92% of authors dismiss agents – Variety



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The Writers Guild of America has estimated that over 92% of their members who support a new code of conduct for talent agencies have sacked these representatives.

The letters announcing the official termination will be delivered Monday, announced the guild in a memo published Thursday, most of the agencies being closed tomorrow on the occasion of the Good Friday. It is thought that many writers have personally communicated their intention to withdraw agents until they solve their problem with the WGA, which declared war on the Association of Talent Agencies the week last to pay the packing fee.

The memo was part of an endless volley between the guild and the Association of Talent Agencies this week. The first sued Monday the last in court, alleging a violation of federal and federal law in the practice of agencies to recover the cost of packaging for movies and series written by their own customers.

The ATA has repeatedly stated that the WGA was determined to wreak havoc in the entertainment world by stopping negotiations, which the WGA described as scary in Thursday's note.

"This is their main weapon: spreading excessive fear and trying to intimidate as many people as possible in the city," reads the memo.

Just hours before the WGA memo, the ATA sent a missive to its own members – including monolithic shops such as CAA, WME, UTA and ICM – decrying the WGA's plan to use personal managers and lawyers to get new jobs during the battle. go out with agents. On April 12, the WGA called for the termination of the agents' mandate, the majors refusing to sign a code of conduct including the issue of packaging fees.

Read the complete memoir of the guild.

Dear members,

First of all: thank you. As writers, the week has been stressful for many of us. The agencies responded to the dismissals on the grounds that the result would be chaos. This is their main weapon: to spread excessive fear and to intimidate as many people as possible in the city. We hope you have seen our response to the threats against lawyers and officials, and the lawsuit filed yesterday by the Guild.

We are here at the official notification to the agencies: more than 92% of the members who signed the statement of support have already fulfilled their commitment and signed letters ending their unauthorized agencies. The same goes for many thousands of other writers.

For those who have not yet done so: follow this link to sign online and join them.

We planned to deliver the letters tomorrow, but the agencies are closed all or part of the day because of the holidays. The Guild will therefore massively transmit the letters of termination to the agencies on Monday.

Members who are represented by agencies that are not signatories of the Code of Conduct must electronically sign the letter. There are several reasons for this: First, it protects you against any legal claim that an agent can make and that deserves a commission on the new work you have acquired during that time. Secondly, there is irrefutable evidence against the claims of the agencies that our members voted in one direction and acted in another direction. It is a clear and powerful demonstration of solidarity from writers – to each other and to the agencies. Because by solidarity – and only by solidarity – can we lead this campaign to its quickest and most successful conclusion. Of course, in addition to the electronic signature, members can send individual letters directly to their agent.

This link takes you directly to the login page. We want everyone to have the chance to run before Sunday night to be part of this group performance.

In conclusion, less than a week, the guild is strong and stable. It is inspiring to see and hear how members support each other, in public and in private. We will get back to you very soon.

In solidarity,

WGA-Agency Agreement Negotiation Committee

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