Screenwriters' issues in spotlight

History was made earlier this week when screenwriting guilds across the world assembled for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds

- CJ Desk

Hosted by the Screenwriters Association (SWA) of India, the landmark meeting was held to discuss the urgent issues screenwriters are facing across the world, including in the Indian entertainment industry.

The AGM covered pressing points of the community, from lack of royalties, faulty contracts, undignified pay and interference of powerful producers to discourage the union from fighting for writers. The members also discussed in-depth the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence on screenwriting and deliberated on forming clear policies and safeguards around its ethical, legal, and practical use in the industry.

A special panel discussion—moderated by Senior Critic & journalist Baradwaj Rangan—was held recently, which was joined by Laura Blum-Smith (Assistant Executive Director, Writers Guild of America West), Jennifer Davidson (Chair of IAWG and of the Writers’ Guild of Ireland), Anjum Rajabali (screenwriter, senior activist of SWA) and Peter Matessi (President Australian Writers Guild, Television Producer).