Candidate for President
A Union For All of Us
The WGA is facing an unprecedented challenge: dealing with the advent of Artificial Intelligence as well as many other urgent matters during a time of industry contraction. But in addition to these daunting issues there is an inconvenient fact: While some writers consistently are offered six to seven figures for their services, other members are unable to earn a living as a writer. One of my priorities as President of the WGAE will be to find ways to offer a sustainable career path forward for the overlooked or unproven members of the WGAE — the invisible writers.
Who are the invisible writers? Older writers who have fallen victim to ageism. Young, WGAE members who have been spun out into the periphery after one union job. These writers often are extremely talented. I have seen scripts written by students that are fresh and exciting and those by veterans that are deeply moving.
I am in a unique position in which to examine this disparity. I am over sixty-five and teach screenwriting at the School of Visual Arts. So I have an understanding of the concerns of two vastly divergent factions: my peers and Generation Z. Furthermore, I have experienced two very different points in my career — times when I was in demand, other times, not so much. In other words, I can empathize with writers on many levels. Also, I have been a journalist, composed hit songs, written for film and television, and am the author of both fiction and nonfiction books. Regardless of what sector you are in, Film, Television, and Streaming; Broadcast, Cable, and Streaming News; or Online Media, I am aware that creating can take many forms and that you are first and foremost a creator. And I know that the WGAE is like an organism. It isn’t healthy unless all its parts are healthy. So what can be done to level the playing field between elite writers and the rank and file?
Help Writers Gain Access
I often ask my students: what would you rather have, talent or access? They usually say both. In fact, having both is key. But what talented writers need most, particularly young writers, is access. Certainly the Find A Writer and WGAE Platform on the Guild website is a step in the right direction. But when I speak with producers or agents many have not heard of these services and few have ever utilized them. As President I will endeavor to make these resources an important part of the dialogue by raising awareness via public relations, interviews and news releases. Also, I will add another dimension — allowing members to post their loglines, treatments, and screenplays on the WGAE website with no identifying information other than a registration number. After all, writing should really be about what’s on the page. I will do something similar for all sectors, allowing employers, agents, and managers to make decisions based solely on merit.
Create New Budget Tiers
In order for any union to survive it must add new members on a regular basis. One potential demographic for the WGAE is the young, aspiring writer. However, the reality is that many young writers are making quality films for micro budgets. For example, one of my former students just screened a feature she made for thirty thousand dollars. Yet the current WGA Low Budget Agreement in place pegs a low budget film as being under $1.2 million, a number that is incomprehensible to budding filmmakers. While this agreement is a good start, as President I will appoint a committee to examine budget tiers and make sure they are facilitating, not hindering, new growth in membership.
Consider Waivers For Veteran Writers
Writers over sixty-five who are not working will at some point be offered a lifeline — a job. But what if it’s not a union job? This gives them three choices: violate Work Rule 8, go Fi-core, or walk away. Violating WGAE rules is not even a consideration. Fi-Core? The WGAE website states that those who choose Fi-Core “…have chosen to take advantage of the benefits of the WGAE contract, won through the sacrifices of Guild members across generations, while avoiding the corresponding obligations.” I agree.
That leaves walking away. Yet many of these writers are supporting a family. They have to put food on the table and need to pay the rent. Is there a solution? Both The Screen Actors Guild and Actor’s Equity offer waivers under certain circumstance. The WGA should as well.
I will first set up a committee to examine what a WGAE waiver system might mean to the Guild and what implications it would have regarding the MBA. Pending the committee’s findings, I will appoint a board to determine a strict criteria for obtaining a waiver — such as age, budget, and company nationality — and to hear individual waiver requests. This will offer veteran writers an opportunity to state their case while at the same time provide a method by which the WGAE can control the outcome — a victory for both the writer and the Guild.
Enlist SAG
Elite writers have a bit of clout. Invisible writers do not. But there is another group with undeniable power: actors. I once had a foreign sales agent tell me that he didn’t care about the plot of the film. “Just tell me who’s in it,” he said without a hint of irony. Also,
I have met producers who state quite flatly: “We don’t use WGA writers.” Generally, you will find these producers on the Strike/Unfair List. Yet a look at their IMDB page indicates that they continue to make films with A-list actors even though they refuse to bargain with the WGA. Of course, since they need well-known actors to make marketable films, they have no choice but to sign a SAG contract. So the question is: can SAG be of help to the WGA regarding union contracts? After all, without writers there wouldn’t be a script for them to read.
I realize the Screen Actors Guild can not walk in total lock step with the WGA. However, I will meet with SAG and discuss what, if anything, can be done to compel producers to do the right thing when they employ a cast of SAG actors.
We Can Work It Out
The Guild must contend with the expiration of the current MBA next May. I see this as an opportunity to make gains and introduce new concepts that benefit all members. I will begin informal negotiations now rather than later and do everything possible to avoid a strike which would have a crippling financial impact on Guild members. However, if employers are unreasonable and a strike becomes necessary, I will not hesitate to call for that option.
It’s Really Up To You
In 1785, Thomas Reid wrote Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man. One sentence is as true today as it was more than 200 years ago:
The chain is only as strong as its weakest link, for if that fails the chain fails and the object that it has been holding up falls to the ground.
Members of the Guild are the embodiment of the intellectual powers of man. Every individual writer is a creative link in a dynamic chain. While I will always be cognizant of the needs of the few, I will never lose sight of the needs of the many. Because what this chain holds up, the integrity of the creative process, can never be allowed to fall to the ground.
This election is not a popularity contest. In fact, this may be the most important election since the formation of the WGAE. I urge you to read the statements from all candidates and decide who can best lead creators like yourself into the uncertain future that lies ahead. Campaign relentlessly for the candidates you choose. Form a grassroots movement to see that your concerns are being heard. If you would like to know more about how I, as President, will deal with the issues facing the WGAE. please email me at:
charles@charleskipps.com
Also, make sure you attend the Zoom Candidate Forum on September 3rd at 6pm ET. In past years, attendance has been very light. I challenge you to make this year’s Forum an event. Be on that Zoom call. Encourage everyone you know to be on that Zoom call. Together let’s BREAK THE INTERNET! If Taylor Swift can do it, why not the WGAE?
Responses to Candidate Questions
1. What do you think is the most pressing issue facing the Guild and what steps will you take to address it?
Artificial Intelligence. I have seen people who have never written a word use ChatGPT or Gemini to compose essays, emails, even scripts. Besides the threat to writers’ livelihood, there is the issue of copyright infringement. Language models mine the internet so anything they produce often is simply a repackaging of copyrighted material. However, calls to ban or control AI are unrealistic. A recent article in The New Yorker entitled “The End of The Essay” pointed out: “A 2024 Pew Research Center survey of students between the ages of thirteen and seventeen suggests that a quarter of teens currently use ChatGPT for schoolwork, double the figure from 2023.” A generation of potential WGA members is growing up in a world in which AI is commonplace. Although it pains me to say this, it is clear we need to find a way to co-exist, not fight, this technology. Whatever we do now will shape the future of creative writing for decades. As President of the WGAE, I will take the lead in finding a solution to the AI conundrum. Although I’m not sure what that will be, I do know it’s going to take a great deal of flexibility in order to effectively address the issue.
2. WGAE is divided into three sectors: Film, Television, and Streaming; Broadcast, Cable, and Streaming News, and; Online Media. How will you work with and represent all Guild members, including those outside of your own work sector?
I have been a journalist, a songwriter, film and television writer, and author. I understand and respect all forms of creativity. Also, I believe that the interests of every member of the Guild should be represented in the decision-making process. Regardless of sector, I understand your creativity and will make sure that your voice is heard. In fact, I will invite members to email me with their ideas and concerns.
3. What qualities or characteristics do you look for in a Guild leader?
Someone who always remembers they are serving a diverse group of individuals and must balance the needs of the entire membership. A mediator who can get things done without creating unnecessary confrontation yet stands fast when it is required.
4. What do you think WGAE’s role should be in the broader labor movement?
It is difficult to say how the WGAE can impact the broader labor movement in that WGAE is a union of creative individuals. Unlike unions where tasks require members to use repetitive procedures, members of the WGAE will perform the same assignment — writing a pilot, for example — in a completely different manner each time. Perhaps the best role for the WGAE would be to set an example of what unions can accomplish by thinking outside the box to protect the future of its members.
Endorsements
Michael Kayne
Endorse Charles Kipps for President
Note: WGAW members who wish to endorse a candidate may follow the process outlined in section G.1.B of the 2025 Election Policy.
