WGA v. Talent Agencies Draw a Line on the Marble Floor

There has been a war brewing between screenwriters and talent agencies in Hollywood. But the frustration is felt most, I think, by independent producers who try to attach talent to a project in order to secure distribution or a funding deal...but can't.

Communicating in Hollywood is like stacking blocks made from inflatable plastic packaging material. They're easy to lift but impossible to build anything stable unless their crammed in a box and otherwise deformed.

Mark Litwak

Some of you may know of Mark Litwak the super entertainment attorney from LA who has helped thousands of independent filmmakers, if not with direct production counsel, then with his entertainment contract templates which I've used for years.

His blog is always interesting because he gets into the nitty gritty of the dealings in Hollywood that are impossible to negotiate for the uninitiated...but somehow get done.

The first link below will take you to his very good explanation of the coming war, and (secondly) why it's difficult to get anything done in Hollywood. I can attest it is true, even for A-List that I've been in meetings with. Even those on the deep inside find it very difficult to get things done....as Mark explains.

This is why I am always encouraging young screenwriters to find friends who are filmmakers to make their own films. Forget Hollywood. Of course, you have to write it cheap so you can afford it, but getting stuff done is ultimately more satisfying that spitting into the Santa Ana Winds.

Enjoy: https://www.marklitwak.com/blog/wga-v-talent-agencies

and here's a little more background from Variety just a few weeks ago.

https://variety.com/2019/film/news/writers-guild-hollywood-agents-negotiations-1203169747/