Rose Ferrell Our inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for Service to Screenwriting Research goes to Dr Tom Stempel, Professor Emeritus at Los Angeles City College, presented at the Annual General Meeting at the 15th Annual Conference held in Columbia, Missouri, USA. Presented on 22nd September, 2023.
The Screenwriting Research Network has recently conducted a survey of its members to gather information about their local professional screenwriting organization. The following list is compiled from the answers given. If your organization is not listed, please feel free to contact the Website Coordinator within the Executive Council to request that it is added.
| Country or Region | Name of Screenwriting Labour Organization |
| Australia | Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG) Link here. |
| Belgium, Flanders | Scenaristengilde ( Link here) & Association des Scénaristes de l’Audiovisuel (ASA) Link here. |
| Brazil | Associação Brasileira de Autores Roteiristas (ABRA) Link here. |
| Canada | Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) Link here. |
| China | China Central Academy of Drama (through the academic journal) Link here. |
| Czech Republic | Association of Czech Film Directors, Screenwriters and Script Editors Link here. |
| Denmark | Dramatiker Forbundet – Dramatist’s Union Link here. |
| England | Writer’s Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) Link here. |
| France | la Guilde française des scénaristes Link here. |
| Germany | Deutscher Drehbuch Verband/DDV Link here. |
| India | The Screenwriters Association (SWA) Link here. |
| Ireland | Writers Guild of Ireland Link here. |
| Israel | Screenwriters Guild of Israel Link here. |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Writers Guild Link here. |
| Portugal | APAD – Associação Portuguesa de Argumentistas e Dramaturgos Link here. |
| South Africa | Writers Guild of South Africa (WGSA) Link here. |
| Spain | Sindicato de guionistas ALMA Link here. | Foro de Asociaciones de Guionistas Audio Link here. |
| Sweden | Dramatikerförbundet – Writers Guild of Sweden Link here. |
| USA | WGAW (Writers Guild of America West) Link here. | WGAE (Writers Guild of America East) Link here. |
| International | International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG) Link here. |
| Europe | Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE) Link here. |
Read the latest SRN Newsletter here.
SRN Executive Council Meeting
MINUTES
Monday, July 17, 2023
Circulation list: Rosanne Welch (RW), Rose Ferrell (RF), Jan Cernik (JC), Isadora Garcia Avis (IGA), Anna Weinstein (AW). ECR Clarissa Miranda (CM)
JC, AW, CM, RF
–on website, newsletter, and listserve
JC – Done via email
JC recommends: Last year I nominated Dina Lordanova. I think she would be suitable candidate this year too. (via email)
Date of next meeting(s): August 21 (Isadora on holiday), September 19 or 20 (In person at SRN2023 – Time TBD)
Read the previous SRN Newsletter here.
MINUTES
Monday 19th June via Zoom
Circulation list: Rosanne Welch (RW), Rose Ferrell (RF), Jan Cernik (JC), Isadora Garcia Avis (IGA), Anna Weinstein (AW). ECR Clarissa Miranda (CM)
–CM and IGA running late
–JC approves, RF seconds
–JC confirms the next newsletter will be in Sept. RW asks whether we want to include info/update on the writers’ strike. RF suggests it could be helpful for international SRN members to learn more about the strike, little coverage in other countries. RW gives overview and history of strike. JC suggests we email listserve to ask for comments from international guilds. RF says she’ll email listserve to ask for the names of international guilds as this information can be challenging for researchers to acquire. RW agrees this will be helpful to include in the repository for researchers.
–RW updates that 2024-2026 conference locations are confirmed. IG reports that she spoke to Armando re Milan for 2027, and he has confirmed interest. RW will correspond with Armando so he can put forward a formal bid/proposal.
–RW updates that she spoke the Tom, Eva, and Carmen and there have been only three article nominations and no book nominations to date. Suggestion to move the deadline to mid-July. All agree this makes sense. RF suggests we add a FB post re the book nominations to encourage submissions. RF also points out new page on the website, could be wise to direct traffic to the new page; book award winners will be commemorated online going forward. Open discussion about English language books having an advantage over books written in other languages. RW will email judges to ask whether they are open to guest judges who can read in other languages to encourage more submissions. If judges agree, RW will email listserve to request volunteer readers in other languages to serve as guest judges in years to come.
