ATA Offers To Share Packaging Fees With Writers

April 11, 2019 8:42pm

The ATA today has offered to share its packaging fees with writers. In a memo to her members, ATA executive director Karen Stuart said, “When a packaged show does well, writers will now share in the success and receive a share of the agencies packaging fees.

Specifically, agencies will provide a percentage of their back-end profits to writers – 80% of which will be shared amongst a shows writers not participating in the profits of the series, regardless of which agency represents them. The remaining 20% will be invested in industry initiatives and programs to foster and expand inclusion of historically underrepresented writers. This is a meaningful investment in the writer community.”

“The past several days,” she wrote, “have been a rapid crescendo to this pivotal moment in our negotiations. We have now presented the WGA with comprehensive counterproposals that address their issues.”

“Weve been working diligently to reach a deal with the WGA,” she said, but added that “the WGAs Code of Conduct is a threat to agency business operations – whether two agents or 2,000.”

“At this critical juncture,” continued, “we are committed to getting a deal across the finish line. We are intensely focused on ensuring that its a long-term solution — one that meets a dual-purpose of protecting the best interests of all writers while creating alignment between the goals of our two organizations.”

The complete letter:

April 11, 2019

Dear ATA Members,

As you know, weve been working diligently to reach a deal with the WGA. Thanks to all of you who attended our membership meeting this week – we deeply appreciate your input, guidance and overwhelming support as we work through these negotiations as a unified front. As we discussed, the WGAs Code of Conduct is a threat to agency business operations – whether two agents or 2,000.

The past several days have been a rapid crescendo to this pivotal moment in our negotiations. We have now presented the WGA with comprehensive counterproposals that address their issues.

Weve listened and heard meaningful feedback this week from WGA leadership, and in our own agency meetings and townhalls with writer clients during the past few months. Those meetings helped us further understand and reflect upon the fundamental issues of concern, including calls for greater transparency, deeper understanding of agency operations, increased support for lower- and mid-level writers, and ultimately better alignment in agent/writer compensation. Our goal throughout the discussions to date has been to avoid a destabilizing industry fallout.

Outlined below is a summary of our draft counterproposals:

• Partnering With The Guild: Agents are, and always have been, on the side of the writer and are committed to protecting writers against free rewrites and late payments. The WGA has requested access to client contracts and invoices so they can intervene directly with studios/employers to rectify situations on behalf of writers. While WGA already has authority to collect that information from its Guild members and studios are also required to submit to the Guild, collection has been problematic. Agencies have agreed to provide the Guild with copies of writers executed contracts and financial information for writing services within the Guilds jurisdiction – with the writers ability to opt out of sharing his/her confidential information.
• Sharing Success: When a packaged show does well, writers will now share in the success and receive a share of the agencies packaging fees. Specifically, agencies will provide a percentage of their back-end profits to writers – 80% of which will be shared amongst a shows writers not participating in the profits of the series, regardless of which agency represents them. The remaining 20% will be invested in industry initiatives and programs to foster and expand inclusion of historically underrepresented writers. This is a meaningful investment in the writer community.

• Jumpstarting Inclusion: Agencies will also advance $2 million per year for three years ($6 million total) to jumpstart an industry-wide fund to foster and encourage inclusion, making a significant investment in todays creative community.
• Transparency in Film Financing. Agencies will be permitted to perform motion picture consulting, financing and sales services, and will fully disclose any fees and arrangements to the writer.
• Transparency in Affiliates. Agencies have committed to providing safeguards and transparency to clienRead More – Source
  

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