News

Meredith Stiehm, president of the WGA West, talked tough about the guild’s upcoming negotiations with the AMPTP in her speech Sunday at the WGA Awards.

She opened her remarks by referencing Robert Altman, who she said was called a “good sheriff in a bad town.”

Related Story ‘Abbott Elementary’, ‘Yellowjackets’ & ‘Andor’ Writers Sound Off On Looming WGA Talks: “Time For A Rethink” Related Story Charlie Kaufman Slams Hollywood Suits At WGA Awards: "They Cannot Do Anything Of Value Without Us" Related Story Writers Guild Awards: 'Women Talking', 'The Bear' & 'Better Call Saul' Among Winners So Far – Updating Live

The WGA is now that good sheriff as it fights for a new deal for writers, she added. “We all know we kind of work in a bad town sometimes; there’s bullies, there’s schemers and people that aren’t on the level and...

Charlie Kaufman, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, delivered a spot-on acceptance speech for his Laurel Award honor Sunday at the WGA Awards, one ripe for the times as the guild prepares to square off with the AMPTP in another round of contract talks.

Related Story Former WGA President Patric Verrone Says Writers Are “Serious About Our Demands” Ahead Of Awards Related Story Writers Guild Awards Winners List – Updating Live Related Story 'She Said' Screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz To Receive WGA West's Paul Selvin Award

“We are trained to believe that what we do is secondary to what they do,” said Kaufman, taking a dig at studio executives. The WGA issued its Pattern of Demands on February 27.

“We are trained to do the bidding of people who are motivated not by curiosity but who are protecting their jobs,” he added, to what was the first round of...

Writers are preparing to celebrate or commiserate at the WGA Awards and there’s plenty of talk of the looming negotiations with the AMPTP.

Patric Verrone, who was president of the WGA West between 2005-2009, knows a thing or two about how these negotiations go, given that he was in charge during the last major strike.

Related Story WGA West President Meredith Stiehm Talks Tough Ahead Of AMPTP Negotiations, Says Guild Is “Good Sheriff In A Bad Town” Related Story 'Everything Everywhere' Is Unbeatable, But So Was 'Brokeback Mountain' Related Story Endeavor Is "Well-Positioned" For A Potential Writers Strike, CEO Ari Emanuel Says

“I hope the lesson taken from all this was that the companies realize that we’re serious about our demands and we have an active and engaged membership that agrees with the leadership and is prepared to do whatever is necessary,” he said on the...

The WGA is gearing up for upcoming contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, arguably its most important in over a decade.

This has prompted a group of top writers to look back at the lessons learned from the 2007-08 writers’ strike to see what can be applied to this year’s talks.

Related Story Historically, The WGA Is Overdue For A Strike, With Residuals Again A Key Issue Of Upcoming Talks Related Story WGA Urges Members To Disregard "Misleading" Rumors & Strike Predictions Related Story WGA Awards TV Nominations: 'Abbott Elementary,' 'Better Call Saul,' 'The Crown,' 'Severance', 'Yellowjackets' Among Shows Vying For Top Prizes

Angela Workman, writer of The Zookeeper’s Wife, Chap Taylor, consulting producer on The Blacklist, Holly Sorensen, creator of the Step Up TV series, Flint Wainess, consulting producer of The CW’s In The Dark,...

Click here to read the full article.

The Writers Guild of America has named its negotiating committee for the pivotal 2023 round of contract talks covering film and television projects, the first to occur since Covid-19 disrupted the last round of talks two years ago.

With WGA West executive director David Young serving as chief negotiator, the 2023 negotiating committee overseeing the WGA’s Basic Agreement will be co-chaired by former WGA West presidents David Goodman and Chris Keyser. Prominent Guild members including John August, Kay Cannon, Mike Schur, David Shore and Davis Simon will serve on the negotiating committee, as well as WGA West leaders Meredith Stiehm, Michele Mulroney and Betsy Thomas and WGA East leaders Michael Winship, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen and Christopher Kyle.

Other members of the committee include WGA West board members Adam Conover, Angelina Burnett, Robb Chavis, Travis Donnelly, Ashley Gable, Eric Haywood and Nicole Yorkin and WGA...

The WGA East and WGA West have appointed the members of their negotiating committee for upcoming contract talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers – a showdown that could trigger the first writers strike since 2008. The guilds’ current contract expires May 1, 2023.

WGA West Executive Director David Young will serve as chief negotiator, with former WGA West presidents David A. Goodman and Chris Keyser serving as co-chairs. Patric M. Verrone, who was president of the WGA West during the 100-day writers’ strike of 2007-08, will be one of the 24 members of the negotiating committee.

