Printable PDF verion - Writers Guild of Canada

ARTICLE A6 – SPECULATIVE WRITING, SAMPLE PAGES ANDUNSOLICITED SCRIPTSA601 There shall be no speculative writing and therefore no Producer may requirea Writer to submit Script Material without a written contract.A602 The Producer and the Guild recognize that there may be an area where theproper and constructive exchange of ideas and criticism between a Writerand a Producer may be claimed by the Guild to be speculative writing.Whenever the Guild feels that speculative writing has occurred, the casewill be referred to the grievance procedure and the Producer’s intent asdetermined by the facts shall be an important factor in the consideration. Inthis connection, nothing in this Article shall limit the submission of originalstories or prevent the Producer from discussing with any Writer any ideassuggested by such Writer, or discussing with any Writer any ideas or anymaterial suggested by the Producer in order to determine the Writer’sthoughts and reactions with respect to any such idea or other material todetermine the Writer’s suitability for an assignment, provided, however, thatany such discussion relating to an assignment shall be subject to theprovisions of Article A603.A603 A Writer’s initial interview with the Producer concerning engagement inconnection with an assignment may only be with:i) a person authorized to make a commitment to the Writer; orii) a person designated by the Producer to interview Writers with regardto the particular project under consideration.Unless a commitment was made by the Producer in such initial interview, asecond interview by the Writer with the Producer concerning the sameassignment may only be with a person authorized to make a commitment tothe Writer. In no event may a third interview between the Writer andProducer take place concerning such assignment, nor may the Producerrequest the Writer to render any writing services, unless a firm agreementhas been arrived at between the Writer and Producer as to terms andconditions of engagement prior to the third meeting or the request to renderwriting services. As used in this Article, the term “a person authorized tomake a commitment to the Writer”, shall mean a person who is empoweredto make, subject to the negotiation of mutually acceptable terms andconditions, the final creative decision to engage a Writer for an assignment.23