I spoke to my contact at Sundance. According to their WGA contact, they are ok to proceed. Can we get further clarification from WGA? There seems to be conflicting information floating around.
Hello. There are 2 other programs this month: the Sesame Workshop Writers’ Room fellowship and the Fred Rogers Productions Writers’ Neighborhood initiative. I emailed WGA legal asking about this and am waiting to hear back. One of these programs recently held an info session, and stated that they are not affected by the strike and are safe to apply to because PBS has a separate agreement with the WGA from the contract with AMPTP that is currently under strike - and because most of their productions are animated TV. Is this accurate?
On the latest Scripnotes sidecast (May 9th), John August (who is on the WGA negotiating committee) said he spoke to the Sundance (he's also worked with the screenwriters lab I believe) and he supports applying to the writer's development track.
What about non-US schemes/programmes that you applied for prior to the strike? Several months prior to the strike I applied to the Universal Global Writers Program which is in association with Working Title in the UK. The scheme is exclusively for UK writers and is based in the UK. I have now been shortlisted for an interview and am wondering if this now contravenes strike rules?
Another screenwriting program just opened up: Jewish Writers’ Initiative. Their attached prodco Crystal City Entertainment doesn’t appear to be signatory, but I’d be interested to hear your take on it.
I just heard from someone involved with the program that Crystal City is a signatory. I would check with JWI or email WGA legal for further clarification.
Got a response from JWI, but it’s… less than helpful: “Thanks for reaching out. We completely understand about the strike. Please keep in mind the program doesn’t start until the fall, when the strike will likely be over, and writers own their scripts, so there is no commissioning, just a grant. We encourage you to reach out to the WGA for clarification if you have further questions!”
Like some of the others below, I'm also curious and confused about Sundance. If it really is crossing the picket line to apply, is it worth writing to the institute to request that they postpone, like Disney has?
Update from the WGA: Sundance is confusing because they have several different programs – some of which would be okay to participate in, and some of which would not. The 2024 Development Track is okay to participate in because the organizer confirmed that there is no shopping of scripts to struck companies. However, the Sundance Catalyst program is entirely about pitching and discussing material with producers and/or struck company representatives, so that one would be off limits.
I'm not arguing for or against the thickest of hard lines, but frankly, even your comment confuses me. I think if Sundance thought there would be a problem with people applying, they would make some statement and/or postpone or cancel this final deadline and even the lab itself.
Is the spirit of the rules and a full work stoppage mean nobody should post to The Black List? The Black List's Twitter has their May 2 Tweet pinned with a message signed by the WGAE & WGAW saying, "So if a producer or agent or anyone approaches you during this strike to
develop or do a deal, don't do it-even if it's because they read your script on The Black
List. Tell them you'd be delighted to work with them after the strike but for now you are standing in solidarity with the members of the Writers Guilds." But it doesn't suggest not posting to it, and they actually haven't responded to a few reply Tweets asking the question.
Just speaking for myself as someone PreWGA, it just makes a confusing situation more confusing, especially since while I would love to think that my submission to the Sundance Development Track will a) be accepted and b) wind-up in production at some point in 2024, I'm not betting a penny on that result today. :-)
I’m surprised to hear Sundance characterized that way. While the goal may be to eventually “funnel,” the Sundance Institute is not a signatory, and I wonder if they would be surprised to hear that take from the WGAW.
Also, the timeline is an incredibly lengthy one. Finalists aren’t notified until August. Actual acceptance months later. And so the lab doesn’t even begin until January, and the only people who would read/see it in advance are Institute staff and possibly lab mentors who are mostly other WGA members.
I suppose a worst-case scenario, abundance of caution over the possibility of a 9+ month strike, in which case a post-lab script reached a signatory is possible, but it sure doesn’t seem likely.
This would seem to open another important question: should writers not post scripts to The Black List, Coverfly, etc., since that too could theoretically lead to a signatory reading the work?
Im not trying to be argumentative, sincerely. This just seems incredibly confusing and would seem to preclude any major screenwriting fellowship/festival/competition.
I haven’t noticed Sundance or those responsible for their Artist Programs having made any statement, which seems surprising if they were even aware this would affect them, no?
Exactly. Coverfly has sent an email showing people how to make their scripts private so they are not available to people until the strike is over. Sundance should pospone their submission period the way Disney did. So should WB. The entire point of this strike is to disrupt the system. Applying to these fellowships is pretty muck like applying to a writing job, which you’re not supposed to do right now. Submitting to Sundance us giving them material that, if chosen, might get made into a movie. Again a no no. Yes it’s confusing but the rule of thumb is do not apply to anything that has to do with you writing in the future. Period. Write for yourself, do your own rewrites and get ready for when the strike is over. That’s all you can do right now. Also support the WGA writers who are also striking for our future (preWGA). Join a picket line and support.
Does this apply to the Sundance AAPI fellowship which is by invitation only? This fellowship gives grant money -- it's different from the development track.
Thanks for the update & creating this resource! Sorry, I'm a little confused, I didn't think there was a WB fellowship this year? I'm assuming this applies to Disney, since they're open 5/8-6/2. I'm still trying to find out if Sesame Street is a signatory of HBO/Warner, or if they're just tied to distribution.
In case it's helpful – I received an email from a lawyer with WGA West advising me not to take work with non-signatory companies that distribute to struck companies. (For context, this was not for Sesame Street specifically, and I'm a pre-WGA writer.)
Yeah. I thought the same. They fired their entire staff last year and I haven't seen any update since. Super confusing to have it on this list, but not Disney who actually announced the open date before postponing it.
I spoke to my contact at Sundance. According to their WGA contact, they are ok to proceed. Can we get further clarification from WGA? There seems to be conflicting information floating around.
John August (WGA negotiating committee) addresses this (and okays it) on the May 8th Scriptnotes sidecast :)
Hi, I was wondering if the Sesame Street Writers Workshop is also on this list?
WGA legal finally responded to my email about this. They said Sesame Workshop is NOT considered scabbing. Yay!
Wondering about AFF. They posted that they'd consulted with the WGA and that submitting wouldn't be a violation of strike rules. Is that accurate?
Hello. There are 2 other programs this month: the Sesame Workshop Writers’ Room fellowship and the Fred Rogers Productions Writers’ Neighborhood initiative. I emailed WGA legal asking about this and am waiting to hear back. One of these programs recently held an info session, and stated that they are not affected by the strike and are safe to apply to because PBS has a separate agreement with the WGA from the contract with AMPTP that is currently under strike - and because most of their productions are animated TV. Is this accurate?
PBS does have a diff agreement. Let us look into it.
WGA legal finally responded to my email about this. They said Sesame Workshop is NOT considered scabbing. Yay!
Hi! Was wondering about the Fred Rogers' as well. Is just Sesame OK to apply to?
On the latest Scripnotes sidecast (May 9th), John August (who is on the WGA negotiating committee) said he spoke to the Sundance (he's also worked with the screenwriters lab I believe) and he supports applying to the writer's development track.
What about non-US schemes/programmes that you applied for prior to the strike? Several months prior to the strike I applied to the Universal Global Writers Program which is in association with Working Title in the UK. The scheme is exclusively for UK writers and is based in the UK. I have now been shortlisted for an interview and am wondering if this now contravenes strike rules?
Another screenwriting program just opened up: Jewish Writers’ Initiative. Their attached prodco Crystal City Entertainment doesn’t appear to be signatory, but I’d be interested to hear your take on it.
I just heard from someone involved with the program that Crystal City is a signatory. I would check with JWI or email WGA legal for further clarification.
I would reach out to JWI. (I am a former JWI recipient, but I don't have any actual intel to help you with re: WGA strike).
Do you have a contact email for JWI? Their website has no way to contact them and WGA legal hasn’t responded to my emails.
contact@jwinitiative.com
Got a response from JWI, but it’s… less than helpful: “Thanks for reaching out. We completely understand about the strike. Please keep in mind the program doesn’t start until the fall, when the strike will likely be over, and writers own their scripts, so there is no commissioning, just a grant. We encourage you to reach out to the WGA for clarification if you have further questions!”
Like some of the others below, I'm also curious and confused about Sundance. If it really is crossing the picket line to apply, is it worth writing to the institute to request that they postpone, like Disney has?
