I've changed my profile picture to show solidarity with the WGA in their dealings with ATA. I encourage all writers here to do the same!
"Agents work for writers, not the other way around. The people who are supposed to be looking out for writers' best interests should not be placing their own interests, financial or otherwise, above those of their clients." ~Mike Sweeny
Agent don't work for writers they represent them in order to make money.
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The way I understand it, from several people who know better than I, agents used to be the ones who helped writers find work. Nowadays they generally just swoop in when a deal is ready to be signed. It's the managers who are helping writers find gigs and sell specs.
Maybe this action by the WGA will help change that.
So is this the fall of the agent and rise of the manager?
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Dan Guardino i have to disagree with your assessment. If I am paying you or anyone, you work for me. The job I am paying you for is to represent me. Without me an agent has no power. This is obvious as the minute that are sacked they have nothing to fall back on. Their power is their access to writers and not the other way around.
The WGA did a survey of their members last year and 70% of their members found their work without any agent involvement.
This is a substance over form argument. The agents are phrasing things in terms to support their argument, but the facts and logic do not support their inferences.
Craig. Agents are in high demand so if a screenwriter dumps them em they'll just pick up the phone and their agent. I wasn't planning on firing my agent so I really haven't been following what is going on.
Dan, I view an agent similar to a car salesman who is working to get the best deal for everyone involved. There may need to be less win-lose and more win-win.
Cumberlain. Managers aren’t regulated so they can do whatever they want to do so I guess they can screw their clients if they want. Agents are regulated so they can’t screw their clients even if they wanted to.
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The sad reality: