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Showrunners, Executives to Talk One-on-One with Writers at WGAW Inclusion and Equity Department’s Virtual Meet-and-Greets
Though network and studio offices are closed around town, the Guild continues to provide access to employment opportunities for historically underrepresented members.
When the Guild made the decision in mid-March to suspend most non-essential Guild events and meetings to help curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, the Inclusion and Equity Department had to rethink how it offers access to employment opportunities for members who have been historically underrepresented, including writers who are Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American & Indigenous, African-American, Latino, women, over 40, LGBTQ+, or disabled.
The solution was to continue its popular meet-and-greets—which put members directly in front of those who can hire them—but as virtual gatherings.
“These Virtual Meet-and-Greets are our answer to our current reality. It is how we will continue to build community in a time of quarantine and social distancing,” said WGAW’s Director of Inclusion and Equity Tery Lopez.
The first of these meet-and-greet virtual events will take place in late April, with members from the Asian American Writers Committee and showrunners. This will be followed by a networking event with the LGBTQ+ Writers Committee and industry executives in early May. Targeted invites have been sent to Guild members who meet self-selected diversity criteria.
To accommodate the shift to video conference, each showrunner and executive will meet with one writer for 10–15 minutes each, “speed dating” style, in separate virtual “rooms,” so that each showrunner and executive will meet with four writers during their hour sessions.
If you have questions about the WGAW Inclusion and Equity Department or its upcoming Virtual Meet-and-Greets, please contact 323-782-4589 or email Inclusion and Equity.
All WGAW members can stay connected with showrunners, producers, and industry executives via the WGA Platform. Create or update your profile here.