Interest in New Committee of Middle Eastern Writers Emerges Dashboard Dashboard

Inclusion and Equity Department hosts upcoming meeting to gauge member interest.

The WGAW’s Inclusion and Equity Department has been approached by self-identifying Middle Eastern members regarding the formation of a Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Writers Committee. With more and more self-identified Middle Eastern writers joining the union, it is time to explore forming a committee dedicated to the careers and creative interests of this community.

Interested members are encouraged to join the Formation of WGAW MENA Writers Committee virtual meeting on Wednesday, August 26 at 7 p.m. (PT). Please RSVP here.

“We believe this can be a historic undertaking, with important benefits for the Middle Eastern writers within our Guild, and will help to encourage a new generation of writers,” said WGAW Inclusion & Equity Director Tery Lopez.

The Inclusion and Equity Department was approached and attempted to form a MENA writers’ group on two separate occasions: first in 2009 and again in 2019. In both instances, member turnout was sparse. However, the release of the Guild's 2020 Inclusion Report—where it was shown that Middle Eastern screenwriters had almost no representation in the ranks of working writers—stoked renewed desire to form the committee.