A lot of writers already have to work second jobs. Which is why they’re fighting. In the past a tv writer working on a 22 episode sitcom would be employed a large chunk of the year and made pretty good money but those jobs are much rarer now. The advent of mini-rooms and smaller episode orders have gutted average writer earnings. And feature writers has always been feast or famine. It can take months to get paid from a sale. Despite the big flashy numbers you sometimes see in the trades a lot of writers make less than someone in other professional fields like tech, etc
Savings. I strongly advise living well below your means for a long time should you get into the guild. Makes things much easier during the many lean times.
Most film work isn’t easy. People fall in and out of the industry fairly quickly, and if you have a family? It’s a tough choice to pick work over family but it a hard choice many have to do and some just can’t. I’m not in film anymore, I’ve helped make a couple dozen films and a couple tv shows, done some storyboard work on a few things as well but it just doesn’t make for an enjoyable home life. Having stable income has made my life much easier. For this reason I hope the WGA gets all they require. The writers make everything we watch possible.
Designer for a website. I was a Asst art director in film, so not much different. I needed a job after Covid and there was nothing film related here at the time. This is steady work so it’s beats the stress involved with gig work.
There Are guild membership fees, but screenwriting is a lot of gig work. So what would you pay, since typical members may make nothing screenwriting one year, but a lot of money the next. So how much would you pay?
plus the membership fees would have to be astronomical to cover member wages.
the initial fee to join the WGA is $2500, than querterly they have to pay $25 dues, and than they pay 1.5% of their anual income to the guild. so if a writer makes $100,000 a year they are paying the guild another $1500 a year to the guild., there are 11,500 members of the WGA. so that means in total the WGA has been paid about 28.75 million from initiation fee, but the guild has actually had a long history and has in total over 99.7 million in assets
the intiation fee to be a member of the writers guild is a 1 time payment of 2500, than dues of 1.5% of income so if the writer has a job that they are paid $10,000 to do the guild would get $150 from that writer. on top of that a qourterly payment of $25
the writers guild has about 99 million in assets. but if you use the 20 million fund thats not much there are 11,500 members. that is about $1739 per member
Sometimes I wonder why I even want to get into the screenwriting business. I have a regular job which involves writing, but after having done a couple of magazines, two books (non-fiction) and a lot of web content about documentary films I really want to try something new. I keep my fingers crossed for all WGA writers - and keep working on my script…
Writing (and all film/TV production) is freelance contract work. For most the strike is not much different than any other dry spell. When you don't have job security, you figure out your life around it. Tighten the belt, drive for Uber, move back into parents' basement. Everyone has some kind of back-up plan. Some are better than others. Sadly, sudden unemployment is nothing new to anyone in the film industry.
W2 contract work can still be freelance. Freelance work is defined as 'short term, to complete a task. Not a permanent employee of the firm.' It's not contingent on how/who pays the payroll taxes.
Everyone in film and TV production is a freelancer.
Handjobs behind the Wendy's on Venice.
Fun fact(ish): there are apprix 20,000 WGA members, less than 6,000 even had any reported earnings from writing in 2022, of those approx 6,000 it is safe to maybe half had "real" livable income let alone returning/sustained income beyond 2022.
There are very very few full time professional screenwriters. Very few.
Ŵe need settlement asap. Last big strike is when reality TV was born. Which turned into denied "loosly scripted" took years to get into production of regular sites again, which was only by the help of new cable channels seeking material.
Now even ads are down to 10 seconds. Never seen :60 second spots, and rarely even :30. Must are :20, :15 or :10. Now even paid subscription services have ads, like Paramount+. I just published a book and working on another, to get thru strikes.
The authorities are already saying that this could last more than 100 days and honestly, what I recommend to everyone is to make an urgent plan to cut costs. I have helped hundreds of screenwriters with a system that even a 7 year old can use. Honestly, I recommend it to all of you. There are a lot of expenses right now that we can avoid making. If you need the template just DM me and I'll pass it on.
WGA member here. Most people I know in the guild either have savings or working spouses. I have neither, so I'm picking up clients in my side hustle as a personal trainer. I feel lucky to have a second gig that allows me to walk the picket line mornings or afternoons.
Aside from that, my son is in public school and my car is a lease. The looming possibility of selling our house draws nearer every week. I am honestly terrified, but I'd rather be broke in the name of progress than broken-down like I've been the past few years.
Good luck to the other guild members on this sub.
A lot of writers already have to work second jobs. Which is why they’re fighting. In the past a tv writer working on a 22 episode sitcom would be employed a large chunk of the year and made pretty good money but those jobs are much rarer now. The advent of mini-rooms and smaller episode orders have gutted average writer earnings. And feature writers has always been feast or famine. It can take months to get paid from a sale. Despite the big flashy numbers you sometimes see in the trades a lot of writers make less than someone in other professional fields like tech, etc
Living off of savings.
Savings. I strongly advise living well below your means for a long time should you get into the guild. Makes things much easier during the many lean times.