In August, during the run-up to the WGA West’s board elections, several of the candidates who are now serving on the negotiating committee addressed a wide range of issues that could trigger a strike.

Angelina Burnett, who won a seat on the board and now serves on the negotiating committee, wrote in her campaign statement...

The Writers Guild of America has tapped former presidents David Goodman and Chris Keyser to co-chair the guild’s negotiating committee, leading the fight on what are sure to be difficult bargaining with Hollywood’s major players in the first half of next year.

The WGA’s master contract covering most film and TV production is set to expire on May 1. With numerous economic issues and concerns about working conditions for middle-class writers, the negotiations are expected to be intense at a time when the TV and film sectors are in the throes of a messy transition to internet-delivered content on an increasingly on-demand basis.

Goodman, a showrunner known for his work with Seth MacFarlane on “Family Guy” and “The Orville,” is revered among WGA membership for successfully waging a three-year campaign against the top talent agencies that allowed the guild to ban the practice of agencies receiving packaging fees...

More than 1,500 WGA screenwriters, showrunners and TV and streaming writers have signed a pledge…saying they’re “committed to fighting for WGA coverage for all animation projects we create, write or produce moving forward. We want to be treated equal to live-action writers, not less than.” Signers include J.J. Abrams, Seth MacFarlane, Chuck Lorre, Amy Poehler and Mike Schur. See the full list below.

To that end, the WGA West’s board of directors has created an Animation Writers Organizing Committee, made up of established animation writers in screen, television and streaming. Co-chaired by Mike Scully, former showrunner for The Simpsons and former WGA West presidents David A. Goodman and Patric Verrone, the committee says it “stands ready to work with any animation writer committed to getting a Guild contract for their project or writing staff.”

“Whether writing for live action or animation, WGA members deserve a WGA deal,” the...

The Brady organization against gun violence is calling on Hollywood writers, directors and producers to examine onscreen gun violence and depictions of gun safety, asking the creative community to sign a pledge that’s already garnered more than 200 signatures of such names as Judd Apatow, Shonda Rhimes, Damon Lindelof and Jimmy Kimmel and the writers of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The pledge, while noting that the “responsibility lies with lax gun laws supported by those politicians more afraid of losing power than saving lives,” acknowledges that “America’s storytellers” have the power to “effect change.”

“Cultural attitudes toward smoking, drunk driving, seatbelts and marriage equality have all evolved due in large part to movies’ and TV’s influence. It’s time to take on gun safety,” the Brady pledge states, and goes on to ask writers, directors and producers to, whenever possible, to:

Use creativity “to model responsible gun ownership and...

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 Court draft opinion on abortion rights, we want to reaffirm our Guild’s commitment to fighting on our members’ behalf against inequality and discrimination,” the guild’s board of directors said in a statement. “Women’s rights are human rights, and any laws that ban or limit a woman’s right to choose are dangerous and set a precedent for further erosion of our collective civil rights. We call on our employers to consider the laws of each state when choosing production locations to ensure that our members will never be...

After another politically and socially turbulent year, the Writers Guild of America is ready to celebrate the best that its members have to offer, while reflecting on the ever-changing social and entertainment landscape.

The WGA’s annual awards event, a joint venture between Wgaw and Wgawe, will be held on Sunday, March 20th, and similar to last year, will be handled as a virtual event. With Covid still firmly lingering in the space of the populace, the guild’s priorities have naturally shifted in ways that couldn’t have been anticipated, while still staying true to its collective core values.

This year’s WGA film award nominees represent a roster of high-caliber talent. Nominees in the Original Screenplay category Aaron Sorkin (“Being the Ricardos”), Adam McKay & David Sirota (“Don’t Look Up”), Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola & Hugo Guinness & Jason Schwartzman, Zach Baylin (“King Richard”), and Paul Thomas Anderson (“Licorice Pizza”). Adapted...

Mark McCorkle & Bob Schooley, best known for creating, writing and executive producing Disney Channel’s Kim Possible, will receive the WGA West’s 2021 Animation Writers Caucus Animation Writing Award. The honor will be bestowed next month at the group’s virtual awards ceremony and member meeting.

The pair have specialized in adapting movie characters into TV series, with credits including Penguins of Madagascar, Monsters vs. Aliens, Disney’s Hercules, and Disney’s Aladdin: The Series. On the big screen, their credits include Hotel for Dogs and Sky High.

