It is impossible to state or truly assess the effect of the WGA Writer’s Strike of this past year. Current members of the guild sacrificed their livelihoods to redefine and preserve what it means to be a professional screenwriter. The hundreds of thousands of aspiring writers who Coverfly support, educate, and serve, saw, with unprecedented transparency, the financial realities and challenges professional writers face beyond which words go on the page. We undoubtedly exist in a different film industry than we did in May of 2023, much less in February of 2020.
With the release of our List of Lists every December, we usually celebrate the successes and accomplishments of the preceding calendar year. While there was much to be proud of in the last twelve months, such a reflection did not feel appropriate for 2023. Instead, we wanted to take this time and this forum to reflect on the sacrifices that brought us here and look ahead to a more equitable future in 2024 and beyond.
Through the trials of the strike, writers emerged with historic wins: wage increases, room minimums, second step payments for feature writers, better residuals for career sustainability, and protections against artificial intelligence. While the gap between the ending of the WGA and SAG strikes delayed a full-fledged return to work, the industry seems poised to hit the ground running in a new frontier next year.
To coincide with the release of the 2023 List of Lists, we reached out to writers featured on previous years' lists to share their perspective, wisdom, experience, and cause for optimism ahead.
"I've been so inspired by the awesome and supportive community of writers, artists, and people who want a bright future for this industry -- I've got high hopes for 2024. Looking forward to hearing about all of the new projects and stories and art people are working on. A major highlight for me will be writing and directing a new short horror film. I love working on a set and getting to collaborate with a team, so I'm excited to hopefully be filming something in the new year."
— Maria Wilson
"I’m evolving and maturing as a writer. I can feel it! My writing goals continue to shift a bit more towards moving the needle on representation for my community, and elevating those topics that are considered taboo, with the intention of educating and enlightening, while entertaining of course."
— Rachel Strauss Muniz
"Oftentimes when it comes to writing and being stuck, it's due to what immediately comes next. The key is to always write what you can see. The order can be sussed out at any time."
— Jill Robi
"Whether a script is “good or bad” is subjective, and personally, the wrong line of thinking. Most people writing at this level know how to craft story. More often than not, the ability to “make” your work is dependent upon finding people in the industry with the connections and power that also distinctly resonate with you and/or the work you’ve presented them with. That’s a planet-aligning event and then you need a multitude more planet-aligning events to happen. That’s independent of talent and skill."
— Xavier Burgin
"The strike offered me an opportunity to reconnect with my process as a writer. With the business aspect of show business on hold—no generals, no pitches, no lunches—I could focus on the writing. Though I am sure I will annoy many other writers by saying this, 2023 was one of my most productive years in terms of pure writing."
— Brenden Gallagher
" In the midst of an existential industry crisis, our collective ability to come together and find/build community. It was difficult maintaining the creative engine in the midst of so much uncertainty and turmoil, but because of that community I was able to still be somewhat productive. And we fought for the health of our profession and won."
— Jai Jamison