Tag Archives: Writer’s Guild of Canada

Writers vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike authorization

From a media release:

Today the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) announced that its members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of authorizing strike action if there is no resolution in its negotiations with the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). An unprecedented 96.5 per cent voted in favour of a strike mandate during a week-long voting period, which also marked the highest voter turnout in Guild history at 70.2 per cent of eligible voters.

“This strike authorization vote, a first in the Guild’s 33-year history, represents a pivotal moment for Canadian screenwriters,” said WGC Executive Director Victoria Shen. “It underscores our members’ commitment to securing fair compensation and meaningful AI protections in an ever-evolving industry.

“While a strong strike mandate does not necessarily mean we will strike, it tells the producers we are ready to defend ourselves if necessary. We remain committed to negotiating a fair agreement for our members.”

The strike authorization vote came after nearly six months of negotiations aimed at renewing the Independent Production Agreement (IPA) between the WGC and the CMPA. WGC members have been working without a new contract since December 31, 2023.

The WGC has been fighting for an agreement that will protect the livelihoods of its members and preserve a future for screenwriters in Canada. To date, the parties have not been able to negotiate meaningful protections for both live action and animation writers against AI, reasonable compensation for animation writers, or secure minimum participation of screenwriters during production of television series.

“Our members understand what’s at stake in these negotiations, and I am proud of the strength of their support in this vote,” said Alex Levine, President of the WGC. “We cannot let producers devalue us and our work. We are standing strong and together to secure a future for Canadian screenwriters.”

The WGC remains committed to reaching a fair agreement with producers and keeping the industry working. Currently, the Guild is confirming dates when all parties can get back to addressing the outstanding issues.

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WGC Screenwriting Awards 2022 winners announced

From a media release:

In a funny, lively virtual ceremony held this evening, host Nile Séguin announced the winners of the 26th annual Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards.

Some winners of 2022’s top prizes include Bilal Baig & Fab Filippo (Sort Of), Michael McGowan (All My Puny Sorrows), Tassie Cameron & Sherry White (Pretty Hard Cases), and Amanda Joy (The Parker Andersons I Amelia Parker).

Special awards were also presented to Carolyn Saunders, winner of the Sondra Kelly Award, and Matt Huether, who was awarded the Alex Barris Mentorship Award. Anthony Q. Farrell, creator and showrunner of Overlord and the Underwoods and The Parker Andersons I Amelia Parker, received the night’s final prize, the Showrunner Award. The Denis McGrath Award for Service to the WGC was also presented to Michael Amo, who has served the Guild for the past 12 years as a member of Council, representing the Atlantic region.

Please see below for the complete list of winning scripts and screenwriters.

The 27th Annual WGC Screenwriting Awards are now being planned and hopefully, we will be celebrating live once again. In the meantime, 2022’s presentation will be posted to the WGC YouTube Channel.

A digital program, listing all nominations, nominees and special awards winners, is also available here for download.

2022 WGC SCREENWRITING AWARDS WINNERS

CHILDREN’S
Odd Squad Mobile Unit, “H2 Oh No” I Written by Lakna Edilima

COMEDY SERIES
Sort Of, “Sort of Gone” I Written by Bilal Baig & Fab Filippo

DRAMA SERIES
Pretty Hard Cases, “Bananas” I Written by Tassie Cameron & Sherry White

FEATURE FILM
All My Puny Sorrows I Written by Michael McGowan

MOW & MINISERIES
As Gouda As It Gets I Written by James Phillips

PRESCHOOL
Elinor Wonders Why, “Olive’s Tree” I Written by Michael Foulke

SHORTS & WEBSERIES
My Pride: The Series “Fire” I Written by Maddi Patton

TWEENS & TEENS
The Parker Andersons I Amelia Parker, “Joy” I Written by Amanda Joy

SONDRA KELLY AWARD
Carolyn Saunders

ALEX BARRIS MENTORSHIP AWARD
Matt Huether

DENIS MCGRATH AWARD FOR SERVICE TO THE WGC
Michael Amo

SHOWRUNNER AWARD
Anthony Q. Farrell

ABOUT THE WGC
The Writers Guild of Canada represents more than 2,500 professional English-language screenwriters across Canada, the creators of Canadian entertainment enjoyed on all screens. WGC.ca @WGCtweet

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WGC Screenwriting Awards 2021 finalists announced

From a media release:

The WGC Screenwriting Awards annually celebrate and acknowledge the work of Writers Guild of Canada members and their outstanding scripts that power the most engaging Canadian-made series, films, documentaries and webseries.

