Members
What We Do
Contracts Department staff addresses a wide range of issues arising from the MBA and writers’ individual contracts. These include, but are not limited to:
- Appendix A programs: comedy-variety, daytime serials, documentary/news, and other non-dramatic shows
- Character payments
- Free work issues in television, including if/come agreements (see Protect Yourself Against Free Work)
- Initial compensation and timely payment (both minimums and overscale compensation such as bonuses)
- Jurisdiction, including geographical application of the MBA
- Low budget theatrical and documentary feature agreements for WGA members
- Merchandising
- New media
- Novelizations
- Options & exclusivity
- Separation of rights, including reacquisition of unproduced scripts
- Special agreements for certain projects, including basic cable shows, animation and interactive/videogames
- Certain matters related to pension plan and health fund contributions (Send specific questions related to a participant’s eligibility or benefits to the Producer-Writers Guild of America Pension Plan and Writers’ Guild-Industry Health Fund)
- Please note that claims for unpaid or late compensation should be directed immediately to the Guild’s Legal Department
Minimum Basic Agreement
The MBA is the collective bargaining agreement that covers most of the work done by WGA writers.
Report a Violation
Contract terms are only as strong as our ability to enforce them. The Guild remains vigilant in our commitment to defending what generations of writers have fought for. If you’re having a problem with a Guild signatory company—whether you’ve been paid late, or not at all—we want to hear about it!
Please refer to the Report a Violation to tell us about the issue you’re experiencing so we can investigate the problem.
TV Contracts
TV Series Checklist
A list of when TV contracts and WGAW forms are due, where to send them, and who to contact.
Short-form Contract for Long-form TV
This contract was created specifically for movies of the week, movies for television, and miniseries.
Standard Form Freelance Television Writer's Employment
A standard freelance TV contract for WGA members and Guild signatory companies.
Theatrical Contracts
Low Budget Agreement
The Low Budget Agreement allows writers to write and sell a narrative feature-length screenplay under the protection of the Writers Guild if the theatrical film’s budget is at or below $1.2 million.
Documentary Screenplay Contract
Standard Contract for Theatrical Motion Pictures
A standard theatrical writing services contract which can be tailored to reflect the negotiated terms of any writing services contract you negotiate.
Reacquisition of Theatrical Screenplays
If you are a writer who created an original screenplay which never got produced and you would like to set up your work at another Company, there is a provision in the MBA that allows writers to buy back their unproduced, original literary material.
Digital/New Media
Sideletter on Literary Material Written for Programs Made for New Media
This Sideletter confirms the understanding of the WGA and the Companies concerning the application of the MBA to literary material written for exhibition on the Internet, mobile devices or any other new media platform.
Original New Media Programs (Non-HBSVOD)
A standard freelance contract that may be used to engage writers for writing services on Original Made for New Media Programs. This contract is specifically for original new media programming that does not meet the High Budget SVOD thresholds.
Derivative New Media Programs (Non-HBSVOD)
More Contracts
Podcast Coverage Agreement
The WGA offers this simple agreement for covering podcast writing. The agreement ensures that writers earn above the amount necessary to qualify for healthcare insurance for the year, receive employer-paid contributions, enjoy writing credit parity and have the right of first negotiation to write derivative works.
Informational Program Contract
A contract for when writing services are to be performed in non-broadcast films and videos used in business and government for training, education, promotion, public relations and other similar purposes.
Writer's Collaboration Agreement
An agreement between parties to collaborate on an original story, treatment, screenplay, or other work.
News and Promotional Writing
- 2022 CBS/WGA Negotiations Memorandum of Agreement
- 2019-2022 WGA-CBS National Staff Agreement
- 2022 KCBS/KCAL-WGAW Web Negotiations Memorandum of Agreement
- 2019-2022 WGA-Audacy KNX Web Writers Agreement
- 2022-2026 WGA-Audacy Memorandum of Agreement
- 2019-2022 WGA-Entercom National Staff Agreement
- 2015-2018 KCBS/KCAL Web Writers Agreement
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a problem or question concerning bonuses, initial compensation, late payments, free work in television, merchandising, publishing or separated rights, program fees, theatrical reacquisition, videogames based on covered movies or TV shows, character payments, or other terms and conditions of your employment or sale of literary material to a signatory company, email the Contracts Department or call (323) 782-4501. If a signatory company has failed to pay you on time, go to our Late Pay Desk for more information.
If you have questions or concerns about credits or residuals, contact the Credits Department or the Residuals Department.
Working Rule 3.(b) requires that members send the Guild a copies of their contracts. Your writing contracts are a very important part of the Guild's enforcement efforts. If we do not have your contract on file, it may delay our enforcement efforts on your behalf. If the Guild does not have a copy of your contract, submit your contract now.
No. The Guild does not provide lawyer referrals. For help finding an entertainment attorney, try going to http://www.calawyersforthearts.org.
