Strike Question

[asteven50]

Curious if there are any fellow WGA writers more learned than I am here. I have an option agreement that we are negotiating and the studio seems to be taking their time (even more than usual). Should I be looking at May 1st as a deadline to get the deal done before the strike? If the deal doesn’t get executed before we strike, can it not get executed until the strike ends? Or is it OK to sign an agreement during the strike as long as I don’t work?

[JeffLowell]

You should be looking at May 1st as a deadline. You can’t sign a deal while the strike is on.

And talk to someone else for clarification, but they can probably blow up a deal if there’s a strike. The studios have used the strike to cancel deals in the past. So it’s a mess all around.

[Bono]

As a failure how does this affect me? I mean non WGA. Seriously, as pro writers fight what should us scabs be doing?

[asteven50]

You should be looking at May 1st as a deadline. You can’t sign a deal while the strike is on.

And talk to someone else for clarification, but they can probably blow up a deal if there’s a strike. The studios have used the strike to cancel deals in the past. So it’s a mess all around.

Thanks Jeff.

[Northbank]

As a failure how does this affect me? I mean non WGA. Seriously, as pro writers fight what should us scabs be doing?

If you are Querying, keep at it. Reps can read anyone. Producers can read non-WGA writers and even develop with them but you can't sell anything to a WGA signatory (so basically pretty much all U.S. studios/networks).

[Northbank]

...and the studio seems to be taking their time (even more than usual).

Business Affairs at studios have suffered layoffs and had slowed down a lot even before they got overwhelmed with everyone desperately trying to close deals before the strike. B.A. takes so long now it should be a WGA issue.

Also, you're going to hear "force majeure" a lot.

From Google: What is an example of a Force Majeure? Typical Force Majeure events include natural causes (fire, storms, floods), governmental or societal actions (war, invasion, civil unrest, labor strikes), infrastructure failures (transportation, energy), etc.

[JeffLowell]

If you are Querying, keep at it. Reps can read anyone. Producers can read non-WGA writers and even develop with them but you can't sell anything to a WGA signatory (so basically pretty much all U.S. studios/networks).

FWIW, I think every studio has a non signatory division which lets them buy material from non union writers. But the reality is that everything shuts down during a strike - they're not trying to keep the pipeline full with scab material.

[Bono]

This is gonna suck when the strike happens as the optimist writer in me thinks it will just lead to more pain down the line for writers. It felt the last strike was a win on paper, but then they stopped buying spec scripts, right? Writers ditched their agents due to packaging and then some weren't able to get them back. Did writers win or lose that round?

I know we have no choice -- or the WGA doesn't -- but I don't hold out much hope and I assume it will be even more of the few writers doing all the work.

The same showrunners have like 10 shows these days and that's the way they like it.

Pro writers -- is anyone optimistic this will lead to positive change for future writers who haven't made it yet, let alone current ones.

And I assume many successful writers are like -- not again. Just let me do my job.

No wonder everyone turns to making money OFF of writers instead of writing. Time to start a screenplay contest I guess so I can make money to keep the dream alive. Ugh.

[Satriales]

Don’t want start a new thread but my agent and lawyer told me independently today they heard a certain streamer is a real problem in negotiations at the moment, and absent them, there would be real optimism around a deal. Anyone else hear this rumor?

[Northbank]

The rumor is that Netflix is the only hold out to a deal but this is very much unconfirmed.

[Northbank]

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.

[DangoForth]

It never fails.A romcom of mine has been referred to Hello Sunshine. But even if they like it, there's definitely not enough time to set up anything if we have to strike.

But it there's no agreement from AMPTP, strike is definitely the right move by WGA.

[finalact4]

You should be looking at May 1st as a deadline. You can’t sign a deal while the strike is on.

And talk to someone else for clarification, but they can probably blow up a deal if there’s a strike. The studios have used the strike to cancel deals in the past. So it’s a mess all around.

Claim force majeure?

If there is a looming strike, would a studio even bother signing any deals at this point? Wouldn't they take a wait and see at this point?

PE: totally missed Northbank's comment of force majeure upstream.

[finalact4]

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.

If a non-signatory production company works with a non-WGA writer during the strike then negotiates a deal with a signatory studio later, is that consider an executable infraction?

[JeffLowell]

I can’t see how the guild has jurisdiction.