Update from the WGA: Sundance is confusing because they have several different programs – some of which would be okay to participate in, and some of which would not. The 2024 Development Track is okay to participate in because the organizer confirmed that there is no shopping of scripts to struck companies. However, the Sundance Catalyst program is entirely about pitching and discussing material with producers and/or struck company representatives, so that one would be off limits.
Film festivals? like Austin Film Festival? Submitting material, yay or nay?
AFF emailed out saying their screenplay competition was safe to apply to, if that’s any help.
I'm not arguing for or against the thickest of hard lines, but frankly, even your comment confuses me. I think if Sundance thought there would be a problem with people applying, they would make some statement and/or postpone or cancel this final deadline and even the lab itself.
Is the spirit of the rules and a full work stoppage mean nobody should post to The Black List? The Black List's Twitter has their May 2 Tweet pinned with a message signed by the WGAE & WGAW saying, "So if a producer or agent or anyone approaches you during this strike to
develop or do a deal, don't do it-even if it's because they read your script on The Black
List. Tell them you'd be delighted to work with them after the strike but for now you are standing in solidarity with the members of the Writers Guilds." But it doesn't suggest not posting to it, and they actually haven't responded to a few reply Tweets asking the question.
Just speaking for myself as someone PreWGA, it just makes a confusing situation more confusing, especially since while I would love to think that my submission to the Sundance Development Track will a) be accepted and b) wind-up in production at some point in 2024, I'm not betting a penny on that result today. :-)
I’m surprised to hear Sundance characterized that way. While the goal may be to eventually “funnel,” the Sundance Institute is not a signatory, and I wonder if they would be surprised to hear that take from the WGAW.
Also, the timeline is an incredibly lengthy one. Finalists aren’t notified until August. Actual acceptance months later. And so the lab doesn’t even begin until January, and the only people who would read/see it in advance are Institute staff and possibly lab mentors who are mostly other WGA members.
I suppose a worst-case scenario, abundance of caution over the possibility of a 9+ month strike, in which case a post-lab script reached a signatory is possible, but it sure doesn’t seem likely.
This would seem to open another important question: should writers not post scripts to The Black List, Coverfly, etc., since that too could theoretically lead to a signatory reading the work?
Im not trying to be argumentative, sincerely. This just seems incredibly confusing and would seem to preclude any major screenwriting fellowship/festival/competition.
I haven’t noticed Sundance or those responsible for their Artist Programs having made any statement, which seems surprising if they were even aware this would affect them, no?
There's the rules and the spirit of the rules. It's about a full work stoppage.
Exactly. Coverfly has sent an email showing people how to make their scripts private so they are not available to people until the strike is over. Sundance should pospone their submission period the way Disney did. So should WB. The entire point of this strike is to disrupt the system. Applying to these fellowships is pretty muck like applying to a writing job, which you’re not supposed to do right now. Submitting to Sundance us giving them material that, if chosen, might get made into a movie. Again a no no. Yes it’s confusing but the rule of thumb is do not apply to anything that has to do with you writing in the future. Period. Write for yourself, do your own rewrites and get ready for when the strike is over. That’s all you can do right now. Also support the WGA writers who are also striking for our future (preWGA). Join a picket line and support.
Thank you!!!
Does this apply to the Sundance AAPI fellowship which is by invitation only? This fellowship gives grant money -- it's different from the development track.
Thanks for the update & creating this resource! Sorry, I'm a little confused, I didn't think there was a WB fellowship this year? I'm assuming this applies to Disney, since they're open 5/8-6/2. I'm still trying to find out if Sesame Street is a signatory of HBO/Warner, or if they're just tied to distribution.
Disney has been postponed till further notice
In case it's helpful – I received an email from a lawyer with WGA West advising me not to take work with non-signatory companies that distribute to struck companies. (For context, this was not for Sesame Street specifically, and I'm a pre-WGA writer.)
Wait I thought the WB program was killed??
Yeah. I thought the same. They fired their entire staff last year and I haven't seen any update since. Super confusing to have it on this list, but not Disney who actually announced the open date before postponing it.