WGAW June 2021 Calendar

Here’s what going on, socially and professionally,  at the Writers Guild of America West this month:


June 2021

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.

Events listed are current at time of publication. Dates and details are subject to change during the month.

Unless otherwise states 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.)


Tuesday 01
Genre Committee Meeting
6-7:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Genre
RSVP: Genre. The WGAW’s Genre Committee was formed with the purpose of attracting writers interested in a certain genre, to meet, discuss and exchange information in a peer-to-peer setting. Our mission is to push education, diversity and camaraderie amongst all writers no matter their background. The Committee welcomes all writers because writers work in all genres.

Wednesday 02
Committee of Black Writers Meeting
7-9 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity Committee Meetings
RSVP: CBW 06-2021. Special Guest: Eddie Gamarra (VP Studio Development, Nickelodeon). The WGAW Committee of Black Writers’ mission is to empower, increase visibility, and create career and networking opportunities for Black writers in Hollywood. You will be emailed the Zoom ID and meeting logistics on the day of the meeting.

Thursday 03
The Future of The Future: Stories That Drive Artificial Intelligence That Drive Stories and Their Societal Consequences
6-7:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Writers Ed
RSVP: AI. The time to imagine the future we want to live is now, but can we bring human values and AI (artificial intelligence) together to enhance our life instead of destroying it? This virtual panel features experts at the intersection of tech and the humanities who will share diverse perspectives of the future, as one of the most pressing issues facing all of us today is ensuring AI is developed in a socially ethical way for maximizing public good. This panel will give writers insight and information to empower them to think beyond sci-fi tropes and look deeper than topics covered by mainstream media in order to create fresh storylines. Panelists: Safiya U. Noble, Ph.D., Associate Professor, UCLA, and author of Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism; Katya Klinova, Head of Labor, AI, and Economy, The Partnership on AI; and Stuart Russell, Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Center for Human-Compatible AI, UC Berkeley; moderator: Alexa Schulz. Presented by WGAW’s Writers Education and Genre Committees.

Thursday 03
LWC in Conversation: A Celebration of Queen of the South
7 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity
RSVP: QOTS. Presented by the Latinx Writers Committee and in anticipation of the series’ finale of Queen of the South airing on June 9, we will discuss with co-showrunners and writers the journey of the past five seasons and the show’s lasting impact on Latinx representation on camera, behind the scenes, and in the writers room. Panelists: Ben Lobato, Dailyn Rodriguez, Olivia Cuartero-Briggs and Mark Valadez. Moderator: Jorge Rivera (LWC Vice Chair). WGAW members plus one guest.

Thursday 10
WGF Library Script Breakdown with Ted Lasso’s Bill Lawrence
4-5 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Writers Guild Foundation
Info/RSVP: WGFoundation.org. WGF librarians Javier Barrios and Lauren O’Connor examine the Ted Lasso pilot script with Co-Creator and Executive Producer Bill Lawrence. Learn how he (along with co-writer Jason Sudeikis) approached the introduction of the Apple TV+ series’ main characters and world, as well as how they set up stories to address during the first season. Free with suggested donation of $10.

Thursday 10
Writers Education Committee Meeting
6-7:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Writers Ed
RSVP: WritersEd. This WGAW 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.

Thursday 10
Middle Eastern Writers Committee Meeting
7:30-9:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity Committee Meetings
RSVP: MEWC 06-2021. The mission of the Middle Eastern Writers Committee is to boost visibility and employment of Middle Eastern writers within the film and television industry, while celebrating and promoting accurate portrayals of Middle Eastern characters in all areas of media. We also serve as an expert resource for productions on issues related to the vast and diverse Middle Eastern community in the United States and abroad. You will be emailed the Zoom ID and meeting logistics on the day of the meeting.

Monday 14
*NEW DATE: Writer Salon: Anatomy of Biopics – John Lee Hancock
6-7:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Genre
RSVP: Genre. Join us for a special, one-on-one “writer salon” featuring John Lee Hancock (screenwriter-director: The Little Things, The Blind Side, The Alamo; director: The Founder, Saving Mr. Banks). This virtual conversation with filmmaker Hancock, moderated by John Alan Simon (Radio Free Albemuth), will focus on writing, producing, and directing biopics, as well as his creative process, career, and more. Presented by WGAW’s Genre Committee.

