Guide to Becoming a Member of the Writers Guild of America West

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is a powerful union that represents writers in the US entertainment industry. If you are passionate about screenwriting and scriptwriting, you may be curious about how to join the prestigious WGA. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you understand the process and requirements for membership.

Understanding the Membership Requirements

Membership in the WGA is based on a unit system, meaning writers must accumulate a certain number of units over a specified period to become eligible. These units are earned through writing employment and/or sales within the WGA's jurisdiction.

How to Earn Units

Complete Week of Employment: Writing for up to 24 consecutive weeks (2 units per week). Short Scripts: Writing a radio or television program short (4 units). Teleplays and Radio Plays: Writing a teleplay, radio play with a time greater than 30 minutes (6 units). Feature-Length Screenplays: Writing a feature-length screenplay (24 units). Option, Rewrite, Polish: Depending on the type of work, earnings can range from half to a quarter of the standard units.

The fastest way to achieve full membership is by writing a screenplay purchased by a signatory producer, earning 24 units immediately and the initiation fee of $2,500.

Types of Membership

Current Membership: Qualified writers who have earned at least 24 units in the three years preceding application. Associate Membership: Eligible if a writer has earned at least 12 units over a specified period at a lower cost ($100/year).

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for membership, there are a few key points to remember:

Employment Reporting: Ensure that your employment is properly reported to the WGA and health and pension contributions are made. Permission and Agreement: Verify that the producer you work with is a signatory to the WGA, and all agreements strongly attest to the entity's signatory status. Legal Entities: Be cautious and check the legal entity with which you have a deal to ensure it is signatory.

Exceptional Situations

In exceptional cases, the Board of Directors can grant admission to Current membership based on units earned before the three-year period. However, this is a rare exception and typically requires a recommendation from the Membership and Finance Committee.

Additionally, financial considerations may influence your decision. As a non-member, you can choose to become a Financial Core Non-Member under federal law, maintaining union benefits without the full membership.

Additional Membership Rules

These rules provide more detail on how units are allocated and calculated:

Comedy-Variety and Documentaries: Rules specific to these genres to ensure fair unit allocation. Teams: Writers who collaborate on the same project are awarded units according to the applicable category. Adjunct Membership: Additional guidelines for writers in managerial positions or writer-performers.

Understanding these rules is crucial to ensuring you are eligible for the units you need and making the most of your writing opportunities.

Conclusion

Becoming a member of the WGA is a significant step for writers in the industry. By following the established unit system and ensuring proper reporting and agreement, you can lay the foundation for a successful career in screenwriting and scriptwriting.

References

For more detailed information, visit the WGA's official website.