LB: WGAW Report on Individual Deal-Making

Another title for this post could be, “How to make your own TV writing deals without really trying,” except, of course, for the fact that in this chaotic – “Now that I’ve fired my agent per the WGA, how do I best keep my career going without them?” – we all have to try even harder than before.

But with the help of the Writers Guild, it definitely can pay off!


Dear Members,

Many of you have managers, lawyers and franchised agents who can inform you about compensation trends. Over the past few months, the Guild has provided guidance on over a hundred individual deals to members who have found themselves without their normal advisors due to the agency campaign. In several dozens of those instances, Guild attorneys have negotiated final terms and conditions. As a result, the Guild has been able to get some direct information on current deal terms that we are happy to share. Click here for a report on some of the individual deals we have negotiated, with brief commentary about how they came together.

We have previously published a summary of going rates for television employment and pilot deals and will do so again after we receive enough contracts and data from franchised agencies. With this information, we can understand writers’ employment at a granular level, publish information about compensation trends, and enforce the contract precisely and proactively. With knowledge of employment practices throughout the industry, you and your representatives will be better equipped to negotiate fair compensation.

In Solidarity,
WGAW Board of Directors

Writers Guild of America West
7000 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone (323) 951-4000 • Fax (323) 782-4800 • www.wga.org

Author: LB

A legendary figure in the television writing and production world with a career going back to the late ’60s, Larry Brody has written and produced hundreds of hours of American and worldwide television and is a consultant to production companies and networks in the U.S. and abroad . Shows written or produced by Brody have won several awards including - yes, it's true - Emmys, Writers Guild Awards, and the Humanitas Award.

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