They also EPed two TV movies based on Kim Possible: Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time and Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama.

The long-time writing and producing team met while working as entertainment managers at Sesame Place, a Sesame Street-themed play park in Pennsylvania (both attended Temple University). They both started in the mailroom of Dic Entertainment, eventually landing staff...

Craig Miller will receive the WGA West’s 2020 Animation Writers Caucus Animation Writing Award in recognition of his distinguished career and contributions to the animation field. The award will be presented by his longtime collaborator, comic book writer Marv Wolman, at the Caucus’ virtual awards ceremony on Tuesday.

Miller, who chairs the Caucus, has more than 300 credits to his name, including The Smurfs, Curious George, and Pocket Dragon Adventures.

“In his long distinguished career, Craig has been a tireless advocate for the writers of animation, working diligently to get writers like himself covered under a WGA contract,” the guild said. “The WGA West board of directors is proud and honored to give him this well-deserved award.”

Miller started his career in Hollywood as a publicity executive, working as a consultant to Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., Disney and Universal. He worked alongside George Lucas, Jim Henson and numerous others on a long...

The Writers Guild of America West announced on Monday the results of its 2020 Board of Directors Election, with seven of the race’s eight incumbents being re-elected.

The 2020 Board members are Betsy Thomas, Deric A. Hughes, Ashley Gable, Patti Carr, David Slack, Travis Donnelly, Patric M. Verrone, and newcomer Eric Haywood.

A total of 2,204 votes were cast, with Thomas leading the votes with 1,583. The remaining votes were as follows: Deric A. Hughes, Ashley Gable, Patti Carr, David Slack, Eric Haywood, Travis Donnelly, Patric M. Verrone, Katherine Beattie (754), Daniel Kunka (753), Rob Forman (655), Andrew Ti (558), John Lopez (493), Leland Jay Anderson (303).

“A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all the candidates that ran this year,” said WGA West President David A. Goodman. “The work of the Board continues, and we’re fortunate that we have so many members ready to step forward and give their free time to help protect and advance the interests of all our members.

Writers Guild of America West has announced the results of its 2020 Board of Directors election, with eight members elected for two-year terms.

Of the eight, only one – Eric Haywood – is a non-incumbent.

The elected members include Haywood, Betsy Thomas, Deric A. Hughes, Ashley Gable, Patti Carr, David Slack, Travis Donnelly and Patric M. Verrone.

“A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all the candidates that ran this year,” said Wgaw President David A. Goodman. “The work of the Board continues, and we’re fortunate that we have so many members ready to step forward and give their free time to help protect and advance the interests of all our members.”

The numerical voting results are: Betsy Thomas, Deric A. Hughes, Ashley Gable, Patti Carr, David Slack, Eric Haywood, Travis Donnelly, Patric M. Verrone, Katherine Beattie (754), Daniel Kunka (753), Rob Forman (655), Andrew Ti (558), John Lopez (493), Leland Jay Anderson (303).

A total of 2,204 valid ballots were cast.

Amid a standoff with two major talent agencies, the Writers Guild of America West unveiled the results of its annual election for its leadership on Monday.

Candidates that have been elected to two-year terms to the guild’s board of directors include Betsy Thomas, Deric A. Hughes, Ashley Gable, Patti Carr, David Slack, Eric Haywood, Travis Donnelly and Patric M. Verrone. The union disclosed that 2,204 ballots were cast.

“A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all the candidates that ran this year,” stated Wgaw President David A. Goodman. “The work of the Board continues, and we’re fortunate that we ...

Amid a standoff with two major talent agencies, the Writers Guild of America West unveiled the results of its annual election for its leadership on Monday.

Candidates that have been elected to two-year terms to the guild’s board of directors include Betsy Thomas, Deric A. Hughes, Ashley Gable, Patti Carr, David Slack, Eric Haywood, Travis Donnelly and Patric M. Verrone. The union disclosed that 2,204 ballots were cast.

“A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all the candidates that ran this year,” stated Wgaw President David A. Goodman. “The work of the Board continues, and we’re fortunate that we ...

The WGA West board of directors sent a letter to its members today that updates writers on the union’s latest efforts in the wake of its new film and TV contract. Read it in full below.

The missive comes less than a week after WGA members voted overwhelmingly to ratify with the new film and TV deal worked out with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Sent under the header, “How Agency Information Sharing Is Paying Off,” the letter notes that “a key objective of our agency campaign is timely information from the agencies to assist Mba enforcement of late pay and free work violations, and enhance the Guild’s analysis of compensation and other employment trends.”

