Activities
It represents writers working in television, radio, film, theatre, books and multimedia.
It negotiates a series of Minimum Terms Agreements governing writers’ contracts and covering minimum fees; advances; repeat fees, royalties and residuals; rights; credits; number of drafts; script alterations and the resolution of disputes. The most important MTAs cover: BBC TV Drama; BBC Radio Drama; ITV Companies; PACT (independent TV and film producers); TAC (Welsh language independent TV producers); Theatrical Management Association; Independent Theatre Council; and an agreement covering the Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal Court Theatre. These agreements are regularly renegotiated and in most cases the minimum fees are reviewed annually.
The Guild advises its members on all aspects of their working lives. This includes contract vetting, legal advice, help with copyright problems and representation in disputes with producers, publishers or other writers.
Regular events are organised for members. Recent examples (2004–2005) were a seminar on writing sitcoms, a networking evening for TV soap writers, a panel discussion on marketing theatre plays, a celebrity event at the Edinburgh Book Festival and a series of lectures on forensic science aimed at TV series writers. The Annual General Meeting each spring features an address by a well-known member, an opportunity to debate issues of importance to writers and amend the Guild’s rules, plus a free lunch.
UK Writer is the Guild’s quarterly magazine, free to members, containing features about professional writing and news about the Guild and its members. Every Friday the Guild sends a copious email to members containing up-to-the-minute news items, work and learning opportunities, and details of forthcoming performances, broadcasts or publication of members’ work. The Guild’s website (http://www.writersguild.org.uk) provides lots of news and information about writing for different media and has a Members’ Area containing the full texts of MTAs.
Read more about this topic: Writers' Guild Of Great Britain
Famous quotes containing the word activities:
“Justice begins with the recognition of the necessity of sharing. The oldest law is that which regulates it, and this is still the most important law today and, as such, has remained the basic concern of all movements which have at heart the community of human activities and of human existence in general.”
—Elias Canetti (b. 1905)
“When mundane, lowly activities are at stake, too much insight is detrimental—far-sightedness errs in immediate concerns.”
—Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)
“The old, subjective, stagnant, indolent and wretched life for woman has gone. She has as many resources as men, as many activities beckon her on. As large possibilities swell and inspire her heart.”
—Anna Julia Cooper (1859–1964)