A Public Service Announcement if ever there was one. Here’s what going on, socially and professionally, at the Writers Guild of America West this month:
January 2022
Until further notice, the Guild has suspended in-person committee meetings and events, member meetings, and screenings at the Writers Guild Theater. Virtual events are listed below. Members must RSVP in advance to receive access info to participate in online events.
Unless otherwise stated within the event, committee activities and events are open to WGAW Current, Post Current, Associate, and Associate Caucus members in Active status. If you have questions about your member status, please contact the Membership Department or call (323) 782-4532
To see the live calendar, click here. (Member Login required for that, sorry.)
Events listed are current at time of publication. Dates and details are subject to change during the month.
Wednesday
05
Career Longevity Committee Meeting
7-9 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity Committee Meetings
RSVP: CLC 1-2022. The mission of the Career Longevity Committee is to advocate for writers over forty to obtain equal access to the job market with equal opportunity for sustained professional growth.
Friday
07
More Than Queens and Crowns: Writing Female-Focused Historical Fiction
4-5:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Writers Guild Foundation
RSVP: WGFoundation. WGF teams up Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting for a virtual conversation on writing female-focused historical fiction TV series. We ask TV writers about their process for researching various eras, the creative decisions behind stories about real-life people and events, their experiences adapting from literary works, and other lessons learned while writing in the genre. Panelists include Amberia Allen (The Wonder Years), Robbie Macdonald (Dickinson) plus more to be announced. Moderated by Dr. Rosanne Welch. Free with suggested donation of $10.
Monday
10
Disabled Writers Committee Meeting
7-9 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity Committee Meetings
RSVP: DWC 1-2022. This Committee seeks to enhance the visibility and employment of writers with all types of disabilities, and encourage, celebrate, and endorse accurate portrayals of disabled people in all areas of the media. We also serve as an expert resource for all issues related to the disabled community. WGA members may bring a non-WGA guest to this month’s meeting.
Tuesday
11
Writers on Writing with Tom McCarthy
4-5 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Writers Guild Foundation
RSVP: WGFoundation. For this session, we go one-on-one with award-winning screenwriter and director Tom McCarthy (Spotlight) to learn about his writing and directing process, his journey bringing his latest film, Stillwater, to the screen, and how his acting experience informs his writing. Moderated by Josh Singer (Spotlight). Free with suggested donation of $10.
Tuesday
11
Native American & Indigenous Writers Committee Meeting
7:30-9:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity Committee Meetings
RSVP: NAIWC 1-2022. This Committee represents the professional and creative interests of Native American & Indigenous writers. It works to mentor, encourage, empower and increase the visibility and employment of writers of Native American & Indigenous heritage, and serves as a cultural and educational resource for all Guild member-writers seeking to portray Native American & Indigenous Peoples in their work.
Thursday
13
WGF Library Script Breakdown with King Richard’s Zach Baylin
4-5:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Writers Guild Foundation
RSVP: WGFoundation. WGF librarians Lauren O’Connor and Javier Barrios host this deep dive into the screenplay for the biopic drama King Richard with screenwriter Zach Baylin. We’ll share the script pages on screen to learn how he approached the real-life story of the Williams family, his research process, and how the screenplay evolved from its time on The Black List to production. Free with suggested donation of $10.
Thursday
13
Writers Education Committee Meeting
6-7:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Writers Ed
RSVP: WEC. WGAW’s Writers Education Committee brainstorms and develops events and programs, which provide WGA members with practical, inside knowledge about how the industry works and how it is changing, emphasizing tips and tools to help writers succeed. We strive to provide working knowledge for writers and invite you to contribute your ideas.
Tuesday 18
LGBTQ+ Writers Committee Meeting
7:30-9:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity Committee Meetings
RSVP: LGBTQ 1-2022. The Writers Guild of America West’s LGBTQ+ Writers Committee seeks to utilize its constituency as a resource to all writers who include LGBTQ+ characters in their work. Its members also wish to provide cultural and educational opportunities for WGAW members to nurture an understanding of how sexual orientation and gender identity affect the lives of writers; endeavor to provide networking and social activities enabling the WGAW membership to better know one another and create a greater demand for the writing services of LGBTQ+ WGAW members; and strive to generate a greater awareness within the Guild of sexual orientation (and gender identity) as a minority and, where appropriate, to identify and advocate against instances of homophobia, transphobia and/or discrimination within our industry.
Monday
24
Latinx Writers Committee Meeting
7:30-9:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity Committee Meetings
RSVP: LWC 1-2022. This committee actively represents the professional, creative, social and economic interests of Latino Guild members. Its mandate is to encourage Latino writers to become more active within the Guild; and to raise the profile and perception of Latino writers in the industry at large by creating forums that foster networking, collaboration, education, information exchange, employment opportunities and creative expression.