Here is the letter in full:

Dear Members,

A key objective of our agency campaign is timely information from the agencies to assist Mba enforcement of late pay and free work violations,...

Sixteen candidates are vying for eight open seats on the WGA West’s board of directors. The seven incumbents seeking reelection are Patti Carr, Ashley Gable, Betsy Thomas, David Slack, Patric M. Verrone, Travis Donnelly and Deric A. Hughes.

The nine other candidates are Adam Starks, John Lopez, Rob Forman, Scott Rosenbaum, Andrew Ti, Katherine Beattie, Daniel Kunka, Leland Jay Anderson and Eric Haywood.

Ballots will go out August 31 and must be returned by September 21. The guild will host a virtual Candidates Night forum, where members can pose questions to the candidates, on September 2.

Writers Guild of America leaders have endorsed the union’s tentative deal negotiated this week with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. In an email message this morning (read it below), union leaders said that “both the Wgaw Board and Wgae Council voted unanimously to recommend the contract.”

Earlier this week, the WGA and the AMPTP secured a tentative three-year deal that bring labor stability to an industry hobbled by the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. In a marathon bargaining session that stretched into the early hours Wednesday, negotiators secured an agreement to take to the guild’s membership for ratification.

In today’s email, the leadership said that, upon certification by the WGA’s chief negotiator of the final contract language, the guilds will conduct a ratification vote among eligible members later this month.

“As soon as the confirmed draft is in place,” wrote the Wgaw Board of Directors,...

The WGA West’s nominating committee has selected 18 candidates to vie for eight open seats in the guild’s upcoming board of directors election.

Seven of the candidates are incumbents: Patti Carr, Ashley Gable, Betsy Thomas, David Slack, Patric M. Verrone, Travis Donnelly and Deric A. Hughes. The other candidates selected by the nominating committee are Adam Starks, J. David Shanks, John Lopez, Carlos Foglia, Rob Forman, Scott Rosenbaum, Andrew Ti, Katherine Beattie, Daniel Kunka, Leland Jay Anderson and Eric Haywood.

Eligible members also can run for the board by petition by obtaining 15 member signatures in support of their candidacies. The deadline for submitting signed petitions is July 23. Guild members will receive voting materials, including links to candidate, non-candidate and rebuttal statements, on August 31. The voting period concludes on September 21.

Leaders of the Writers Guild of America have told members that the guild will press on in its legal battle with Wme, CAA and UTA over packaging fees in the wake of a federal judge’s decision to dismiss most of the guild’s lawsuit against the talent agencies.

The WGA sent a message to members Tuesday, a day after U.S. District Judge Andre Birotte dismissed eight of the 14 claims brought by the WGA in its countersuit, including claims that packaging fees amount to illegal kickbacks and were a form of racketeering.

In a message sent to members by the WGA’s agency negotiating committee and the WGA West board of directors, guild leaders emphasized that the claims involving breach of fiduciary duty and price-fixing among agencies over packaging fees were allowed to proceed and will be the crux of the guild’s case. A trial date has been...

Leaders of the Writers Guild of America have told members that they may need to extend to current contract beyond its current May 1 expiration due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Members received the message on Tuesday afternoon, a day after Variety reported that the WGA was evaluating its options for conducting contract talks with Hollywood’s major studios that were to have started on March 23. The coronavirus prevention measures appear to have made it untenable for the sides to hold a face-to-face bargaining session.

The WGA and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are trying to come to terms on an extension date for the guild’s existing Minimum Basic Agreement that covers most film and TV work. The current pact is set to expire May 1. But given the upheaval to regular business brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, the sides need more time to negotiate what is sure to...

The Writers Guild of America on Friday tapped more than 30 members to serve on the guild’s negotiating committee for the upcoming contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

The current three-year collective bargaining agreement, which covers most of the work done by WGA writers, is set to expire on May 1, 2020.

The looming contract negotiations have been a source of much anxiety in Hollywood as fears of a potential strike have bubbled in recent months. The negotiations are especially interesting for the WGA, which is still in a stand off with Hollywood talent agencies over how they are represented and the packaging fees agents collect for bundling talent together for networks and studios.

Also Read: How Hollywood's Guilds Are Bracing for Crucial Negotiations in 2020

Prominent names appointed to the WGA’s negotiating committee include “Aladdin” screenwriter John August, Patti Carr, Adele Lim (“Crazy Rich Asians”), Meredith Stiehm...

