[…] Whedon: In my whole career, I’ve never had to talk about it. I’ve never signed a copy of it, I’ve never sort of been a part of it. And I was proud of it, I worked hard on it, I had a really great time and I worked with really cool people. I thought it was good stuff. Graham has been very generous, but I did not get a …read more […]

It does make sense. I would liken it to series writers' rooms. Don't they all get credit?

Hi, Scott. I sat on the Council of the WGAe for ten years, and plenty of these issues came up. I'd have to say (or, more properly, guess) that the problem is whether it implies less of a contribution from the credited writers. While I definitely agree with you and Whedon that the current situation is miserable, the heart of the matter is the issue you touched on briefly: the madness of how the industry treats writers. The system has never really changed from the film industry's earliest days when directors "created" unscripted (save, possibly, for a "scenarist") films. Directors still have primacy: look at the "A Film by" credit* -- it violates current (last I checked) MBA agreements by implying every director is an auteur. Without the script, there's nothing, and yet we're relegated to ever lower positions in the credits of most films. Even producers (often multitudes of them) creep in between the director's credit and the writer's (another violation of the MBA). We still wield little power, and none but other screenwriters go see a film because of who wrote it. Knowing the credits system ("and" indicates separate teams while "&" indicates collaboration), I'm horrified by how many films include multiple "ands." As much as I agree with you (and, again, with Whedon) I don't see the current situation changing -- nor am I sure it's fair to detract from those who get main writing credit -- until writers are given their/our proper due in the industry. It's just too rigged against the writer. * A notable exception is Chris Eyre (I think it's him -- if not, Sherman Alexie), whose credits say "A Film by [X number of people]."

Thanks for that unique perspective, bcole. Sounds like you've been deep into this subject and on an intimate level given your involvement with the WGAe Council. I teach a History of American Screenwriting course every spring, the only class of its type at the university level, and as we go through the story of movies from this particular vantage point decade by decade, I am reminded every time about the marginalization of writers. As you noted, it was always this way. For the first few decades, it was writers who had the power much like television today. Directors were told not to change a word of the script. That all changed as the studio system evolved and as you noted, the whole auteur theory emerged in the 60s and beyond. "A Film By". Maddening if the director didn't write the script! Question for you: Do I have it right that the Guild's general position is to limit the number of credited writers at three? It could be more writers than that if some involved are writing teams, but that's my understanding. Not sure if that's codified at all or just convention, and I know the Guild does make exceptions, but curious if you know the real deal on that. Again thanks for your comments. Please feel free to chime in any time something comes up Guild related.

Yes, it's three -- but a team counts as one. And there've been cases (I asked the Guild before replying, so I wouldn't be giving misinformation) where waivers have been granted allowing more than three teams or individuals -- but I imagine those cases aren't all that frequent. Scott, if I chimed in on Guild-related stuff, all I'd be doing here was ranting about the miserable position writers hold in the industry (and preaching about how wonderful the Guild is). Actually, writers' situations are miserable in all industries. So I try and limit my tantrums. But thanks -- if there's ever a question, please feel free to contact me. If I don't know the answer, I'll be glad to find out.

Thanks for that clarification. I thought that was the case: 3 writers including 1 allocation for each writing team. And thanks for your service to our Guild.

Believe me, it was my honor.

Given the fact that everyone from drivers to stand ins to PAs, interns, trainees are named in the crawl, what could possibly be so wrong in listing the names of "Collaborative Writers" "Contributing Writers" (call it what you will) somewhere near the top of the crawl, perhaps after 1AD, Unit Prod Manager, Line Producer....insert the credit before all the technical credits start to come in & second unit etc. Even if there are ten names, for example....place five side by side and maybe it's a step in the right direction. One's name/efforts are imprinted on the film. Determining the cutoff? Could the director & primary writers be reasonable enough (or aware) to know just whom ought to receive credit when the shooting script is final? Indeed there IS NO FILM without a script though we're in a time not unlike singer/songwriter; to have the most control & staying power, writing & directing, as it has in the past with some legends, is happening regularly now. *That* would warrant "A film by" but otherwise it's a director requiring opening & closing credit? I think at present that there are but a few directors who may deserve the right to have that type of credit. Otherwise, it's a collaborative effort. GITS just recently featured Cameron Crowe interviewing Billy Wilder and in the first part of that interview, Mr. Wilder was still just a writer. He was not permitted on set & later found out that any & everyone were making changes to his pages. Towards the end of one shoot, along with a cohort, I believe they just decided to submit nonsensical pages to play out a sort of revolt. Everything changed. Things turned out quite well for Mr. Wilder but he had his share of fights! Sadly it seems writers are less important now yet without the writer, what will there be to film? Are they not as essential to the creative process than the other key players? So what's with the "don't let the door hit you on the butt after the sale!" No words, no picture. Put something in the crawl to credit the contributors if the original writer(s) has done a significant part of the work but been sent packing. Bring back some civility? Please? Here's hoping! Great comments above....a lot of insight! Thank you all!

I think the WGA for some reason has chosen a system that pits writers against each other. Producers that just deign to pick up a phone even get a producer's credit, but for some reason a writer has to go above and beyond just to struggle for a credit.... and the creators, the original thinkers that birthed the story that excited everyone in the first place are often treated with such disrespect. Or writers like Dante Harper, yes he adapted it from another source, but he wrote the spec that got all the elements excited...why oh why does he not get even a mention?