Strike or BUST!

It's been hinted at since early June, but now it's finally here.

The WGA (Writer's Guild of America) is on strike. From what I can gather from various sources, the gossip mill and a few friends on the picket lines, the strike centers around these key issues:

1. New Media

As it stands, writers don't get paid residuals from shows re-aired online. The writers are also asking for basic protection of any new material they create for the internet. Currently, those who write shows for the internet, or create characters for the internet have no protection--they don't get paid WGA wage minimums, they don't have pension plans, etc. They're also trying to get residuals for iPod downloads and downloads to cell phones.

2. Enforcement and Expansion of the Contact

Game shows, talk shows, documentaries, etc also have writers, but a lot of times, production companies like to pretend as if these writers aren't covered under the contact. Sometimes they refuse to give them health care, etc., but if the writers ask about it, they can and often do get fired.

Even though most people think Reality TV is "reality", they actually have writers. ("The Hills" hint, hint) Writers for Reality TV and Animation aren't covered under the contract--the WGA thinks they should be.

What does this mean for TV?

Shows like The Daily Show and Colbert Report are completely screwed. Late Night Shows, too. Immediate reruns. Then comes daytime TV. Eventually, when the order runs out for shows like Heroes and Bionic Woman, primetime will be shot.

What does this mean for WGA Members?

On the writer's forum I've been reading posts from the WGA Member's Only section, and it's quite startling how so many people have gotten screwed by the Companies. Shocking, really. How the production companies in animation have literally laid of hundreds of artists and blacklisted writers for joining the WGA. They also seem to be fighting about what the strike, exactly, is about. Some say New Media, others say it's about something else.

I'm also hearing stories about the "little guys" who can't afford to keep up the strike. Sure, the well-known, well-paid writers can do it, but the average WGA guy isn't making enough bank to keep her house, car payments, etc. So there's an internal battle as well. Not everyone in the WGA writes for Jon Stewart. (I hear he's paying the salaries of the Daily Show writers until the end of the strike.)

What does this mean for us, the non-WGA Members?

Nothing. Not really, anyway. If you weren't getting work before the strike, you're probably not going to get work during the strike. But...just in case, there are:

Rules of Conduct for Non-WGA Members

13.

The Guild does not have the authority to discipline non members for strike breaking and/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 strike breakers to refrain from seriously harming the Guild and its members during a strike. Therefore, it is important for you to report to the Guild the name of any non member whom you believe has performed any writing services for a struck company and as much information as possible about the non member's services.

--

We can write for non-signatory production companies, but that's pretty obvious, anyway.


Or in other words: New Media is too new, and the prodcos don't know if they make money off it or not, HA!

If you want to find out more about the strike, please check out the sidebar links in "Who's out there?"

Cheers and good luck to the WGA members.

A Screenwriter's Guide to the Galaxy

K here.

You may have noticed the links positioned quite nicely in the sidebar to your left. These links lead you, the hopeful screenwriter or filmmaker, to some great blogs and forums on screenwriting, filmmaking and procrastination networking with other filmmakers/screenwriters.

We here at CWMM present you with:

A Screenwriter's Guide to the Galaxy:
Navigating the Links on the Lefthand Sidebar

THE WRITERS

Carolyn Haywood
Regular poster on the American Zoetrope Vertiual Studios hosted by Francis Ford Coppola. Her website includes samples from her award-winning screenplays, which could be a helpful resource. It has been to us!

Christopher Lockhard
No-longer updated blog by executive story editor and creative consultant, that answers e-mail questions about screenwriting. He also hosts the website twoadverbs.com, which focuses on giving advice to screenwriters.

Jane Espenson
Former writer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and has written episodes for Angel, Firefly, Gilmore Girls, Ellen, The O.C., and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (among others). Her website focuses on the ins and outs of writing spec scripts for televison...and what she ate for lunch.

Jeremy Slater
Amazingly hilarious blog featuring a writer navigating through agents, spec writing and trips to industry studios. Link to an even funnier blog: How To Write Screenplays. Badly.

John August
Blog from the writer of such films as Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie's Angels, and Go. Answers questions from readers on every aspect of screenwriting.

Lorelei Armstrong
Award-winning screenwriter and novelist who gives no-nonsense advice about screenwriting, and how to navigate through The Business.

Ted Rossio and Terry Elliot
The Grandaddy of all screenwriting blogs, and written by the geniuses who brought us Aladdin, The Legend of Zorro and the POTC Triology, Wordplay takes you to an entirely new level in understanding screenwriting and improving upon your craft. The site features 60 columns on screenwriting, a forum and essays from industry professionals. Highly recommended for all screenwriters.

