Jed Weintrob Candidates Night Statement - September 2, 2009

NOTE: this isn't an exact transcript of what I said, but is pretty much what I said, based on the notes I had in my hand when I spoke. And, if you're a WGAw member, for more of my WGAw-related musings, please check me out on writeraction.com:

Hi, I’m Jed Weintrob, and apparently I’ve become known as one of the “New Media Guys,” here. Which, given the average length of New Media programming, means I shouldn’t have any problem keeping this speech at less than 3 minutes.

I actually work primarily in independent features and cable television, and most recently, in new media. But in a past life I was a video game and interactive media entrepreneur and executive. I helped draft the first guild interactive contract in the business in 1993, and stayed very much on top of that landscape first as the head of a studio interactive division, then as a consultant, and for the past decade, as a writer, director and creator.

Since you are all obviously extremely engaged members, I’m going to assume that you’ve alredy read my statement and talk for a minute about what my long-term goals for the Guild would be if I get elected.

As you are all aware, digital media has brought our industry to the brink of a seismic shift in the way our stories are distributed. Everyone is scared, but the GOOD NEWS is that as storytellers, our audiences now have more devices in more locations on which they watch more hours of our programming every day than ever before.

As a board member, I would like to see the formation of an Intra-guild New Media Working Group made up of members from all of our sister unions and from management at both the studio and production company levels.

Silicon valley changes extremely quickly, and since we live in a world of pattern bargaining, I believe that it’s imperative that we are negotiating from a common base of understanding with our sister guids, and yes, even on the same page with management facts-and-figures –wise. This isn’t to say that we always need to agree on priorities, but getting our facts and approach to new media in line would be a big step in the right direction, and would also help strengthen and rebuild our bonds with our sister guilds.

I'd also like to see growth on the following four fronts:

1) Growth in the Number of JOBS for WGA members

2) Growth in the Size of the WGA Membership, as we organize new platforms and genres under the MBA. Not only will the growth of our membership give us more clout, it will also help open up new work opportunities for existing WGA members, which addresses my first point about growth in jobs for us all.

3) Growth in the Number of WGA members who are covered under WGA health insurance year after year (this is barring Obama pushing something incredible through Congress)

4) Growth in the Number of years we go without striking

I’ve always operated as an independent, and as you’re well aware, the next two years will be extremely important for the guild. I think we need smart, ethical people with unique points of view who will bring independent, analytical thinking to the issues at hand, which in this case include the upcoming 2011 negotiations.

I hope that you’ll choose me to help represent you as we move forward together

Thank you.