WGA protesters and other union members demonstrate at Disney on May 3, 2023 in Burbank.
Lesley Goldberg for THR
Disney this week sent out a letter to showrunners employed at the company’s various studios, reminding the flashy writer-producers that they are still expected to perform their contracted non-writing services.
“We would like to reiterate to you, the showrunner or other writer-producer, that you are not relieved of your duties as showrunner and/or producer of your series as a result of the WGA strike. Your personal service contract with [the] Studio requires that you perform your showrunner and/or production duties even if the WGA seeks to fine you for providing such services during the strike,” wrote Bob McPhail, assistant chief counsel for Disney-owned ABC Signature , in the letter sent to Showrunner and obtained from . “Your duties as showrunner and/or producer will not be excused, suspended or terminated until written notice is received from the studio.”
The letter is dated May 3, the second day of the Writers Guild of America strike against members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents studios and streamers. Writers have taken to the picket lines outside major studios and streamers in Los Angeles and New York this week to demand higher wage floors, streamer viewer transparency and protections from mini-rooms and the use of artificial intelligence.
The letter (read it in full below) includes a question and answer informing showrunners that they are “required” to perform duties, which may involve responsibilities that may not be consistent with guidance provided by the WGA makes available to its approximately 11,500 striking members.
The memo specifically states that in the roles of showrunner and/or writer/producer, “you must provide services, along with other non-writing services, commonly referred to as ‘a. thoroughly h.’ services as a producer”, such as B. Cuts in time, minor changes to dialogue or narration before or during production, and “changes in technical or stage directions.” These are tasks that non-Authors in Covered Projects can perform under the WGA contract.
However, WGA strike rules specifically prohibit union members from engaging in these activities during the 2023 walkout. “The rules prohibit dashes (members employed in dual roles) from performing any writing services, including the roles ‘(a) through (h)’,” the rules state, putting showrunners and writer-producers in a difficult position. caught between the dictates of their employers and their own union.
“A lot of things sound… wrong? AH duties are explicitly described by the guild as things you can’t do,” said a longtime showrunner, who didn’t receive any of the memos because he doesn’t have a deal with Disney. “But legally I’m sure there’s a lot of wrangling over this stuff. Long story short, this document does not fool any writer. It’s just weird because it’s almost written as if we were trying to organize a company that wasn’t yet unionized. We’re all already in the union, man.”