The Unknown Screenwriter
In-depth blog second only to Wordplay, which gives writers the opportunity to study screenwriting without having to pay tens of thousands of dollars at USC having to go to film school.

WHO'S OUT THERE?

American Zoetrope
A "Virtual Studio" founded by Francis Ford Coppola. It operates on a peer-review system, allowing users to upload their screenplays, stories, music, pictures and more, and receive feedback from fellow users, with the occasional industry professional dropping in on the main boards to offer advice and feedback. Has four "buildings": Writing, Arts and Design, Music and Sound, and Other (Acting and Directing). The Screenwriting buildings is active, with several private offices hosted from a range of individuals, some industry profressionals.

Cinnematical
Cinnematical gives information on recent sales and upcoming movies, as well as reviews of recently released films. Check here often to see whether or not you should spend 4 months writing that spec script...

KarmaCritic
Website/blogsite created by frustrated "On The Lot" community members. Open to filmmakers, screenwriters, and anyone else involved in making a professional or semi-professional film. Also has a screenplay competion, SUBLIM, which opened on 07/07/07. How's that for good luck?

The Artful Writer
No-holds barred blog hosted by Craig Mazin (Scary Movie 3) and Ted Elliot (Pirates of the Carribean Trilogy). It features an active forum, which hosts the informative "Ask a Pro" question and answer sesssion. (Previous professionals included Ted Elliot, John Turman, Craig Mazin, Tim Talbott and others). Good resource for those wanting information about screenwriting from an industry pro's perspective.

Query Letters We Love
Started by the late Manager Guy, this website pokes fun at some odd query letters the host has received over the years. Interesting read, and may give you an idea what not to put in your query letters...

The Movie Blog
"The Official Home of Correct Movie Opinons". Enough said.

TriggerStreet
Large-scale site in the vein of Zoetrope, which focuses on peer-reviews as a means to improve filmmaking and screenwriting as a whole. It has a message board, blogging section and will soon add Plays, Short Stories and Books to its lineup.

LEARN HOW TO...

Michael Hauge's Screenplay Mastery
Site by writer Michael Hauge, with articles on screenplay structure, pitching and telling a story. Great for those who need a better grasp of screenplay structure.

Proper Screenplay Format
How to properly format a screenplay from the Academy of Arts and Sciences' Nicholl Fellowship Program. PLEASE READ THIS NOW.

FESTIVALS

American Black Film Festival

Deadline has passed for submit to the festival, but the festival itself will be held in October. Geared toward films focusing on African American and/or urban independent films.

The Sundance Institute
Institute created by the spectacular Robert Redford,which focuses on independent film. It has several contests and programs aimed at the indepedent filmmaker, cummilating in The Sundance Festival, held every January, in Utah.

Tribeca Film Festival
Annual Film Festival held in September, Tropfest@Tribeca holds an annual short film competion. This year's theme: "Slice".

Telluride Film Festival
Held August 31-September 3 in Telluride, Colorado, this festival accepts only the best shorts and films to be showcased during the it's run. The deadline for this year has passed, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still be working!

Human Rights Watch International Fim Festival
"Each year, the festival's programming committee screens more than 500 films and videos to create a program that represents a range of countries and issues. Once a film is nominated for a place in the program, staff of the relevant division of Human Rights Watch also view the work to confirm its accuracy in the portrayal of human rights concerns. Though the festival rules out films that contain unacceptable inaccuracies of fact, we do not bar any films on the basis of a particular point of view." Check it out.

Los Angeles Film Festival
Presented by The Lost Angeles Times, this festival offers some of the best of independent film, accepting films from high school students as well.

SouthXSouthwest
Has several components but the Film Festival is probably what you're looking for. Located in Austin, this highly respected festival has several competions geared toward the up and coming filmmaker.

Ohio Independent Film Festival
Held in November in Cleveland, Ohio, this film festival, run exclusively by women(!), also has a screenplay competion.

This list is subject to change--and probably will, as we navigate the web finding the Best of the Best.

Good luck!

Just a bit of news

K here.

Once in a while, an opportunity comes up that's too good to pass. This, my friends, is one of them. Think you could have written a better script than Pirates the Third demi-Gods Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio? Convinced Shonda Rhimes has been stealing ideas from your incredible, undiscovered, hour-long teleplay about hot doctors with even hotter love lives?

Then it's time to put your money where your mouth is.

Disney and ABC will be accepting screenplays, plays and teleplays for the Disney/ABC Writing Fellowship in both the screenplay and teleplay categories. For more information, check it out here. There is also a directing and acting section, but sorry folks, the Production section deadline has passed.

And for all you writers out there, check out Wordplay, and awesome site by two of the above mentioned writers.