life on mars

THIS^^^

And if you do get paid for your ideas/writing during the strike, that is considered scabbing and you will be barred from the WGA for life, as per this email from the Blacklist:

And, because a lot of people don't understand this bit, this is about you selling your ideas or writing to US-based TV studios or movie studios who are part of the AMPTP. There is no strike against book publishers. Nor audiobooks, graphic novels, or poetry publishing. Or just writing.

Read the above from the WGA.

Important additional note for early career filmmakers and students (like me!):

For pre-WGA writers (i.e. people who want to join WGA but cannot yet qualify / still earning early-career credits) - this FAQ by an authorized WGA representative is very helpful.

Notably, you are still allowed to:

1. Create student films to share in class

2. Upload student films to YouTube, Vimeo, Patreon, or your personal social media

3. Create indie films for *under $20,000*("micro-budget" films)

-->unlike WGA members, pre-members are still allowed to actively write and film. We are not "pens down."

4.Submit micro-budget films to film festivals

5. Send spec scripts to agents, sign with an agent

What you CANNOT do is sign any production or distribution deals. Nor can an agent submit your film or script to producers, streamers, studios, or distributors on your behalf.

This prohibition includes "major indie" studios unaffiliated with AMPTP, such as A24. Note that this is a key difference between WGA and SAG-AFTRA!

SAG-AFTRA allows student and early career actors to continue to submit reels and audition for non-AMPTP films. WGA does NOT want student writers to do this with our scripts. The WGA rep in the article gives good sample messaging if any studio or producer is interested in your script or self-published films. Emphasize that you would love to work with the studio after the strike is complete and WGA terms have been met, and you will reach back out at that time.

Essentially: as a pre-WGA member, you are allowed to do your film class homework! You are allowed to write scripts and film them yourself. You *are* allowed to self-produce, self-publish, and self-distribute your work on platforms that do not pay residuals (i.e. social media, etc).

You are NOT allowed to contribute to the pipeline of content that AMPTP studios and major streamers profit from. Do not submit or sign any deals for your scripts, nor for distribution of your independently created films.

__

Eta: direct questions and answers - this is most relevant to student + early career filmmakers.

MovieMaker: And that’s also detrimental to the agent, because they’re also going to lose money on you.

Christopher Kyle: Yes. The only thing I would say is, I would guess that agents have time on their hands right now. It may be a good time for an aspiring writer to send them a script to read. Because they may have more time to read it.

MovieMaker: Is that considered distasteful or tacky or anything?

Christopher Kyle: Tacky to sign with an agent? We’re not we’re not in conflict with agents. So if agents want to use this time to find clients that they’re then going to market in the future, I think that’s fine. But you know, they can’t start that marketing until after the strike.

MovieMaker: Got it. Okay. And there’s no conflict at all with using screenwriting platforms for coverage service?

Christopher Kyle: I don’t think so, unless their coverage service is somehow sponsored by one of the signatory companies, which I can’t imagine is the case.

MovieMaker: I get emails from contests that say, basically, “Here’s your chance to pitch your ideas to managers and agents” or to “pitch your ideas to producers.” It sounds like pitching to managers and agents is fine, but pitching to producers would clearly be out of bounds.

Christopher Kyle: Correct.

MovieMaker: Can independent filmmakers seek investors or crowdfunding during the strike?

Christopher Kyle: As long as the investments aren’t coming from a signatory company.

MovieMaker: Can independent filmmakers enter their films and film festivals during the writers strike?

Christopher Kyle: Yes, but as I said before, if they put their film in a festival and it leads to an offer of sale or option from a company that we’re striking against them, they wouldn’t be able to take advantage of that without running across the rules.

MovieMaker: So if Netflix or another signatory reached out to you and said, “We love your film, we want it,” what is the proper response? Is it no response? Or should you say, “Let’s talk when the strike is over”?

Christopher Kyle: That’s what you should say. “I really appreciate your interest in my work. I’m in solidarity with the striking writers. As soon as the strike is over, I hope to have this conversation with you then.”

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TLDR version - pre-WGA writers can write scripts, post scripts to Blacklist or social media, pitch agents, sign with agents, create mico budget films, post films to social media or your online portfolio, submit films to festivals, get direct funding for films (via Patreon, Only Fans, or Kickstarter)

The only things you cannot do are: pitch to, meet with, actively write for, or sign with an AMPTP signatory studio or streaming service.

Hope this helps others, it definitely clarified things for me 😁