–RF reports large base of U.S. subscribers but few who are active members. Also reports significant interest and engagement from subscribers in China. RW reminds RF and all that EC member will draft a few paragraphs to share the AGM meeting in Sept.
–CM reports she was happy to get Kate on board to present at the workshop, date still TBD, but looking at the first two weeks of August. Kate was mentored by Margaret McVeigh in Australia for her PhD, currently living in Australia and working with Disney but originally from Brazil. No new updates about working groups, but she will have more to report for the next meeting.
–AW reports that she hasn’t received any interest about new EC members. She will put out another call to the listserve in early July.
–RF directs EC members to new page on website. All agree it looks great!
–RW reports few registrations to date, expects this is due to availability of travel funding, expecting more later in the summer. RW has already started scheduling, will post the presentation/presenter titles on the website shortly. JC suggests international presenters are scheduled for days 2 and 3 to accommodate for jetlag. RW will revisit the schedule with this in mind.
–RW updates CM that we would like to put out a call on FB for SRN members to self-nominate recent books for book award.
Date of next meeting(s): July 17 (Anna on holiday), August 21 (Isadora on holiday), September 19 or 20 (In person at SRN2023 – Time TBD)
The Executive Council of the Screenwriting Research Network would like to make the following public statement in support of screenwriters and creators with regard to fair remuneration from streaming services worldwide:
The Screenwriting Research Network, along with writers guilds around the world, stands in solidarity with the WGA (Writers Guild of America) in their strike action for fair compensation for writers. The SRN would also like to extend our support to SAG-AFTRA (the Screen Actors Guild + American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) as they begin their work stoppage. We hope for a swift and fair resolution for all workers in these industries.
MINUTES
Monday, May 15, 2023 via Zoom
Circulation list: Rosanne Welch (RW), Rose Ferrell (RF), Jan Cernik (JC), Isadora Garcia Avis (IGA), Anna Weinstein (AW). ECR Clarissa Miranda (CM)
–NA
–JC approves, RW seconds
–RW will send JC recent FB post so he can include in the newsletter. JC reports that he will also include information about the upcoming conference, book awards, recent survey data, and the call for nominations for the EC. AW asks whether we can include a cfp for volumes for the new Screen Storytellers series with Bloomsbury. RW and JC agree. RW asks about JC’s deadline for the next newsletter: May 31.
–IGA reports that we now have 250 respondents, which she shared with the EC via Google Drive. Just a few more new responses since our last meeting. IGA suggests we include a reminder in the next newsletter. JC suggests they include a short interview with IGA about the survey; he will reach out to her.
–CM will organize the first meeting for August, Margaret McVeigh has already agreed to present (how to do applied research with students studying screenwriting). RF and RW agree that August sounds good, though RW won’t be able to attend. RW suggests CM record the Zoom meeting so anyone who can’t attend can access it later.
–AW shares the updated call. IGA and RW approve. AW will send out through the SRN listserve now. Asks whether we should resend closer to Aug deadline as a reminder. RF agrees this would be helpful.
–RF shares that she will create the spot on the website for previous award winners before the next EC meeting. RF gives CM what she thinks is the login/password for FB and said she will search correspondence with Raphael and Paolo to see if she can find it.
–RF updates that she hasn’t received a response from Davinia Thornley and will look to find new contact information.
–RW updates that everything is coming together for the conference, though few registrations to date. She expects this has to do with when travel funding becomes available for faculty. Since SRN members have expressed a desire for more professional panels, she is considering inviting showrunner Jeff Melvoin to do a presentation on showrunning. (He has a new book out.) She is still deciding, however, since the focus of the conference is women in screenwriting. RW updates that there will be an opening night gala, a joint production of screenwriting and fashion program at Stephen’s College, with exhibits of film costumes. Her students are helping to develop the exhibit.
–CM reports that she can create a new Instagram account, but it won’t be connected to FB. She doesn’t have the login and password for FB and would like to have it so she can connect the two accounts. She will try the new login RF suggests. RW and IGA discuss existing Instagram account, not an official account but rather through hashtags. CM will create the new Instagram account through FB. IGA suggests that we have a shorter handle.
RW reports that it’s challenging to get book reviews for JOS. Shares that she makes a book review assignment for her MFA students and publishes the top two or three in JOS, which gives students their first publication. Students must find their own book to review, looking for international publications (in English). AW says this is a terrific idea, she will plan to do the same.
Date of next meeting(s): June 19, same time
