Strike Question

[finalact4]

Thanks, Jeff. I wanted to clarify, I am speaking of the same project being worked/written during the strike and then that project is sold to a studio, meaning it would then become a guild project-- would it matter then?

Further to say, that if the writer's contract specifies that the non-union writer is to be considered a "professional writer by WGA standards." From what my lawyer said, that's the only way a non-guild writer can potentially qualify for credit on a guild project. I think i have that correct.

Do you think the guild could then reject the writer's future guild membership? As Northbank offers in Strike Rules Articles

[JeffLowell]

If you write a non guild project as a non guild writer, and later a studio decides to buy the project, I can't see how that could roll up on you. You can't control what happens in the future. For example, animation isn't covered - if I write an animated movie, and then five years from now they turn it into a live action show... it's not like I was scabbing or trying to get around rules. You might as well say I can't publish a book during the strike, because years from now someone could buy it and adapt it.

If the non guild studio is saying/putting in your contract *now* that the plan is to sell it to a signatory and make it a guild deal, then it gets into a slightly weirder area?

[Bono]

Also, an amendment to my earlier post. This is from the official strike rules:

13. Rules pertaining to non-members.
The Guild does not have the authority to discipline non-members for strikebreaking or scab writing. However, the Guild can and will bar that writer from future Guild membership. This policy has been strictly enforced in the past and has resulted in convincing many would be strikebreakers to refrain from harming the Guild and its members during a strike. Therefore, it is important for members to report to the Guild the name of any non-member whom you believe has performed writing services for a struck company and as much information as possible about the non-member's services.

But if I'm not a member of the WGA, how would I know this unless I'm actively looking for this info? So the WGA is going on strike to protect current and future members -- but they're really going to then punish writers who probably didn't even realize they were doing anything wrong at the time.

[DangoForth]

But if I'm not a member of the WGA, how would I know this unless I'm actively looking for this info? So the WGA is going on strike to protect current and future members -- but they're really going to then punish writers who probably didn't even realize they were doing anything wrong at the time.

I think the key is "any non-member whom you believe has performed writing services for a struck company". If you sign a writing contract with any member of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) / a WGA signatory prodco during a strike, you are definitely in the crosshairs (you can check with the WGA Signatories Department about a company). Otherwise, like Jeff said, If you write a non guild project as a non guild writer, that shouldn't be even on anyone's radar. If the project is later taken to a guild signatory studio, THEN you would probably have to decline signing any paperwork until the strike was settled. But honestly, something like that could take a year or more to come about. But assuming it happened before then, the answer is, "Contact the WGA".

[JeffLowell]

But if I'm not a member of the WGA, how would I know this unless I'm actively looking for this info? So the WGA is going on strike to protect current and future members -- but they're really going to then punish writers who probably didn't even realize they were doing anything wrong at the time.

If Netflix hired you during a strike, I’m guessing you’d have some idea.

[Bono]

You guys are no fun. (Netflix hire me!!!)

[Bono]

More seriously when does the strike go official? I thought it’s today on the dot. But I guess not.

[DangoForth]

Sometime past midnight tonight. But if there is a call to strike, it will be sometime after that. Maybe immediate, maybe not.

[Northbank]

The strike can happen any time from midnight. If talks are ongoing, some progress is made etc. then both sides are likely to agree an extension (everyone keeps working under the current contract, it just gets extended). When talks break down, then there's a strike. In '07, the contract ran out in May but the strike didn't start until Nov.

[JeffLowell]

DEAR MEMBERS,

We have not reached an agreement with the studios and streamers. We will be on strike after the contract expires at midnight.

[Bono]

Sucks. But necessary.

If you don’t live in LA or NYC are you required to picket your local movie theater?

[Mark Somers]

I've got a strike story. When I first started at a copper mine a long time ago there were about 4 or 5 other apprentice mechanics who were hired on at the same time. Being new we were all on 45 day probation and were unable to join a union. A strike was called. My foreman took me off to the side as we were getting off work and told me that if I didn't cross the picket line the next morning to not show up after that. Ever. So I crossed the line the next morning along with the other new guys and went to work. That afternoon when leaving work with the other new guys who by the way 3 of them just came back from field duty as infantrymen and had new families with some new kids asked me over to one of their cars. In the trunk were guns. Lots of guns. They asked me if I wanted to borrow any of the guns. I passed. And as we drove out of the parking lot I let them get more and more ahead of me as we made our way to the main gate which was a little over a mile from the parking lot where the picket line was. Luckily nothing happened. Large corporations are run by manipulative criminals.

[figment]

Further to say, that if the writer's contract specifies that the non-union writer is to be considered a "professional writer by WGA standards." From what my lawyer said, that's the only way a non-guild writer can potentially qualify for credit on a guild project. I think i have that correct.

Do you think the guild could then reject the writer's future guild membership? As Northbank offers in Strike Rules Articles

Strike Rules FAQ (wgacontract2023.org)

This says you can write a spec during a strike, but cannot sell it or option it...

[Bono]

What is happening? We aren't even members of the WGA and people are freaking out.

You can write a spec. Pros can write a spec. But we can't sell it during the strike -- something that seems like it wouldn't happen anyway as they barely buy specs as it is, so they are going to start offering scabs money for their specs for a strike that may last one week?

[DangoForth]

The strike won't last a week.

It will last muuuuuuuch longer.


You can still write. Just not for an AMPTP entity. There are still going to be plenty of indie films going to be made that will get written for.