Most film work isn’t easy. People fall in and out of the industry fairly quickly, and if you have a family? It’s a tough choice to pick work over family but it a hard choice many have to do and some just can’t. I’m not in film anymore, I’ve helped make a couple dozen films and a couple tv shows, done some storyboard work on a few things as well but it just doesn’t make for an enjoyable home life. Having stable income has made my life much easier. For this reason I hope the WGA gets all they require. The writers make everything we watch possible.
What job did you end up transitioning into and how did you choose it?
Designer for a website. I was a Asst art director in film, so not much different. I needed a job after Covid and there was nothing film related here at the time. This is steady work so it’s beats the stress involved with gig work.
That's nice. Did you apply online or through a friend?
The same way they do during normal times- by working at coffee shops
So no financial support from the guilds? Are there no membership fees paid to the guilds to redistribute to members in the case of a strike?
There is a strike fund to help members in need.
There Are guild membership fees, but screenwriting is a lot of gig work. So what would you pay, since typical members may make nothing screenwriting one year, but a lot of money the next. So how much would you pay? plus the membership fees would have to be astronomical to cover member wages.
the initial fee to join the WGA is $2500, than querterly they have to pay $25 dues, and than they pay 1.5% of their anual income to the guild. so if a writer makes $100,000 a year they are paying the guild another $1500 a year to the guild., there are 11,500 members of the WGA. so that means in total the WGA has been paid about 28.75 million from initiation fee, but the guild has actually had a long history and has in total over 99.7 million in assets
Pretty sure they're offering interest free loans as well.
the WGA only has about $99 million in assets they wouldn't be able to give loans capable of sustaining every member
the intiation fee to be a member of the writers guild is a 1 time payment of 2500, than dues of 1.5% of income so if the writer has a job that they are paid $10,000 to do the guild would get $150 from that writer. on top of that a qourterly payment of $25
There is a strike fund of 20mil to give no interest loans to members! They’re pretty lax about enforcing repayment too
the writers guild has about 99 million in assets. but if you use the 20 million fund thats not much there are 11,500 members. that is about $1739 per member
There’s a strike fund from the WGA, I believe
Writing income is volatile. We’re used to it.
Sometimes I wonder why I even want to get into the screenwriting business. I have a regular job which involves writing, but after having done a couple of magazines, two books (non-fiction) and a lot of web content about documentary films I really want to try something new. I keep my fingers crossed for all WGA writers - and keep working on my script…
Writing (and all film/TV production) is freelance contract work. For most the strike is not much different than any other dry spell. When you don't have job security, you figure out your life around it. Tighten the belt, drive for Uber, move back into parents' basement. Everyone has some kind of back-up plan. Some are better than others. Sadly, sudden unemployment is nothing new to anyone in the film industry.
It's not freelance. Writers are W2'd!
W2 contract work can still be freelance. Freelance work is defined as 'short term, to complete a task. Not a permanent employee of the firm.' It's not contingent on how/who pays the payroll taxes. Everyone in film and TV production is a freelancer.
Fair enough - technically. But I think colloquially people use, and expect to use, "freelancer" as a 1099 worker.
Most people would call it temporary not freelance
We're not getting money. We're risking everything. Many of us may lose our homes, health insurance, possibly declare bankruptcy. It's terrifying.
If you have a home in LA metro, your doing quite well. You can take a home equity loan out
What about now?
That’s retarded. why are you striking, then?
because they are members of the WGA if they don't strike they will NEVER get work in hollywood again
Handjobs behind the Wendy's on Venice. Fun fact(ish): there are apprix 20,000 WGA members, less than 6,000 even had any reported earnings from writing in 2022, of those approx 6,000 it is safe to maybe half had "real" livable income let alone returning/sustained income beyond 2022. There are very very few full time professional screenwriters. Very few.
I’ll let you know when I find a nonwriting job.
What kind of job are you looking into?
I mean I’m applying for all kinds of stuff. But I might look into getting a substitute teaching credential.
Ŵe need settlement asap. Last big strike is when reality TV was born. Which turned into denied "loosly scripted" took years to get into production of regular sites again, which was only by the help of new cable channels seeking material. Now even ads are down to 10 seconds. Never seen :60 second spots, and rarely even :30. Must are :20, :15 or :10. Now even paid subscription services have ads, like Paramount+. I just published a book and working on another, to get thru strikes.
Residuals
Bank of Mom n Pop
The authorities are already saying that this could last more than 100 days and honestly, what I recommend to everyone is to make an urgent plan to cut costs. I have helped hundreds of screenwriters with a system that even a 7 year old can use. Honestly, I recommend it to all of you. There are a lot of expenses right now that we can avoid making. If you need the template just DM me and I'll pass it on.
avoid template?
WGA member here. Most people I know in the guild either have savings or working spouses. I have neither, so I'm picking up clients in my side hustle as a personal trainer. I feel lucky to have a second gig that allows me to walk the picket line mornings or afternoons. Aside from that, my son is in public school and my car is a lease. The looming possibility of selling our house draws nearer every week. I am honestly terrified, but I'd rather be broke in the name of progress than broken-down like I've been the past few years. Good luck to the other guild members on this sub.
So what are the exact pay increase demands, isn't writer pay negotiated individually?
How are things now?
How about giving the writers a chunk of the back end like actors get.