The WGA has appointed the members to its negotiating committee in the run-up to its talks with management’s Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for a new film and TV contract. See the list below.

The current pact expires on May 1. No date has been set for the talks to begin, and it’s not clear whether the WGA will begin bargaining before the Directors Guild, whose contract doesn’t expire until two months later. In years past, the DGA has gone first, reaching deals that have set the pattern of bargaining for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA to follow.

In the upcoming WGA talks, WGA West executive director David Young will serve as the guild’s chief negotiator, with Michele Mulroney, Shawn Ryan and Betsy Thomas serving as co-chairs. Ex-officio members of the negotiating committee include WGA West president David A. Goodman, WGA East president Beau Willimon,...

The late summer 2019 timing of the WGA election for new president, officers and eight board seats was considered perfectly timed for the membership to select leaders they feel would best fight for their interests in the crucial 2020 negotiations with the AMPTP.

But while the battle with the studios is still looming on the horizon, it is another standoff that is currently on the minds of WGA members — the ongoing impasse with the Association of Talent Agents which led to more than 7,000 writers firing their agents.

The WGA leadership is looking to stay the course of hardline approach toward agencies as most current WGA-Agency Agreement Negotiating Committee members in elected guild positions are seeking reelection. That includes David A. Goodman, the outspoken President of WGA West and the public face of the guild’s agency campaign, and agency negotiating committee co-chair Meredith Stiehm, one of the most vocal showrunners against agency...

Good Friday has put Hollywood on pause for tomorrow, but today the Writers Guild said it has a very big Easter delivery for the uberagencies coming on Monday.

It’s been nearly a week after talks completely broke down between the WGA and the Association of Talent Agents over the new anti-packaging Agency Code of Conduct and scribes started pink-slipping their agents as the Guild leadership instructed. And today the Negotiating Committee sent a memo to members with news about some big numbers and big names.

Claiming that “over 92% of the members who signed the Statement of Support have already fulfilled their pledge and signed letters terminating their unfranchised agencies,” the memo warns the Ata that a forest full of official letters will be arriving at the likes of UTA, CAA, ICM Partners and Wme on April 22. The guild added that “several thousand other writers” also have canned their now-ex-reps...

The WGA and the ATA have averted — at least temporarily — a looming crisis and they have agreed to push tonight’s midnight deadline five days to try and figure out a compromise. Sources said that the agents initiated a meeting with WGA that lasted three and led to an extension as their 43-year-old franchise agreement was set to expire at midnight. The new deadline is Friday.

Numerous members of the WGA negotiating committee were away including Chris Keyser, and sources said that on the WGA side were David Young, Mike Schur, Michelle Mulroney and David Shore. Meeting for the Ata and the agencies were Wme’s Rick Rosen, CAA’s Bryan Lourd, UTA’s Jay Sures, who reportedly helped organize the sit-down, and Apa’s Jim Gosnell, who serves as Ata President.

This is the first sign of any kind of thaw in this protracted battle. The meeting was described...

In today’s film news roundup, Peter Jackson’s World War I documentary is performing well, Joan Meyerson is honored and a documentary about President Trump’s mental fitness is in the works.

Box Office

Updated: Peter Jackson’s World War I documentary “They Shall Not Grow Old” broke its own record with $3.4 million at 1,007 theaters in North America on Thursday, according to industry estimates.

“They Shall Not Grow Old” has now taken in $5.7 million in two days of showings in North America. It debuted on Dec. 17 and pulled in $2.3 million at 1,142 theaters for Warner Bros. and Fathom Events — the largest single-day gross for a Fathom documentary in the U.S. Fathom specializes in event cinema and is jointly owned by AMC, Cinemark and Regal. Fathom said that some locations sold out of tickets more than a week ago.

“The success of this release is a result of tremendous teamwork between Fathom Events,...

The Writers Guild of America West have announced the results of the 2018 Board of Directors Election.

Eight members were elected to the Wgaw’s Board of Directors for two-year terms. They include Patti Carr (incumbent), Ashley Gable, Betsy Thomas, Deric A. Hughes, David Slack, Jonathan Fernandez (incumbent), Patric M. Verrone (incumbent), Travis Donnelly. Their terms are effective immediately.

“This vote represents the largest turnout in Guild Board election history, due in no small part to an outstanding group of candidates,” said Wgaw President David A. Goodman. “I’m thrilled to welcome the new Board members, and I’m very gratified to see, more than ever, writers engaging to strengthen our union.”

