(no subject)

[gategrrl]

Is the WGA threatening to black-ball scriptwriters who break the line and work for nonunion companies and productions? That's what's floating around some newsgroups a producer we know frequents. At this point, it's hearsay: I haven't seen it mentioned in the few articles I've had time to read through. But if so, and  you're an up and rising scriptwriter, keep an ear down to the ground and hear what's really going on. 

Comments

[betacandy.livejournal.com]

I think what you're describing is standard procedure, except... what's a non-union job? Every screenplay sold or written on salary is supposed to go through the WGA. AFAIK, there is no such thing as legitimately writing in US film or TV without being in the WGA. Which is basically fascist.

Example: I never qualified for the WGA. But if you wanted to buy my script, I would have to become a member of it before or during the sale process for the transaction to be legit in the WGA's eyes. Otherwise, they blackball me as punishment. And that's regardless of whether there's a strike. Or whether you're a kid from Boise and how the hell would you know this rule?

There may be something I don't know here, or something that's changed since I was screenwriting. This is just my understanding of the rules, FWIW.