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WGAW CAP Committees
(7/31/2020)
The WGAW’s wide range of CAP (Committee Advisory Panel) committees offers members unique “hands-on” opportunities to get involved with the Guild, build relationships within a community of writers, and benefit from informative programs and networking opportunities.
Lately, events have migrated online to allow for social distancing.
Often, CAP committees work together to co-host illuminating panel events, such as “The Big Picture: Why Writers Should Insist on More Body Diversity on Screen,” co-presented earlier this year by the Committee of Women Writers, Committee of Black Writers (CBW), Latinx Writers Committee, and Writers Education Committee. This past fall, the CBW joined the Native American & Indigenous Writers Committee to co-present a panel on “Taking Stories From Marginalized Communities Into the Writers’ Room,” which focused on telling accurate and diversified stories on issues affecting people of color, while the Asian American Writers, Latino Writers, and Writers Education Committees co-hosted a panel exploring “rebranding” and what strategies writers can use to successfully transition their careers from one genre to another.
CAP committees are open to Current (CR), Associate (AS), Post-Current (PC), and Associate Caucus (AC) WGAW members in good standing.
No matter your interests or identity, the Guild has a member committee to fit your niche. Browse the listings below for more information on their mandates and how to join.
The Activities Committee brings members together in social settings for networking, educational, and fun events to build community within the membership. Past events include networking mixers, game nights, Port of LA tour, storytelling night, escape rooms, hikes, and the popular biennial Craft Conference & Retreat.
Asian American Writers Committee
The Asian American Writers Committee actively represents the professional and creative interests of Asian American Guild members. Its mandate is to be dedicated to the encouragement, empowerment, and employment of writers of Asian heritage.
The mission of the Career Longevity Committee is to assist writers of all ages in planning for long and successful careers by giving them the tools and knowledge to adapt to changes in the marketplace.
The Committee of Black Writers' mission is to empower, increase visibility, and create career and networking opportunities for Black writers in Hollywood.
The Committee of Women Writers represents the interests of female WGAW writers who are seeking WGA-covered work. It sponsors events designed to increase women’s knowledge of the craft and the marketplace, discuss the role of women as storytellers, foster networking and collaboration between women in all Guilds, as well as increase opportunities for education, employment, and creative expression. Its goal is to empower all writers and improve the profile and perception of women writers in the industry.
The Disabled Writers Committee seeks to enhance the visibility and employment of writers with all types of disabilities, and encourage, celebrate, and endorse accurate portrayals of the disabled in all areas of the media. It also serves as an expert resource for all issues related to the disabled community.
The Genre Committee was formed with the sole purpose of attracting writers interested in a certain genre to meet, discuss, and exchange information in a peer-to-peer setting. Its mission is to push education, diversity, and camaraderie among all writers, no matter their background. The committee welcomes all writers because writers work in all genres.
The Latinx Writers Committee actively represents the professional, creative, social, and economic interests of Latino Guild members. Its mandate is to encourage Latino writers to become more active within the Guild, and to raise the profile and perception of Latino writers in the industry at large by creating forums that foster networking, collaboration, education, information exchange, employment opportunities, and creative expression.
The LGBTQ+ Writers Committee seeks to utilize its constituency as a resource to all writers who include LGBTQ+ characters in their work. Its members also wish to provide cultural and educational opportunities for WGAW members to nurture an understanding of how sexual orientation and gender identity affect the lives of writers; endeavor to provide networking and social activities enabling the WGAW membership to better know one another and create a greater demand for the writing services of LGBTQ+ WGAW members; and strive to generate a greater awareness within the Guild of sexual orientation (and gender identity) as a minority and, where appropriate, to identify and advocate against instances of homophobia, transphobia, and/or discrimination within our industry.
Native American & Indigenous Writers Committee
The Native American & Indigenous Writers Committee represents the professional and creative interests of Native American & Indigenous writers. It works to mentor, encourage, empower, and increase the visibility of employment of writers of Native American & Indigenous heritage, and serves as a cultural and educational resource for all Guild member-writers seeking to portray Native American & Indigenous Peoples in their work.
The Writers Education Committee has a broad mandate to develop programs that provide WGAW members with practical, inside knowledge about how the industry works and how it is changing, emphasizing tips and tools to help writers succeed. The goal is to provide working knowledge for writers.
CAP is the Committee Advisory Panel, a Board-appointed committee that oversees the Guild’s open committees and advises the Board on policy related to those committees. Open committees support initiatives and priorities set by the Board of Directors. Committee membership does not require Board appointment.
Guidelines for CAP and open committees can be found here.
For a list of all WGAW committees, including Board-appointed, CAP, and constitutional committees, click here.