The Writers Guild of America West has launched a new media writers caucus to foster job opportunities and union membership for the scribes behind video game and other interactive projects.
It's the fourth time in a decade that the WGAW has moved to organize writers in an area in which the union hopes to expand jurisdiction. The oldest of these groups, the animation writers caucus, was launched in 1994, and groups dedicated to independent film and nonfiction television followed about two years ago.
In all, the three caucuses have helped about 100 people earn full union membership and benefits.
"There are now three major categories of screen-based entertainment: TV, movies and games," WGAW secretary-treasurer Patric Verrone said. "We feel that new media writers and writer-designers deserve the same support and recognition that the guild offers other professional screenwriters."
Writers are eligible to join the new media caucus, which launches Oct. 14, if they have written for, or are under contract to work on, video games or entertainment-related Web, wireless, or other interactive projects.
As associate members, they qualify for limited health coverage and access to guild mailings, events, and inclusion in a new online new-media writers directory.
They can also earn full union membership by working on a project that is covered by WGAW's specialized made-for-Internet programming or interactive programming contracts.
Companies including Electronic Arts and Atari have elected to produce some video game titles under these contracts, WGAW organizer John Koch said. "Video games are starting to look a lot like film with dialogue and story structures," Koch said. "We're hoping to reach out to those people who started out as game writers. Maybe [their project] will branch off into a feature film. so wouldn't it be great if they got the first chance at [writing] that?"