Candidate for Council, Film/TV/Streaming Sector
We’re entering a new era of this business.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen massive consolidation of studios and streamers that has cut the number of employers in half. We also know the internationalization of Hollywood has brought more overseas shows here than ever before. And worst of all, we are all still being asked to do more and being paid less in ways that not even our M.B.A. (Minimum Basic Agreement) can fully account for. I’m asking for your vote because I believe I have the experience and the ideas to fight for a better future for all of us.
I think by now we all know there’s no silver bullet here. We’re writers. We love bold ideas. But we also know, at the end of the day, the devil is in the details. That’s why I am running to be a levelheaded, objective voice on our council. If elected, my focus will be on:
- Continue building stronger community ties to share critical information about how our business is and isn’t working for writers across the board.
- Work on new initiatives that leverage our membership to protect writers in and out of the M.B.A. (i.e. unpaid development work).
I’ve been working with staff, leadership and council to support and improve the Guild wherever I can over the past five years –
- I served as a Strike Captain picketing across New Jersey and New York while maintaining solidarity with so many others in our industry who were unable to work.
- I also served on the Strike Rules & Compliance Committee to protect the Guild and its members when the studios were trying to divide us during the strike.
- I created the Scripted Forum to build a stronger community among writers in the middle of their careers.
- I started work on the first-ever I.P. Initiative to work with members in other sectors of our Guild to enhance their rights to their Intellectual Property and add better protections for screenwriters who would be hired to develop that same material.
- I organized events to talk about the impact of Islamophobia, Anti-Arabism and Antisemitism after October 7th.
- I’m the co-Chair of the Guild’s A.I. Task Force investigating A.I.’s impact on our members.
- There’s more, but personally, I hate when these things drag on.
The point is I care about this Guild and I want to be part of charting the best way forward. I’ve seen firsthand that when writers are able to lift up other writers, everyone does better… even our studio partners. And if elected, I want to keep in that tradition. I want to make sure that writing continues to be a pillar of this business. No matter what the future holds.
I’ve told you what I think, but I’m running to represent you. I want to hear about what your priorities are for our Guild. Please reach out to me at larry@larryjcohen.com. I hope I can count on your support.
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen: Endorsing Larry J. Cohen for WGAE Council
Larry Cohen should be on Council.
He has proven his leadership and dedication to our Guild, especially in the past year. During the strike he served tirelessly as a star captain rallying the troops in New Jersey, while serving behind the scenes on the intense, difficult and thankless Strike Rules Compliance Committee. He currently co-chairs our AI Task Force, a think tank of our brightest minds on this key issue for all our sectors.
Larry is the candidate I trust for calm, thoughtful and compassionate leadership.
–– Lisa Takeuchi Cullen
Endorsements
Monica Lee Bellais, Brooke Berman, Adam Brooks, Micharne Cloughley, Robert Cohen, C Colson, Christina Covino, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Sara David, Justin DiLauro, Laura Eason, Matthew Fennell, Tom Fontana, Nancy Ford, Gina Gionfriddo, Wendy Goldman, Tian Jun Gu, Dina Gusovsky, Jim Hart, Melissa London Hilfers, A M Homes, David Jaher, Wesley Jones, Susan Kim, Penelope Koechl, Christopher Kyle, Warren Leight, Julie Martin, Sarah Montana, Juliet Packer, Zhubin Parang, Jean Passanante, Daniel Perlman, Michael Rauch, Benjamin Rubin, Erica Saleh, Melissa Salmons, Bill Scheft, Lara Shapiro, Courtney Simon, David Smilow, Susanna Styron, Noelle Vinas, Nancy Williams Watt, Adam Wiesen
Endorse Larry J Cohen for Council
Note: WGAW members who wish to endorse a candidate may follow the process outlined in section G.1.B of the 2024 Election Policy.
