Writing Movies for the Outside World When You’re Stuck Inside

Feature writers discuss how the pandemic has affected their work, speculate on what kinds of stories will see theatrical release moving forward, and offer practical advice on pitching and staying focused.

As the world tentatively and incrementally edges toward a next, less restrictive stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are seemingly infinite versions of the same basic question: How do we do something we did before, both in lockdown and going forward? In showbiz, for example, how will feature films be written, produced, and distributed? Unlike television writers, who usually work in groups or rooms, feature writers often either work alone or in two-person teams. Read more >>

What's Your Hacker's Motivation?

WGAW member and cybersecurity expert David Chasteen shares his tips for staying safe online.

As the COVID-19 pandemic forces us to distance and live more of our lives online, many of us are concerned about being hacked.

When not writing, I’m an executive cybersecurity consultant, so a lot of my friends and fellow writers ask me what they can do to keep themselves safe. As storytellers, we know that a character's motivation helps you understand what they are doing and why. When it comes to stopping hackers, the same method applies. Read more >>

3rd & Fairfax Podcast Special Edition: The Actors Fund and COVID-19

Find out how The Actors Fund can support you, and how you can support The Actors Fund, on a special edition of WGAW’s 3rd & Fairfax podcast. The May 5 episode features former WGAW President/The Actors Fund Board member Chris Keyser and The Fund’s Western Region Director Keith McNutt. Together, they present useful information and vital resources to aid Guild members and other industry workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and Hollywood’s production shutdown.

You don’t have to be an actor to benefit from The Actors Fund, which has already given over $8.8 million in funds to assist more than 5,000 entertainment industry professionals in need over the last six weeks alone. Learn how you can get assistance and help others during this crisis. Listen here and donate to The Actors Fund’s Emergency Financial Assistance Fund here.

Webinar: Know Your Health Insurance Options

Not covered by the Writers Guild-Industry Health Fund? Learn about other options for coverage at this upcoming webinar.

Join us next Friday, May 15 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (PT) for a webinar presented by Entertainment Health Insurance Solutions (EHIS), a joint program of The Actors Fund and the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), for Guild members to hear about health insurance options for those not covered by the Writers Guild-Industry Health Fund plan. Read more >>