Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) are joining the #DisneyMustPay Joint Task Force. The Task Force’s goals are to ensure that all writers who are owed royalties and/or statements for their media-tie in work are identified and that Disney and other companies honor their contractual obligations to those writers after acquiring the companies that originally hired the writers.
“We’re seeing the abuses of consolidation negatively affect all creative people in the entertainment business,” said WGAW President David A. Goodman, “and as we are an organization devoted to protecting writers, making sure that their contracts are enforced and that they are fairly compensated for their work, supporting this task force as an absolute necessity.”
WGAE President Beau Willimon said, “As a union fighting for the rights of people who craft stories, we believe these writers deserve to share in the value created by their work. Their battle is our battle.”
“WGA West and WGA, East are bringing more firepower to the #DisneyMustPay Joint Task Force,” said Mary Robinette Kowal, Task Force Chair. “They are legendary in their passion, commitment, and success in protecting the rights of writers. And they know a thing or two about doing battle in Hollywood and New York.”
The Task Force has made progress, notably ensuring that three well-known media tie-in authors have been paid and attaining the cooperation of BOOM! Studios in identifying affected authors. However, over a dozen additional authors are still in negotiations with Disney. Many of them, especially ones with lesser-known names, find communications with Disney repeatedly stalled until pressure is again applied by the Task Force and its supporters.
Fans, fellow writers, and the creative community need to continue to post on social media showing their support so the #DisneyMustPay Joint Task Force can help writers. Thanks to their support, the message is reaching Disney and related organizations to alert them to the work they need to do to honor their contractual obligations.
The #DisneyMustPay Joint Task Force, formed by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (SFWA), includes the Authors Guild, Horror Writers Association, International Association of Media Tie-In Writers (IAMTW), International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, National Writers Union, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime (SinC), and now, Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE). Individual writers on the Task Force include Neil Gaiman, Lee Goldberg, Mary Robinette Kowal, Chuck Wendig, and Tess Gerritsen. The Task Force identifies and guides authors who might be owed money.Disney is refusing to cooperate with the Task Force to identify affected authors.
The #DisneyMustPay Joint Task Force makes sure writers’ contracts are honored, but individual negotiations are rightly between the authors, their agents, and the rights holder. The Disney Task Force is working to address structural and systemic concerns.
Additional updates and information are available at www.writersmustbepaid.org.
[From a press release.]
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So what’s with not naming the “ three well-known media tie-in authors” that they keep referring to? One of them obviously is David Gerrold as he’s who started off this campaign, but who are the other two? Why the secrecy?
I believe Tess Gerritsen’s name is misspelled here. Was it misspelled in the press release?
Yup. I’ve corrected the spelling and emailed the correction to the person who distributed the release.
@Cat Eldridge, I believe the #DisneyMustPay movement came to many people’s attention when Alan Dean Foster, a very high profile author indeed, was revealed to be in dire financial straits owing to some health problems while Disney was not paying any of his royalties due for the important work he did on the Star Wars franchise.
At the end of April it was reported that Disney and Foster had come to an agreement about royalties owed.
Hi all,
The well-known authors who’ve been paid are Alan Dean Foster, James Kahn, and Donald F. Glut – we’ve named them before, particularly in this press release from May. Other creators who are still waiting to be paid and been public about their involvement include Walter Jon Williams and the estate of A.C. Crispin – there are more, but we promise authors anonymity when reporting their circumstances to us, so we are not sharing other names at this time.
Also, just a clarification that the previous commenter is correct, it was Alan Dean Foster, not David Gerrold, who first brought this issue to the attention of SFWA’s Griefcom, which ultimately led to the creation of the #DisneyMustPay Task Force.
And thanks for the correction on Tess Gerritsen’s name – not sure how that one slipped past us this time!
Rebecca Gomez Farrell – SFWA Communications Manager
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