2,475 ballots were cast and the count was supervised by Votenet Solutions. The results were as follows: Patti Carr, Ashley Gable, Betsy Thomas, Deric A. Hughes, David Slack, Jonathan Fernandez, Patric M. Verrone, Travis Donnelly (972), Eric Heisserer (927), Dante W. Harper...

Amping up the argument over possible conflicts of interest, the Writers Guild of America has notified Hollywood agents that it wants to renegotiate its 42-year-old franchise agreement.

“After months of member outreach, the WGA West board and WGA East council have voted unanimously to reopen the Guilds’ 42-year-old agency agreement,” the WGA West said in a email to its members.

The WGA West held three meetings in March, during which their leaders accused Hollywood’s top talent agencies of being engaged in conflicts of interest in how they represent writers.

The issue has gained prominence in recent months due to Hollywood’s two largest agencies — Wme and CAA — aggressively moving into production. As Variety noted in a Feb. 13 cover story, the issue has the potential for conflicts of interest that arise when the same company represents the creative talent on one side of the table and is the employer on the other.

WGA, AMPTP reach “tentative” three-year deal.

The Writers Guilds of America West and East (WGA) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have reached a “tentative” last-minute agreement to avert the impending writers strike.

The old contract expired at midnight Pacific Time on May 1. The new deal will now need to be ratified by the WGA’s board and eventually its members.

In a statement, the WGA confirmed that the teams have “concluded negotiations and have reached a tentative agreement on terms for a new three-year collective bargaining agreement” which it said was worth “$130m more than the pattern we were expected to accept”.

The WGA cited contribution increases to the organisation’s health plan, as well as expanded protections in options and exclusivity, and an increase in Pay TV residuals, as terms that it had made gains in.

Further details of the agreement will be provided in the coming days.

Read the statement...

WGA, AMPTP strike “tentative” three-year, eleventh-hour deal.

The Writers Guilds of America West and East (WGA) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have reached a “tentative” last-minute agreement to avert the impending writers strike.

The old contract expired at midnight Pacific Time on May 1. The new deal will now need to be ratified by the WGA’s board and eventually its members.

In a statement, the WGA confirmed that the teams have “concluded negotiations and have reached a tentative agreement on terms for a new three-year collective bargaining agreement”. Read the statement in full below.

Dear Colleagues –

Your Negotiating Committee is pleased to report that we have reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP that we can recommend for ratification.

In it, we made gains in minimums across the board – as well as contribution increases to our Health Plan that should ensure its solvency for years to come. And we further...

WGA, AMPTP strike “tentative” three-year, eleventh-hour deal.

The Writers Guilds of America West and East (WGA) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have reached a “tentative” last-minute agreement to avert the impending writers strike.

The old contract expired at midnight Pacific Time on May 1. The new deal will now need to be ratified by the WGA’s board and eventually its members.

In a statement, the WGA confirmed that the teams have “concluded negotiations and have reached a tentative agreement on terms for a new three-year collective bargaining agreement”. Read the statement in full below.

Dear Colleagues –

Your Negotiating Committee is pleased to report that we have reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP that we can recommend for ratification.

In it, we made gains in minimums across the board – as well as contribution increases to our Health Plan that should ensure its solvency for years to come. And we further...

Talks between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers went down to the wire Monday night but ultimately resulted in a three-year deal, averting a threatened walkout that could have cost jobs and homes, hit the California economy with a $200 million blow per week, accelerated cord-cutting and driven audiences off linear channels and onto digital platforms.

David Young, executive director of WGA West, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that a deal had been reached. Leaving the closed-door meetings, Patric Verrone, who was WGA president the last time the guild went on strike in...

The Writers Guild of America is inching a step closer toward a potential writers’ strike.

The WGA’s negotiating committee sent a letter to members on Friday, recommending that the guild’s 12,000 members take a vote on strike authorization. It did not give a timetable for such a vote, however, and such a vote would not automatically lead to a strike.

Negotiations between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Pictures & Television Producers started March 13, but without any movement, the guild is looking to take the next step.

Read More: Another Writers’ Strike May Be Looming — Report

“On the last day of these two weeks, the companies’ proposal has barely a single hard-dollar gain for writers,” the letter said. “$51 billion in profits and barely a penny for those of us who make the product that makes the companies rich. But that’s not all. In response to our proposal to...

The WGA West said today that 13 candidates will be vying for eight open seats in its upcoming board of directors election. Incumbents seeking re-election include former guild president Patric Verrone, Marjorie David, Jonathan Fernandez and Chip Johannessen. The others in the race are Keenen Ivory Wayans, Matthew Weiner, Ligiah Villalobos, David Slack, Ali LeRoi, Courtney Ellinger, Glen Mazzara, Zoanne Clack and Richard Keith. The guild will host its annual candidates'…...

