Let's list unproduced credits where a WGA contract was reached on Find A Writer. The current practice is to use a personal statement to mention these credits.
This is a very simple, ought-to-be easy change. It's also one that, I believe, would make a tremendous difference to feature writers — considering the bulk of feature work ultimately goes unproduced, or is an uncredited rewrite. It would also make a difference to TV writers primarily working in development, and those who have worked in mini-rooms that didn't ultimately get picked up.
Why is this important?
Well, for instance... look at my Find A Writer page. A cursory glance would make you think I haven't worked in any capacity since 2015. That's because I've been in development and, as of this writing, none of the pilots I've sold or options have been produced.
But I was paid for those projects.
I had WGA contracts for all of them, each of which I submitted to the Contracts Department.
The projects all contributed to pension & health.
In short... they're very easily verifiable. Just because the projects didn't get made, or have not yet gotten made, doesn't mean I didn't work and didn't earn.
This issue applies to TV writers who staff in mini-rooms that aren't picked up to series, as well. You were paid. You did the work. Why can't you get the credit?
And, as I said above, this problem is far worse and far more common among feature writers. Unproduced work is basically the norm in features — as are uncredited rewrites on films that do get produced, which is a separate, vastly more complicated issue. This proposal is not about interfering with or going around the Guild's arbitration process.
The bottom line is, our current system does not reflect the actual work writers are performing for signatory companies.
For better or worse, our industry is one where perception is reality. The mere perception that one has not been working can make it harder to get the next job, or to secure representation.
It costs us absolutely nothing to make this potentially incredibly meaningful change, so why wouldn't we make it? We can't control outside databases like IMDb... but we can control Find A Writer. Let's make Find A Writer *the* destination to look at a writer's credits, because it is the best, most accurate reflection of what a writer has worked on.
And... there's a potential side benefit. How great would it be for writers to be actively sending their FAW pages to producers and executives? It may even push those producers and executives to use Find A Writer... meaning they'll never have an excuse to say "I can't find a [insert diversity atribute] writer" again, because Find A Writer is a way to... well, find a writer!
