The Writers Guild of Canada represents more than 2,100 professional writers working in film, television, radio, and digital media production in Canada. Members of the Guild write dramatic TV series, feature films, MOWs (Movie of the Week), documentaries, animation, comedy and variety series, children's and educational programming, radio drama, as well as corporate videos and digital media productions. The organization administers the WGC Screenwriting Awards.
The WGC is the voice of professional Canadian screenwriters - lobbying on their behalf, protecting their interests, and working to raise the profile of screenwriters and screenwriting. Most importantly, on behalf of its members, the Guild negotiates, administers and enforces collective agreements, setting out minimum rates, terms, and working conditions in the Guild’s jurisdiction — all English-language production in Canada. The central collective agreement, the Independent Production Agreement (IPA), is negotiated between the Guild and the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA), the association representing independent producers in Canada. In addition to the IPA, the Guild also has agreements in place with the APFTQ, CBC Radio, CBC Television, CTV, the NFB and TVOntario. The WGC is formally recognized as the official bargaining agent for English-language professional screenwriters under the federal Status of the Artist Act and Quebec’s Status of the Artist Legislation.
The Guild is a member of the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds, comprising: the Australian Writers' Guild, The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, The Writers Guild of America (East & West), Societe des Auteurs, Recherchistes, Documentalistes et Compositeurs (Quebec) and the New Zealand Writers Guild.
The WGC also serves the industry by:
- Providing industry-standard writing contracts and checking agreements to ensure they comply with the WGC’s collective agreements
- Ensuring proper payment of script fees and royalties and resolving disputes over working conditions and credits
- Serving as the voice for screenwriters by undertaking extensive policy and lobbying activities, working closely with government agencies to promote Canada’s indigenous film and television industry
- Publishing Canadian Screenwriter, a quarterly magazine with features, news, reviews and vital industry information
- Administering a script registration service to help writers protect their work
- Hosting an annual awards ceremony honouring outstanding screenwriting
- Keeping a on-line directory of members for industry organizations
- Providing professional development and training opportunities for members and new writers
- Administering the Canadian Screenwriters Collection Society, which collects royalties and levies arising from secondary uses made in Europe and other jurisdictions
Read more about Writers Guild Of Canada: History, Governance, Membership, Funding Initiatives and Awards
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“Never to have lived is best, ancient writers say;
Never to have drawn the breath of life, never to have looked into the eye of day;
The second best’s a gay goodnight and quickly turn away.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)