The WGA West said today that 13 candidates will be vying for eight open seats in its upcoming board of directors election. Incumbents seeking re-election include former guild president Patric Verrone, Marjorie David, Jonathan Fernandez and Chip Johannessen. The others in the race are Keenen Ivory Wayans, Matthew Weiner, Ligiah Villalobos, David Slack, Ali LeRoi, Courtney Ellinger, Glen Mazzara, Zoanne Clack and Richard Keith. The guild will host its annual candidates'…...

Early election results show former WGA West President Patric Verrone heading for a resounding defeat in his bid for a seat in the California state Senate. With 1% of the votes counted, Verrone has received only 2% of the vote in the eight-candidate Democratic primary to represent California’s 26th Senate District. Related: Friends And Old Foes Lining Up To Support Patric Verrone’s State Senate Bid...

Hollywood Teamsters Local 399 stood behind former WGA West President Patric Verrone when he led the 2007-08 Writers Guild strike, and it’s supporting him again in his run for the California Legislature. Verrone’s latest campaign finance report shows that Local 399 has contributed $1,000 to his bid for the 26th Senate District seat and that Steve Dayan, head of the Teamsters local, has contributed another $500. But with only one week to go before the June 2 primary, Verrone still trails five of his seven Democratic rivals by large margins in both campaign contributions and spending. Related: Patric Verrone Trailing Most Rivals In Money Race Verrone’s single largest campaign contributor is Verrone himself. According to reports filed with California’s Secretary of State, he recently loaned his campaign $50,000. His next largest contribution came from the California Nurses Association Political Action Committee, which contributed $8,200. Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, where Verrone was a writer,...

If early fundraising were to decide the race for the California Senate’s 26th district, former WGA West President Patric Verrone would finish a distant sixth. The most recent campaign finance filings show that Verrone raised $44,753 through March 17 – far less than five others in the race. Candidates will have to file one more round of funding reports this month before the June 3 primary. For the moment, however, Verrone has a lot of opponents ahead of him in the money race, led by Manhattan Beach Mayor Amy Howorth, who has $381,725; Santa Monica school board member Ben Allen ($253,331); Dr. Vito Imbasciani, a state surgeon for the California National Guard ($183,874); former Assemblywoman Betsy Butler ($152,487); and Sandra Fluke, the women’s rights attorney and activist who Rush Limbaugh famously called a “slut” ($133,415). Trailing Verrone in the money race are Seth Stodder, a former policy director at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency...

Former WGA West President Patric Verrone’s campaign for a seat in the California Senate is getting support from a wide range of fellow writers – including the backing of guild candidates he once campaigned against. Verrone, who led the contentious 2007-08 writers strike, has been something of a lightning rod for those who opposed the walkout. But that hasn’t prevented some of his old foes from throwing their support to him now. John Wells, who defeated Verrone for WGA president in 2009, now is supporting Verrone for the state Senate. And Kathy Kiernan, who Verrone defeated for the guild’s presidency in 2007, is now supporting him too. Related: Verrone’s Campaign E-Mailers To WGA Members Raise Questions “I’m getting support from writers in all economic strata, from new entry-level writers to showrunners,” Verrone told Deadline, “and I am especially grateful for the support from WGA members with whom I...

Exclusive: Thousands of emails sent to Writers Guild members from former WGA President Patric Verrone soliciting donations for his run for a seat in the California state senate are raising questions about how he got those email addresses and about the ethics of using his years of service to the guild to acquire them. Verrone, who led the guild in a contentious 14-week strike six years ago, is in a tight primary race to represent California’s 26th senatorial district. Numerous guild members report that they have received emails from Verrone soliciting donations and giving updates on his campaign. The WGA says it didn’t supply Verrone with a mailing list. Related: Patric Verrone Eyeing California State Senate Seat With ‘I Won The Strike’ Boast “We have had some members ask about this and we have made it clear that we have not provided him with a mailing list,” said WGA spokesman Neal Sacharow.

As talks are about to resume Monday on the final elements that many hope will lead to a new deal for the Writers Guild Of America, we wanted to lend some perspective and give voice to the TV and feature writers whose fortunes will be tied directly to the deal their union makes. This is the fourth in a quick succession of five questions we asked a panel of 10 writers. Here are their responses, and hopefully other writers will be moved to comment about the issues that worry them most as their work is monetized in this fast-changing digital age. Related: WGA: Why Gains, Lessons From 2008′s Strike Will Keep Hollywood From Another War Deadline: Patric Verrone is running for California State Senate and in establishing his cred to writers said, “We won the writers strike.” Would you vote for him? Writer #1: Honestly, I wouldn’t vote for Patric Verrone...

