Screenwriting : Registering with WGA, worth it? by Hardy Awadjie

Thanks for that Jacqueline.

There are quite a few studios that ask for the WGA number of the script in the submission. My advice would be to do both.

I would do WGA. People will want that.

good call. thanks for the advice everyone.

Let's put it this way, do you value your work? Did you work hard to develop it? Would you be upset if someone else produced it and called it their own? Well then, you know the answer!

Always register your work, better safe than sorry. WGA is the industry standard and cheaper than the LOC. Some people do both, I know one screenwriter who registers with both and then mails a copy to of the script to himself. He's so paranoid he still barely puts any of his work out for anyone to see.

Yes, I've also been told the poor man's way of copyrighting is not sufficient enough. So my best bet is to just register with WGA and LOC with notion of better to be safe than sorry. Thanks for all the advice thus far.

Do you register finished works with the WGA and LOC or are unfinished edits ok? As in, if I finish a first draft for a script, should I register that right away or wait until the draft is absolutely finished and ready for shooting before registering?

Hardy, this is a personal choice. Registration costs money and if you register every draft you might as well save the money and make the film instead! However, if there are significant changes between drafts and you add something dramatically new or the essential idea changes then it may be worth a re-registration. But if the core concept/theme/plot/idea remains the same... save your money.

Registering is all about sharing. If you plan on sharing something, then register. For concepts, I wouldn't recommend sharing because if someone decides to cut you out, it turns into a race as to who can complete the script first, It would be hard to win a case based on concept. For screenplays, if the first draft is what you plan to shop, then register. If you get interest and are asked to do revisions that significantly alter the previous script, reregister before you share it again. Just my two cents.