Cons of joining WGA

[NoTalentAssClown]

I've read that many established screenwriters are not part of the WGA. Industry folks have told me not to join the WGA and I don't know exactly why...

I used to intern for a production company and have been on set, so I know that it's almost impossible for actors to progress in their career w/o joining SAG, but I'm not quite sure why and how writer's DON'T join the WGA.

What are the cons of joining? What are the pros? Do the benefits of the pros outweigh the cons? It seems like it doesn't...

 

[kiyong]

you actually CAN'T join the wga until you've sold a feature or sold several tv scripts. reality tv people can't join because reality refuses to work with the wga. daytime animation writers have to go through the animation guild, but primetime animation writers can join the wga.

the wga has good health benefits, but more importantly, they keep track of your work and get you your royalties. if you want to write feature films for hollywood, or write for tv (that isn't reality tv), then you will join the wga. you will have to actually, but again, only after you sell something.

 

[Batutta]

Conventional wisdom is that by joining too early in your career, you will miss out on smaller, independent projects by non signatory companies. These are typically the jobs you'll get as a starting writer.