Though screenwriting is a personal journey, the 2008 Writers Guild of America strike showed that even writers have to break out of their shells every now and then in order to protect their rights. In case you’re unfamiliar with the recent Writers Strike, it held the media spotlight for much of 2007-2008 due to film and television’s suffering from a lack of original scripts. Forced to either write their own scripts or play rerun after rerun, the film, broadcast, and cable industries eventually gave in to the demands of writers, whose main goal was simply to be included in the revenues gained from DVD, Internet, and phone-based media content.
If you are an aspiring screenwriter, this illustration should help you understand the need for inclusion in a labor union. However, a unionized pursuit of equal treatment isn’t the only aspect of the Writers Guild of America. Writers nationwide know that without membership in either the Writers Guild of America East or Writers Guild of America West, industry jobs are almost impossible to come by. According to the Writer’s Guild website however, the benefits of membership cover a number of areas, making the membership ultimately beneficial for sustaining a lasting career in screenwriting.“Our primary duty is to represent our members in negotiations with film and television producers to ensure the rights of screen, television, and new media writers. Once a contract is in place, we enforce it. Because of the WGA’s long-term efforts, writers receive pension and health coverage, and their financial and creative rights are protected.”
With membership, contracts that include health benefits and pension plans are a standard. Membership also allows you easy access to your labor union in the case of a contract disagreement. In sum, under the umbrella of the Writers Guild of America, you as a professional writer are guaranteed help in the case of a contract dispute and are put within the ranks of other qualified writers to be considered for top industry positions.
Whether you affiliate with the Writers Guild of America or other organizations, don’t overlook the value of such connections. Professional associations in general can help provide a voice to a set of people in the same line of work, as well as offering networking and learning opportunities. In addition to the Writers Guild of America, check out the International Screenwriter's Association, the Screenwriters Guild of America, the Organization of Black Screenwriters, the Scriptwriters Network, and even regional resources such as the Texas Film Institute or the Northwest Screenwriters Guild. Look around for groups in your own area and start connecting so you can leverage the power in numbers.