors, including five incumbents. Voting begins August 21 and ends September 20. The candidates are Angelina Burnett, Robert H. Wolfe, Rich Talarico, Justin Halpern, Timothy Dowling, Ryan Walls, Van Robichaux, David Schulner, Danny…

The WGA West has established a confidential reporting system for members who believe they've been discriminated against during the hiring process or when seeking representation. Members are encouraged to contact the guild "if a studio executive, producer, agent or manager has said or written something to lead you to…

WGA West members got fewer jobs and less pay last year than they did in 2020, according to the guild's 2022 Annual Report, which found that 5,951 writers reported employment in all work areas in 2021 – a 6.1% decline – while total writer earnings reported for dues purposes declined 7.7% to $1.55 billion. That's the…

The Writers Guild of America West’s Nominating Committee today revealed the 18 candidates who are running in its board of directors election this year. Those vying for the eight opens seats are Angelina Burnett, Timothy Dowling, Leah Folta, Justin Halpern, Tom O'Connor, Van Robichaux, John Rogers, David Schulner, Rich…

The WGA West is calling on Hollywood to consider not shooting films and TV shows in states that ban abortions. The move comes in the wake of a leaked draft opinion by a 5-4 majority of the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade and let states decide whether to ban abortions. "In light of the leaked Supreme…

The WGA West will host a panel discussion on April 30 with film and TV writers from Ukraine, whose lives and careers have been upended by the Russian invasion. "They will discuss their work and their lives since the invasion," the guild said in a communique to members, "as well as give their perspective on how the…

Women and minority film and TV writers have made "significant" hiring gains since 2010, according to the WGA West's latest Inclusion & Equity Report, which found that the percentage of screenwriters employed under the guild's contract who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) has quadrupled over the past…

UPDATED with full winners list: The 2022 Writers Guild Awards handed Adam McKay’s script for the end-of-the-world satire Don’t Look Up its Original Screenplay award and Siân Heder’s CODA its Adapted Screenplay award Sunday in a virtual ceremony honoring the best in film, TV, new media, news, radio and promotional…

The WGA West is calling on Hollywood to reconsider filming in Florida if Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill passed by the state’s legislature last week. “We urge all WGA signatory companies to reassess not only their political giving, but also where they choose to spend their production…

The WGA West on Monday revealed the 13 honorees of its 2022 TV Writer Access Project, a program designed to increase diversity and promote inclusiveness within the entertainment industry. Created in 2009, the project recognizes outstanding and diverse writing talent from within the guild's ranks and provides access to…

Saying that the nation's antitrust practices are "fundamentally broken," the WGA West is calling on policymakers to adopt “systemic changes” to antitrust laws and enforcement in order to prioritize "the maintenance of competitive market structures for consumers, competitors and new entrants," while protecting workers…