WORKING WITH WGA WRITERS - WHAT PRODUCERS NEED TO KNOW

If you hire or purchase a screenplay from a WGA writer, you must abide by the collective bargaining agreement of the WGA which is known as the Theatrical And Television Minimum Basic Agreement or MBA.

The MBA is over 700 pages long but in general it covers the benefits, rights, and protections for most of the work done by WGA members and provides minimum deal terms.

If anything in an agreement with a WGA writer conflicts with the MBA, the conflicting terms are superseded and the MBA terms govern.

For example, the MBA controls minimum payment for WGA writers, qualification for credits and separation of rights.

Minimum payment terms are set forth in the Schedule of Minimums.

In addition to the MBA, how writers are credited is detailed in the WGA Screen Credits Manual which includes the rules for determining 7 types of writing credit.

WGA members also have separated rights which are derived from copyright law and are described in detail in the 43-page guide “Understanding Separated Rights” provided by the WGA and include publication rights, dramatic stage rights, sequel payments, mandatory rewrites, meeting with a production executive and reacquisition rights.

Every great project starts with a great script so hiring the right writer can be the difference between success and failure for your project but it’s important to be aware of the obligations that go with hiring a WGA writer.

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