WGA board member Patric Verrone, who as union president led the guild through a tumultuous 2007-08 strike, is running for state Senate in California's 26th district, he said in a fundraising letter Saturday. He faces five other candidates in the June 3 primary, but his biggest opponent may be his signature accomplishment -- the WGA strike -- whose effect remains hotly debated. Verrone, an Emmy-winning writer on late-night shows and animation programs including Futurama, is also a lawyer admitted to practice in California and Florida. His bio and ballot statement, which the campaign supplied to The Hollywood Reporter, do

read more...

Former WGA-President Patric M. Verrone, 54, disclosed today in a letter to his fellow writers that he is running for the California State Senate. He is one of six Democratic candidates who are looking to succeed Democrat State Senator Ted Lieu, who is running for the seat vacated by Representative Henry Waxman. Verrone is a 27-year Pacific Palisades resident in the northern 26th District which runs on the coastline starting in Palo Verdes and includes Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and part of Hollywood. His campaign is centered around a theme of preserving the middle class dream here in the state, maintaining and creating quality jobs, better schools and affordable colleges. Verrone won back-to-back terms as WGA West president in 2005 and 2007 and was blocked by guild rules from seeking a third term in 2009. He lost a 2011 bid for presidency to Christopher Keyser. Verrone mentioned that today was one of the most important days of his life,...

Netflix's critical hit "Orange Is the New Black" picked up four nominations for the 2014 Writers Guild Awards -- where it's entered as a comedy series.

The show (and its cast) is entered in the drama field for some other upcoming awards shows, including the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. It's a bit of a tweener show, mixing both comedy and drama, but as there are no "dramedy" awards anywhere, it's a comedy for writing purposes.

Other multiple nominees for the WGA Awards include "Breaking Bad," "Modern Family," "30 Rock," "Masters of Sex," "The Simpsons" and another Netflix series, "House of Cards."

The full list of series nominees is below. You can go here to see all the WGA TV and radio nominees, including those for news and children's programming. The awards are scheduled for Feb. 1.

Drama series

"Breaking Bad"

"The Good Wife"

"Homeland"

"House of Cards"

"Mad Men...

Nominations for the 2014 Writers Guild Awards were announced Thursday, and AMC’s Breaking Bad and Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black (which entered as a comedy) led with four nods apiece.

Netflix’s other freshman entry, House of Cards, also fared well with three nominations, tying Modern Family, Futurama and The Simpsons.

Scroll down for the nominations list…

Related | Awards Shock: Orange is the New Black to Enter Emmy, Golden Globe Races as a Drama Series

Drama Series

Breaking Bad

The Good Wife

Homeland

House of Cards

Mad Men

Comedy Series

30 Rock

Modern Family

Parks and Recreation

Orange Is the New Black...

The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) announced the final results of its officers and board of directors election on Tuesday. Christopher Keyser was re-elected as president, while Howard A. Rodman and Carl Gottlieb were also re-elected as vice president and secretary-treasurer, respectively. Also read: Christopher Keyser Defeats Patric Verrone for WGA West Presidency Keyser and Rodman — both of whom were unopposed on the ballot — received 100 percent of the vote, while Gottlieb squeaked by with 53.2 percent. A total of 1,463 ballots were cast in a vote supervised by Robbin Johnson of independent firm Pacific Election Services. “Man of Steel” screenwriter David.

The final results are in for the WGA West’s officers and Board of Director elections, and nothing has changed at the top. Why would it? The election had almost no challengers. With the voting period concluding yesterday at 12 Pm, incumbent President Christopher Keyser, incumbent VP Howard A Rodman and incumbent Secretary-Treasurer Carl Gottlieb are all keeping their jobs. Pulling in 1,217 and 1,201 votes, respectively, for their positions, the unopposed Keyser and Rodman were re-elected with 100% of the vote. The nominee picked to run against Keyser turned the offer down, and VP challenger Timothy J Lea withdrew from the race. The little-know Keyser was first elected to the Wgaw leadership two years ago when he defeated Patric Verrone. Although the guild’s constitution doesn’t permit unopposed races, it was still fulfilled, union sources tell me, because the second Presidential nominee declined and the second VP candidate did run even though...