This year, in contention are scripts from series Transplant (Joseph Kay, Lynne Kamm, Tamara Moulin), Schitt’s Creek (Daniel Levy, Kurt Smeaton & Winter Tekenos-Levy), Cardinal (Sarah Dodd), Diggstown (Floyd Kane) and New Eden (Kayla Lorette & Evany Rosen). Additionally, 2020 was a very strong year for Canadian feature films with three critically acclaimed screenplays and their writers receiving nominations: Akilla’s Escape (Charles Officer & Motion), Beans (Tracey Deer and Meredith Vuchnich) and The Willoughbys (Kris Pearn and Mark Stanleigh).

Please see the complete list of categories and finalists below.

The WGC Screenwriting Awards will recognize and celebrate Canadian screenwriters and their scripts at a virtual ceremony on April 26, including the Showrunner of the Year — previous winners of this prestigious prize include Dennis Heaton (The Order), Emily Andras (Wynonna Earp) and Michael MacLennan (The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco).

2021 WGC SCREENWRITING AWARDS FINALISTS

CHILDREN’S
Odd Squad Mobile Unit, “Slow Your Roll” I Written by Mark De Angelis

Ollie’s Pack, “Birthday Shmirthday: A Cleo Badette Documentary” I Written by Jeff Sager

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, “I am Harriet Tubman” I Story by Desmond Sargeant & Meghan Read, Teleplay by Desmond Sargeant

COMEDY SERIES
New Eden, “Who Are These Women?” I Written by Evany Rosen & Kayla Lorette

Schitt’s Creek, “Happy Ending” I Written by Daniel Levy

Schitt’s Creek, “Sunrise, Sunset” I Written by Kurt Smeaton & Winter Tekenos-Levy

DOCUMENTARY
The Detectives, “Project Prism” I Written by Eric Sabbag

John Ware Reclaimed I Written by Cheryl Foggo

Still Standing, “Rankin Inlet” I Written by Jonny Harris, Fraser Young, Graham Chittenden, Steve Dylan

DRAMA SERIES
Cardinal: Until the Night, “Adele” I Written by Sarah Dodd

Diggstown, “Willy MacIsaac Redux” I Written by Floyd Kane

Transplant, “Pilot” I Written by Joseph Kay

Transplant, “Trigger Warning” I Written by Lynne Kamm

Transplant, “Under Pressure” I Written by Tamara Moulin

Trickster, “Episode 105” I Story by Michelle Latimer and Tony Elliott and Penny Gummerson, Teleplay by Penny Gummerson

FEATURE FILM
Akilla’s Escape I Story by Charles Officer, Screenplay by Charles Officer & Motion

Beans I Story by Tracey Deer, Screenplay by Tracey Deer and Meredith Vuchnich

The Willoughbys I Story by Kris Pearn, Screenplay by Kris Pearn and Mark Stanleigh

MOW & MINISERIES
Christmas On My Mind I Written by Kirsten Hansen

Gourmet Detective: Roux the Day I Written by Becky Southwell & Dylan Neal

No Good Deed I Written by Doug Barber

PRESCHOOL
16 Hudson, “Tickle Tornado” I Written by Suzanne Bolch & John May

Dino Dana, “Prehistoric Hospital” I Written by J.J. Johnson & Christin Simms & Jagjiwan Sohal

Dino Dana, “The Sound of Dinosaurs” I Written by J.J. Johnson

Kingdom Force, “Big Cat Blues” I Written by Alex Ganetakos

Remy & Boo, “The Squailer” I Written by Jiro C. Okada

SHORTS & WEBSERIES
Detention Adventure, “Buried Treasure” I Written by Joe Kicak

My Pride: The Series, “Rain” I Written by Maddi Patton

Queens, “Minnie and Sharron” I Written by Pat Mills

Try to Fly I Written by Simone Swan & The Affolter Brothers

TWEENS & TEENS
Lockdown, “Social Togetherness” I Story by J.J. Johnson & Christin Simms, Teleplay by J.J. Johnson & Christin Simms & Nicole Stamp

Lockdown, “Stake Outing” I Written by Lakna Edilima

Malory Towers, “The Ghost” I Written by Kate Hewlett

Utopia Falls, “The World is Yours” I Written by Joseph Mallozzi & R.T. Thorne

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Link: Petition looks to bring Story Coordinator under Writers Guild of Canada

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Petition looks to bring Story Coordinator under Writers Guild of Canada
“On a Canadian show, the story coordinator is the ‘entry-level’ job through which many TV writers break into a writers’ room. Currently, the position is not protected by the Writers Guild and as writers, that’s where we want to be.” Continue reading. Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Link: Writers Guild of Canada confronts criticism over inclusion: “There’s No Hidden Agenda”

From Etan Vlessing of The Hollywood Reporter:

Link: Writers Guild of Canada confronts criticism over inclusion: “There’s No Hidden Agenda”
After the Writers Guild of Canada took to social media to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement, the Canadian screenwriters union has had to defend its policies on diversity and inclusion. Continue reading. Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail