Announcements

Meet The Inaugural Class of the WGF Veterans Fellowship

The Writers Guild Foundation has launched the WGF Veterans Fellowship, an 8-week mentorship program that provides educational resources, professional guidance, and career-building opportunities for alumni of the Foundation’s flagship program, the Veterans Writing Project.  

Six veterans have been selected to participate in the inaugural 2024 class: Brian McDevitt, Jr., Cathy Torres, Kadyn Michaels, Nicole Schwegman, Rylan Tuohy, and Tracy Thompson. Each fellow will be paired with a showrunner mentor, who will provide valuable feedback on their scripts and unique insights into the business of writing. This year’s mentors include Bill Wrubel (Ted Lasso), Desmond Moran (Tiny Beautiful Things), Jeremy Carver (Doom Patrol), Joy Kecken (Genius: MLK/X), Linda Gase (Dr. Death), and Maria Ferrari (Call Me Kat). 

The 2024 Veterans Fellows with Core Instructor Eli Edelson. From left: Kadyn Michaels, Edelson, Nicole Schwegman, Tracy Thompson, Brian McDevitt, Jr., Cathy Torres, and Rylan Tuohy.

Along with one-on-one mentorship, fellows will attend workshops led by Core Instructor writer/producer Eli Edelson (Motherland: Fort Salem), events with guest speakers from every corner of the industry, as well as networking opportunities with industry professionals who have the potential to hire them. By the end of the course, fellows will have multiple polished samples, a refined self-pitch, hands-on experience in simulated writers’ rooms, a nuanced understanding of support roles and writers’ room etiquette, and more. 

“I’m so excited for the Fellowship to continue the important work of the Veterans Writing Project. These writers have incredible and important stories to tell, and their mentors will help open the doors of the industry to them,” says Edelson. 

Since its establishment in 2010, the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project's yearlong mentorship program has taught U.S. military veterans the craft of screenwriting and essential industry professional practices. Today, it is one of the strongest writing programs of its kind. However, the drastic changes in the industry have made breaking in as a professional screenwriter more complex and challenging. 

“This program was established in response to the increasing number of barriers preventing emerging writers from gaining a foothold in the entertainment industry,” says WGF Director of Community Programs Kira VandenBrande.  “We aim to better equip Veterans Writing Project alumni with the education and access to gain a foothold in the industry and, ultimately, forge sustainable careers as writers.” 

For more information on the Veterans Fellowship and each individual fellow, check out the program page.

Job Posting: Events Coordinator

Application period closes March 23, 2018. THIS APPLICATION IS NOW CLOSED.  Looking for your occupassion?  Tired of throwing events for causes that don’t inspire you?  Love dealing with all the nitpicky details that set great events apart from good? Want to work at the nexus of the arts and entertainment and public service?  Willing to read a longish job spec and submit a resume that’ll make us want to meet you? Look no further!

We are looking for a motivated, detail-oriented, organized, emotionally intelligent person to help us plan and execute our yearly calendar of events, from panels, screenings, and Write-A-Thons to our yearly WGFestival conference.  This full-time position is ideal for someone with 2-3 years of experience in non-profits, events planning, political campaigns, or marketing/public relations.

The Writers Guild Foundation is a non-profit that serves current and aspiring members of the Writers Guild of America, West. In this role, you will assist the Events & Communications Director with everything related to producing and expanding the Foundation’s events throughout the year.

This is a job for someone who will never make excuses, has a contagious sense of humor, and is willing to roll up their sleeves. THIS IS NOT A WRITING OR FILM/TV PRODUCTION POSITION. You made it this far.  Now decide if the daily responsibilities are ones where you have both experience and interest.

DAILY DUTIES:

  • Schedule and coordinate all internal and external events that WGF produces and hosts
  • Liaise and correspond with panelists, moderators, VIP guests, vendors, and representatives
  • Help staff events, coordinate volunteers, and interface with attendees
  • Make all the people you interact with super happy that they know you
  • Manage event ticketing check-in and RSVP/guest lists
  • Track events expenses and invoicing
  • Facilitate events-related initiatives such as gift certificates, Golden Tickets, and All Access Passes
  • Work with Events & Communications Director on marketing and events promotion
  • Build and cultivate relationships with outside venues, vendors, and potential partners
  • Assist with pretty much anything else happening in the office, because you’ll be “that person” for everyone
  • Make your colleagues laugh (seriously, we are fun and we want someone who is also fun; this is a non-profit, so we aren’t paid enough to be serious all the time)

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Disciplined, painstaking, precise, sharp, detailed, self-aware
  • Spidey sense
  • Comfortable multi-tasking without getting all frazzled
  • Relationship builder with the flexibility and finesse to manage by influence
  • Infectious laugh and sense of humor
  • Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituencies, including WGF and WGA staff, board members, volunteers, donors, events attendees, program participants, and other supporters
  • Self-starter, able to work independently, not a whiner/complainer
  • Able to work event hours. Your shifts will shift based on event schedules, so you must be able to work evenings and/or weekends based on our event calendar. The word “events” is in the job, after all, so that means you.

ASSUMED BASIC SKILLS:

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office, basic computer stuff (I know, it is 2018, but I still gotta say it) and normal, professional office etiquette/behavior/experience
  • Social media savvy (please know what a hashtag, IG story, and engagement mean. You’re the person that explains to your mom’s friends how the interwebs are used to sell ideas and tickets
  • Able to charm and befriend on the phone and in person (and in your cover letter)
  • Willing and able to learn and be coached
  • Smart, witty, considerate, and professional
  • Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound
  • Like people. We mean really, really like people and enjoy meeting new people. You’re the person that makes friends while in line at the dry cleaners and gets that person to buy a ticket or sign up for our mailing list.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop a plan of action, achieve buy-in, and execute to the plan successfully
  • Getting stuff DONE (no muss, no fuss)
  • Not raised by wolves, willing to pitch in even if it isn’t your job
  • Able to think on your feet and manage through situations without ruffling feathers

 

THE BUREAUCRATIC BIT (a.k.a., the Blah Blah Blah):

Interviewees will be chosen very selectively. Please be sure you meet the qualifications before you apply.  Failure to follow the guidelines laid out in this posting is disqualifying. A persuasive cover letter or note describing your understanding of our organization and why you are a good fit will get our attention (and is required).

 

Getting your shining personality across will increase your odds (don’t be afraid to enjoy yourself and let us know who we might be working with; generic cover letters are as boring to read as they are to write, so take pity on the person screening 300 apps).  Thinking of a skill you have, that you know we need, but that we didn’t list above, will get you serious bonus points.  Referring to something specific from our website or this notice in your subject line will prove you read and understood this job posting; not doing so will prove that you just applied randomly to jobs by clicking on a job website (again, disqualifying). Submitting your cover and resume in one convenient, combined, printable document (PDF or Word) makes our lives easier and increases your chances of having both read.  In short, your email/cover matters.  A LOT.

While our salaries are very non-profity, our benefits are outstanding and include such parent-pleasing things as health insurance, paid time off, sick leave, a pension program, access to special screenings, a business casual environment (suits and ties make us nervous), and super way cool co-workers.  Plus, our offices are in a great part of town, across the street from the Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax.

We are an equal opportunity employer. You must be eligible to work legally in the United States without employer sponsorship.  You must have a valid California driver license.  You must not be annoying. A job offer is contingent: hire is subject to the results of a background check.

SUBMIT BY EMAIL ONLY.  NO CALLS.  DO NOT EMAIL STAFF OR THE ED DIRECTLY (again, disqualifying).  We’re expecting a large volume of applications, so please be patient, and give us at least three weeks to get back to you.

Email your cover letter and resume to: wgf.careers@wgfoundation.org

 

 

Job Posting: Development & Communications Assistant

APPLICATION WINDOW IS NOW CLOSED - WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. THANK YOU! Looking for your occupassion?  Tired of raising money for causes that don’t inspire you?  Love writers and writing? Want to work at the nexus of the arts and entertainment and public service?  Willing to read a longish job spec and submit a resume that’ll make us want to meet you?  Look no further!

We are looking for a motivated, detail-oriented, disciplined, emotionally intelligent person to help us raise money and market us in ways that help us raise money.  This full-time position is ideal for someone with 2-3 years of experience in non-profits, politics, or fundraising.

 In this role, you will assist the Executive Director with (and learn) everything related to fundraising from individuals and foundations.

This is a job for someone who wants to be part of building up an organization, will never make excuses, has a contagious sense of humor, and is willing to roll up their sleeves. You made it this far.  Now decide if the daily responsibilities are ones where you have both experience and interest.

DAILY DUTIES:

  • Develop, nurture, and maintain relationships and cultivate new and existing constituents into donors
  • Conduct outreach and cultivate relationships with WGA members/volunteers
  • Seek out, schedule, and coordinate meetings for the ED
  • Work with Communications to design, develop, execute, and monitor digital fundraising appeals, media outreach, and social media messages
  • Make your colleagues laugh (seriously, we are fun and we want someone who is also fun; this is a non-profit, so we aren’t paid enough to be serious all the time)
  • Create and manage donor database. Accurately enter and track all contacts with donors in our CRM system
  • Assist with ongoing programs, events, and marketing where donors and potential donors are present (i.e., all of our events)

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Disciplined, painstaking, precise, sharp, detailed, self-aware
  • Spidey sense
  • Comfortable multi-tasking without getting all frazzled
  • Relationship builder with the flexibility and finesse to manage by influence
  • Infectious laugh and sense of humor
  • Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituencies, including WGF and WGA staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters
  • Self-starter, able to work independently

 

ASSUMED BASIC SKILLS:

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office
  • Social media savvy (please know what a hashtag, IG story, and engagement mean)
  • Able to charm and befriend on the phone and in person
  • Understand and appreciate the art and business of television and film
  • Willing and able to learn and be coached
  • Smart, witty, considerate
  • Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound
  • Like people. We mean really, really like people and enjoy meeting new people. You’re the person that makes friends while in line at the dry cleaners (not that you’ll have to pick up anyone’s dry cleaning… unless they want to donate a million bucks)
  • Demonstrated ability to develop a plan of action, achieve buy-in, and execute to the plan successfully
  • Getting stuff DONE
  • Not raised by wolves, willing to pitch in even if it isn’t your job
  • Able to think on your feet and manage through situations without ruffling feathers

 

THE BUREAUCRATIC BIT (a.k.a., the Blah Blah Blah):

Interviewees will be chosen very selectively. Please be sure you meet the qualifications before you apply.  A persuasive cover letter or note describing your understanding of our organization and why you are a good fit will get our attention. Getting your shining personality across will increase your odds.  Thinking of a skill you have, that you know we need, but that we didn’t list above will get you serious bonus points.  Referring to something specific from our website or this notice in your subject line will prove you read and understood this job posting; not doing so will prove that you just applied randomly to jobs by clicking on a job website. Submitting your cover and resume in one convenient, combined, printable document (PDF or Word) makes our lives easier and increases your chances of having both read.  In short, your email/cover matters.  A LOT.

While our salaries are very non-profity, our benefits are outstanding and include health insurance, paid time off, sick leave, a pension program, access to special screenings, and super way cool co-workers.  Plus, our offices are in a great part of town, across the street from the Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax.

We are an equal opportunity employer. You must be eligible to work legally in the United States without employer sponsorship.  You must have a valid California driver license.  A job offer is contingent: Hire is subject to the results of a background check.

SUBMIT BY EMAIL ONLY.  NO CALLS.  DO NOT EMAIL STAFF OR THE ED DIRECTLY (doing so is disqualifying).  We’re expecting a large volume of applications, so please be patient, and give us at least three weeks.

Email your cover letter and resume by December 15 to: wgf.careers@wgfoundation.org

 

 

Job Posting: WGF Library Fellow

The Writers Guild Foundation is looking for a motivated, detail-oriented, emotionally intelligent library fellow. This is a LIMITED TERM, ONE-YEAR, FULL TIME fellowship, ideal for a recent MLS graduate. (Recent grads are highly encouraged to apply!) You will get your hands dirty, sifting through our archives for gems and helping our patrons find just the thing that’ll help them sell their script and make it big. The Writers Guild Foundation is a non-profit that serves current and aspiring members of the Writers Guild of America, West. In this role, you will facilitate access to the Writers Guild Foundation library's core collections and archival holdings by providing research assistance and information to WGA members, staff, aspiring writers, scholars, journalists, students, and the general public. As part of the Library and Archive team, the Fellow participates in: reference services; materials selection and acquisitions; cataloging; updating website resources; and promotion.

