It’s definitely not as black and white as you are thinking. There are people outside the guild create content that goes on TV/Film, etc. For instance Matt and Trey from South Park aren’t members(and even openly slander the guild)!

The economics can seem bewildering at first, and I certainly don’t do the complexity of it justice. I tried to put it down into as simple terms as I could. Saying that, this is something to discuss with the guild when joining. I’m told they can be flexible and are far more interested in getting really great quality writer’s to join than anything else.

I also think you are downplaying the upside. As a freelance writer having a guild back you up is a great thing. Precedent can be set so first time writers don’t get shafted, and yes, if/when you are able to make that TV deal, you will get much better minimums (to negotiate up from) as a guild member. On top of that, you’ll get free screenings, swanky events, meeting more people in the industry–which will hopefully lead to better paying gigs!

Saying that, I don’t know if the guild is for every single content creator out there in this space right now, but if you are passionate about making this your living, investing into the guild is a good idea. The benefits (health care/pension) alone makes it worth it. If you are a staff employee anywhere else that offers benefits, they take far more of your income than the guild towards health and pension plans.

Also–in terms of the autoworkers, we’re talking two very different organizations here, and if you really want to get into a discussion about the economics of the industry at large–where it is going and what needs to be changed–that’s another story for another day, and I’d be happy to shoot emails back and forth over it. :)

Adam@Tubefilter.tv

So as I can see it, this is portending I will have to pay WGA $1,500 if I want to sell my show to a network?!?! And on top of that, they’re claiming a percentage of my earnings? And in exchange, I get some WGA connections (whatever that means) and some free movie screenings? Am I reading this right?

“1.5% of the content creators’ income becomes dues.”

Who writes this? Why say, “income becomes dues”? Is this is a magic trick? Can they turn my wallet into a rabbit, too? I have to stand up here and claim ‘New Media’ is the one and only place where we are truly free and do not need Ursula looking over my shoulder.

Someone explain the sanity behind anyone who creates content agreeing to any of this? And for what? A WGA card? I mean, have you seen the studio/tv writing out there lately? Seriously? Does any creator actually think WGA is helping them when they say their ‘income becomes dues’? That’s analogous to ‘taxation without representation’ in its best light.

Maybe everyone should take pause, and recall what the autoworkers’ union did to their industry on their own behalf. What’s next? Three picture deals for everyone?

If you think working under creative guilds brings added cost and no benefit, I think you’re doing it wrong. Is there more paperwork? Yes. If you do happen to turn a profit, will some of it go to guild pension funds, residuals, etc.? Yes. (Well, maybe – depends on the contract and the negotiated rate.)

But you get the benefit of working with professional, highly skilled and experienced union talent. Guild actors, writers, etc. can’t, according to the rules of their guilds, work on non-signatory projects. And yet those same guild folks may be willing – no, eager – to work on your high-quality projects, small and low-paying as they might be. Becoming a guild signatory gets you access to that incredible talent pool.

As a bonus, at the budget level I (and most of us work with) you can be a guild signatory and work with both guild and non-guild people on your projects. So, for just the cost of some extra paperwork and on-set and payment conditions that treat your people with the respect they deserve (which I assume you were gonna do anyway ;-), you get access to the best possible guild and non-guild talent. That’s worth a little paperwork to me.

-David

A union getting involved this early can really help content creators keep their fair share as money begins to pour in. The hope is that the Guilds will only start putting minimums, etc. in place when the economics will be there, so the added costs will end up being a non issues and work out for the best for Content Creators.

Check it out: http://wgaw.org/uploadedfiles/.....edia09.pdf

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