Monday 14
Committee of Women Writers Meeting
7:30-9:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity Committee Meetings
RSVP: CWW 06-2021. Guest speaker: RaeAnn Bussola, Director of Drama Programming & Development (Fox Entertainment). The Committee of Women Writers represents the professional interests of the women-identifying Guild members who are seeking WGA-covered work. The CWW sponsors events designed to increase access to employment and to foster networking and collaboration between the women-identifying members of all Guilds. The goal is to improve the profile and perception of women-identifying writers in our industry in order to achieve equal access and financial parity in the workplace. You will be emailed the Zoom ID and meeting logistics on the day of the meeting.

Wednesday 16
Inside the Writers Zoom with Saturday Night Live
4-5 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Writers Guild Foundation
Info/RSVP: WGFoundation.org. WGF goes inside the writers room of the award-winning late-night sketch comedy show to learn how the writing team navigated the pandemic and events of the last year. Panelists include writers Anna Drezen, Erik Kenward, Kent Sublette and more to be announced. Free with suggested donation of $10.

Wednesday 16
Write Inclusion: Criminal Justice
6-7:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Writers Ed
RSVP: Inclusion. Presented by WGAW’s Writers Education Committee, Committee of Black Writers, and Latinx Writers Committee, in partnership with the Think Tank for Inclusion and Equity and Storyline Partners, join us for our latest virtual panel event in a multi-part series unpacking cultural narratives surrounding TTIE’s #WriteInclusion: Tips for Accurate Representation factsheet initiative. Our goal is to empower writers, showrunners, and creative executives to better reflect the lived experiences of marginalized communities, as well as guide writers’ rooms and all content creators toward more inclusive representation in their stories. This panel will focus on the criminal justice and prison-industrial complex systems, exploring overrepresented stories and harmful stereotypes – and why accuracy and authenticity matters in narratives and portrayals in film and TV. Panelists/moderator TBA.

Thursday 17
Asian American Writers Committee Meeting
7:30-9:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity Committee Meetings
RSVP: AAWC 06-2021. The Asian-American Writers Committee represents the professional and creative interests of Asian-American Guild members. Its mandate is to be dedicated to the encouragement, empowerment and employment of writers of Asian heritage. Join us for an informative and fun evening in a relaxed environment. You will be emailed the Zoom ID and meeting logistics on the day of the meeting.

Monday 21
OWAs: How to Pitch Open Writing Assignments to Get Hired
6-7:30 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Writers Ed
RSVP: OWA. Successfully pitching yourself for OWAs (Open Writing Assignments) is a specific skill set that can be improved and perfected to increase your chances of getting hired on a project. Knowing the differences between pitching for an OWA’s existing project vs. an original idea affects the way writers approach both the material and the meeting. This panel, which will feature a diverse mix of writers and industry executives, will provide writers with practical knowledge, advice, and tips on the best ways to pitch for OWAs. Executives will share what they’re specifically looking for in an OWA pitch and what makes them tune in – or tune out. Writers will share their experiences, do’s & don’ts, and tricks of the trade on pre-meeting prep, materials, style, and execution. Panelists: TBA; moderator: Kristina Thomas; presented by WGAW’s Writers Education Committee.

Thursday 24
Writing Trans and Non-Binary Characters or Storylines
7 p.m. – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity
RSVP: LGBTQ+624. Presented by the WGAW LGBTQ+ Committee. Transgender and Non-Binary WGA writers discuss the variety of stories and characters they are telling and also offer insight to allies who want to include Trans and Non-Binary stories and characters in their own work. WGAW members plus one guest.

Tuesday 29
Talk Show Survival Guide
TBA – Zoom
Category: Inclusion and Equity
RSVP: AAWC629. Presented by the WGAW Asian American Writers Committee. This panel will help those interested in writing for talk shows know what to expect when hired, how to keep their job, do’s and don’ts, and insights into the unique process each series goes through to put their show on air, etc.

We're looking forward to your comments!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.