In April, 2019 the WGA directed its members to fire their agents unless the agents agreed to adhere to a Code of Conduct that would end the collection of package commissions and strictly limit their ownership stake in production entities. Buoyed by solidarity among its members, the union was successful in obtaining widespread agreement from
WGA Scores Points in Agency Litigation
The battle between the Writers Guild of America and the major agencies has been waged on two fronts for over a year, with mixed results.
Attention recently has focused primarily on the WGA’s pressure campaign to require agencies to sign a Code of Conduct renouncing package commissions and ownership of production companies as a condition
UTA Ends WGA Packaging Dispute
UTA has just announced that it reached agreement with the Writers Guild to sign a franchise agreement that will permit it to resume representation of writers.
This will bring a partial end to a dispute that has lasted for over a year. The WGA had directed its members to fire their agents over
Peace in Our Time: WGA Reaches Deal on New Basic Agreement
In a down to the wire bargaining session, the Writers Guild of America negotiating committee reached agreement with the studios on a new three-year deal. This was unanimously approved by the governing boards of the WGA West and East and will go to the membership for likely ratification later this month. The pact averts what
Performers Union Cuts Deal With Studios
The performers union, SAG-AFTRA, has reached a deal with the studios for a new three-year contract covering theatrical, television and new media production. The proposal will still need to be approved by the national board and the membership before taking effect.
The proposed contract is patterned on the agreement struck by the Directors Guild earlier
Agencies Move to Dismiss WGA’s Remaining Claims
Another blow was struck in the litigation between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the top three talent agencies.
In April, the agencies prevailed in their motion to dismiss eight of the nine claims asserted against them by the WGA in the pending US District Court case. They have now moved to dismiss the
Writer Guild Resumes Negotiations
After something of a war of words, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have resumed negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. This agreement will cover writers for film, TV and digital productions.
Residuals for series and feature-length productions made for streaming services are expected
WGA Suffers Big Loss in Federal Court, Makes News Elsewhere
Although the coronavirus pandemic has brought production to a virtual standstill, writers, unlike directors and performers, are still able to work on development. While they shelter in place quietly plying their trade, their union has continued to make news.
Agency Litigation
The breaking story is a ruling in the California District Court case between the
Writers Guild Makes Key Advances in Agency Wars
The full service agencies APA and Innovative Artists have signed the Writers Guild of America’s new agency franchise agreement. As a result, each will be free to resume representing writers but with some critical restrictions. (For background on the long-running battle between the WGA and the agencies, see our earlier posts here and here.)
Moral of the Story – Terminating Talent For Bad Behavior Remains Risky Business
The nearly two-year legal saga between television host Tavis Smiley and PBS appears headed for its final chapter next month when the parties face off in trial. Central to the dispute is the meaning and scope of the morals clause in Smiley’s contract with PBS. PBS terminated its 14-year partnership with Smiley in 2017 for