Call For Nominations - WGC Showrunner Award
Our jury is looking for a showrunner who has a big vision and a body of work that expresses it. Help us celebrate our country’s best showrunners by submitting a nomination. See details here.
The Alex Barris Mentorship Award
Nominate that person who showed you the way - see details here. Deadline for Alex Barris Mentorship Award nominations is Friday, February 26, 2010, 5:30 EST.
Canimation: Screenwriters Working in Animation Launch New Blog
A group of WGC members who work extensively writing for animation have founded a blog - Canimation - Celebrating the successes, discussing the craft, and taking on the topics of the territory. Canimation launched in December 09 and now includes several entries on things animation. Visit Canimation, have a read, leave a comment and/or pitch an entry of your own. They'd love to hear from you.
The WGC remembers Paul Quarrington
It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Paul Quarrington. Paul was perhaps best known for his novel, and the film that followed, Whale Music, the screenplay of which was nominated for a Genie Award. Paul’s screenplays for Perfectly Normal and Camilla were recognized with Gemini awards and, in 2000, Paul won a WGC Screenwriting Award for Power Play. His work for TV included scripts for shows such as Due South, Moose TV and more. Most recently, Paul was at work on an eight-part series, Notebooks on Euphoria. Screenwriter, novelist, playwright, teacher, musician and more – Paul was a gale force of creativity in Canada and his voice will be deeply missed.
AFBS Leslie Yeo Award for Volunteerism - Call for Nominations
The Board of Governors of Actra Fraternal Benefit Society is pleased to
announce the Call for Nominations for the Leslie Yeo Award for Volunteerism,
2010.
To be eligible for the Leslie Yeo Award for Volunteerism, the individual must
meet the following minimum requirements:
• been nominated for the award;
• have made an exceptional, non-financial, voluntary contribution to the
Canadian Artistic Community;
• be either a current or past Member of Actra Fraternal Benefit Society;
• nomination and supporting documents must be received at AFBS
before 5:00 p.m. EST, February 1, 2010.
The Leslie Yeo Award for Volunteerism consists of a $5,000.00 cash award to
the recipient. View a short video on the Award. For more information, please see here.
New IPA 2010-2011 Rates
Members of the Writers Guild of Canada voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new agreement with the Canadian producers associations (CFTPA & APFTQ). The WGC’s Independent Production Agreement (IPA), which governs English-language screenwriting in Canada, was set to expire on December 31, 2009. The new collective agreement will take effect January 1, 2010, and set the terms of engagement until December 31, 2011. The new agreement includes a 2% increase across the board to the minimum script fee in each of the two years of the agreement. For an explanation of the new rates effective January 1, 2010, please click here. If you have any questions please contact Laurie Channer
What Do We Want? Canadian Shows!
The TV Policy hearing at the CRTC is now over. Knowing the event would be taken over by broadcasters and cable companies bickering about carriage fees, the WGC launched a video reminding everyone what the hearing was really about - providing a wide variety of quality Canadian television to Canadians. You've read the brief, now see the movie.
On Monday, November 23rd, the WGC finally got its chance to propose a re-shaping of TV policy in Canada at the CRTC. Accompanying Maureen and Kelly Lynne were WGC President, Rebecca Schechter, councillor Andrew Wreggitt and screenwriter Cal Coons. The WGC and the writers proposed the path back to more quality Canadian programming on our screens.
Overall, the CRTC response to the WGC in the question and answer portion was thoughtful - tending to probe the details of the proposed model rather than work to undermine it. Rita Cugini, Commissioner for the Ontario Region, prefaced her questions by remarking on the “fulsome” rationale provided to support the WGC model. The WGC was asked to parse a few issues of the proposed model further in the reply phase, which we will do in a written submission by December 14. In all, we left Gatineau with the impression we had been heard and that the CRTC was engaging meaningfully with our model. At this point, we can’t say with certainty when a decision on the new TV policy will emerge. We did encourage a swift and clear decision so that the industry can get back to work. Please read the press release here.
14th Annual WGC Screenwriting Awards
Nominations for the 2010 WGC Screenwriting Awards are now closed and scripts have been sent out for first-round judging. Thank you to all who entered. Watch here for the announcement of finalists in early February.
Membership Incentive Offered
The WGC is offering time-limited offers on membership to qualifying animation, feature-film and documentary writers. Get more information.
Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund industry consultation process is now complete. During the CMF focus groups, the WGC advocated for Canadian programs written by Canadians and made for Canadians first. The Writers Guild of Canada's submission can be read here.
Canadian screenwriters attended the sessions across the country and made thie positions known, and the WGC appreciates that engagement and activism. Thank you for speaking out, and reminding the CMF about the central place of Canadian screenwriters in the Canadian television industry.
As the guidelines take shape over the coming months, the WGC will continue to work with the CMF to ensure a positive outcome for Canadian screenwriters and Canadian audiences.
Canadian Programming Can Pay its Way
WGC, ACTRA, DGC and CFTPA release Nordicity analysis that shows Canadian broadcasters can make a profit from Canadian programming. Broadcasters say they spend big on U.S. drama (almost half a billion dollars last year) as a way to pay for making Canadian. Nordicity analysis reveals broadcasters shouldn't be using Canadian drama as an excuse for shopping sprees in the U.S. Read study here.