DAILY DUTIES:

  • Serve at reference desk and manage access to core collections by advising and assisting patrons with script selections via email, telephone, and on-site requests.
  • Research in-depth questions about writing resources, copyright, script collections, writers' papers, and other queries related to film, television, and media using validated primary and online sources such as UCLA LibGuides, AMPAS Scriptlist, Library of Congress NUMC, ArchiveGrid, EpGuides, and Online Archive of California.
  • Catalog manuscript and digital collections, including scripts, books, and development materials, according to established library templates.
  • Assist with curating, describing and installing on-site exhibits.
  • Research writers' biographical information and credits for oral histories.
  • Assist with set-up, display and oral presentation of research-oriented tours of the library and pop-up exhibits at outside events and festivals.
  • Depending on experience: participate in archival processing and preservation work, including inventorying; arranging and rehousing archival collections; researching and preparing descriptive collection guides; and performing basic preservation work.
  • Other duties as assigned. What can we say, this role will evolve based on our needs, your skills, and the alignment of Mars and Venus. In other words, we’re a small operation where everyone pitches in when needed, and where you’ll be able to help shape your role.

 

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

  • MLIS or MLS from an ALA-accredited Library and Information Science program or MA in Archival Administration or Moving Image Archive Studies, required
  • Undergraduate degree in Film / Television History, Screenwriting, or related coursework preferred
  • Strong familiarity with entertainment industry collections preferred
  • Enthusiasm for film, television, and media studies
  • Infectious laugh and sense of humor
  • Must be available to work evenings and at least every other Saturday (check our hours and be sure you’re ok!)
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and strong service orientation
  • Ability to prioritize and work both independently and as part of a team
  • Flexibility to work within a constantly evolving organization where responsibilities are shared across departments
  • Organized work habits; accuracy and attention to detail; comfortable multi-tasking without getting all frazzled
  • Ability to lift a 40-pound box required as well as retrieve materials from high shelving using a ladder or step stool
  • Excellent communication skills

 

ASSUMED BASIC SKILLS:

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office
  • Operation of electronic library catalog systems
  • Smart, witty, considerate
  • Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound
  • Like people. We mean really, really like people and enjoy helping them (especially writers)
  • Getting stuff DONE
  • Not raised by wolves, willing to pitch in even if it isn’t your job

 

THE BUREAUCRATIC BIT:

Interviewees will be chosen very selectively. Please be sure you meet the qualifications before you apply. Submitting a persuasive cover letter or note describing your understanding of our organization and why you are a good fit will get our attention. Getting your shining personality across will increase your odds. Thinking of a skill you have, that you know we need, but that we didn’t list above will get you serious bonus points. Referring to something specific from our website or this notice in your subject line will prove you read and understood this job posting. Submitting your cover and resume in a single convenient, combined, printable PDF makes our lives easier when screening resumes. In short, your email/cover matters. A LOT. If you have the skills and background, don’t be afraid to show a little personality and humor. And you must tell us about what you’re watching or what your favorite current TV shows are (and why).

Unfortunately, our salaries are very non-profity and we are unable to offer benefits for this one-year fellowship. However, your co-workers are super way cool, this is a one of a kind collection, and our offices are in a great part of town (across the street from the Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax – you even get free parking at the Grove!). This is a full time position.

We are an equal opportunity employer. You must be eligible to work legally in the United States without employer sponsorship. Hire is subject to the results of a background check.

SUBMIT BY EMAIL ONLY. NO CALLS. DO NOT EMAIL STAFF OR THE ED DIRECTLY. READ THE POSTING CAREFULLY. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines or meet the requirements will not be considered. We’re expecting a large volume of applications, so please be patient and give us at least three weeks.

Email your cover letter and resume by WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31 to: careers.wgf@gmail.com

 

Young Storytellers is Seeking Mentors for 2017

 

The Writers Guild Foundation, in partnership with Young Storytellers, is hosting an information session and orientation for writers who are interested in mentoring young students in the art of screenwriting. Young Storytellers is always in need of professional screenwriters to meet the needs of the many students who want to participate in their programming.

When: Wednesday, January 4, 7:00 p.m.

Where: WGF Library 1st Floor, Info: (323) 782-4691

This is a 10 week mentorship opportunity (just one hour per week) in Young Storytellers’ Script to Screen program, where writers engage in a one-on-one mentorship of 5th grade students from low income schools, guiding them through drafting an original short script that will be performed by professional actors at the end of the semester. Young Storytellers works in many schools around LA so mentors can be assigned to schools near to their home or work.

Writers who attend are not obligated to participate; it is simply an introduction to the program. If you are interested, please RSVP to Libbie Anderson at landerson@wgfoundation.org.