Hey guys!
I’ve moved from NYC to Hollywood and I’ve ended up meeting a producer, who got my number and we exchanged messages about my drafts.
Thing is:
He asked me if I was on WGA. Not even knowing what was it, I googled it.
Question:
Should I be a member on WGA to be able to potentially have a producer interested in my “scripts”?
Reason for the question:
He kinda felt discouraged for that without even reading anything from me.
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It's not a club to join. A writer earns membership through writing for WGA signatories.
Oh, that’s why he gave up on me then. Meaning: I’m not a professional, if I’m not on WGA.
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WGA membership is not required to sell or option a Spec.
Industry people sometimes use non-starter issues as a polite way of saying 'No' without saying the word. Welcome to Show Biz.
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You get your script kind of registered yearly basis and you may call yourself a WGA member. That's it.
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Just click your heels three times while saying, "I'm a WGA member. I'm a WGA member."
To avoid patent falsities, rumors, innuendo and the like, here are the membership requirements:
https://www.wga.org/the-guild/going-guild/join-the-guild
He liked everything I said about my ideas until I said “No, I’m not” to the WGA question
Well, I’ve seen two types of memberships there: associate and current.
Which one should I have?
Also, I see there’s “west” and “east” WGA…
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Carmen...to you're question directly...no. A producer could be over the moon for your script and you not be WGA.
If they're engaging with you without that knowledge to begin with, I'd be weary and do due diligence on them before continuing in the conversation.
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How would a producer know ahead of time. Union and non-Union writers pen Specs.
Being wary and performing due diligence is a good idea - even on social media.
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Thank you, everyone! Always great insights!
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Carmen, they may still be interested, but with the writers strike going on they also have to be careful who they engage with right now. After the strike resume talks with them.
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Thanks, Tim! That’s a good point!
But he ruled me out almost right away when I said I wasn’t WGA.
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He might only be looking to work with WGA writers.. here's a thought, reach out to them and bring up the strike and your awareness to the strike and ask if they are only looking for WGA writers to collaborate with or would they consider resuming talks with your project when the strike is over.
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That's usually a question producers ask to figure out if they're dealing with a professional or a wannabe. Though of course, all professionals started as wannabes, it's just a quick metric to know what they're getting into.
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Tim Bragg, good point! I've been meaning to ask how I should proceed with responding to gig requests from ISA, etc. during the strike as somebody who doesn't yet belong to the union.
I don't want to be a scab and I sure don't want to be exploited by some producer who'd take advantage of the strike to hire "cheap writers".
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Grill Producer if pays Union wages, and if he has ever hired wga and non/union writers, and if he is self-employed/or represents a Union signatory company.
I have met lots of producers kicking "tires", hustling writers for free assignment work.
Ps; You do not have to join WGA. Lots of successful produced writers are not members.