The Latest WGA Provisions and Overscale Suggestions

Securing creative rights for writers was a fundamental goal of the Screen Writers Guild at its founding in 1933 and continues as a prime element of the Writers Guild agenda.

The information which follows represents a plain-English outline of the creative rights preserved for writers of film and television in the Writers Guild of America Theatrical and Television Basic Agreement. This summary describes the creative provisions of the agreement in some detail, but the actual Guild contract governs in the case of a dispute. This summary can serve as a practical guide to a writer's creative rights established through collective bargaining between the WGA and production companies. Also given are examples of "overscale" creative rights provisions, which the writer and his or her agent should consider negotiating in the writer's individual contract.

Although the rights described here are contractual rights, enforceable by arbitration in most cases, legally enforced creative rights on their own are unlikely to yield the richest and most rewarding creative experiences. The best experiences come from projects where all participants—writers, directors, actors, producers, executives and others—respect and welcome the participation of the others. When a finished theatrical motion picture or television program realizes its creative intent, that success is the fruit of collaboration.

In that collaborative spirit, these creative rights are published; it is in that spirit that these creative rights can be fully realized.

Expand/Collapse All
  • How to Establish and Protect a Writer's Rights
  • Rights Prior to Development
  • Rights During Development
  • Rights During Pre-Production and Production
  • Enhanced Rights to Participate During Production
  • Right to Participate After Production
  • Credits
  • Initiatives to Expand and Protect Creative Rights
  • Enforcement
  • Contact Information

©2022 Writers Guild of America, West, Inc.

Download the Creative Rights booklet

Download the Creative Rights wallet card