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Australian Writers' Guild AI simulator
(@Australian Writers' Guild_simulator)
Hub AI
Australian Writers' Guild AI simulator
(@Australian Writers' Guild_simulator)
Australian Writers' Guild
The Australian Writers' Guild (AWG) is the professional association for Australian performance writers for film, television, radio, theatre, video, and new media. The AWG was established in 1962, and has conferred the AWGIE Awards since 1968, the Monte Miller Awards since 1972, and the John Hinde Award since 2008.
The Australian Writers' Guild has been representing Australian screenwriters, playwrights, radio writers, comedy writers and digital media writers since 1962. It was created for writers by writers, with the council consisting of members within their respective performative industries. It aims to promote the Australian cultural voice within the arts. The guild recognises through their mission statement that performance writing and performance writers "thrive as a dynamic and integral part of Australian storytelling, shaping, reflecting and enhancing the Australian cultural voice in all its diversity." This is exemplified through AWG's work as a political voice through lobbying the Australian Government on issues such as funding and copyright protection in order to protect Australian content. The AWG is a member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
The AWG is a democratically run association, run by the members of the guild. Each year, the members elect the National Executive Council alongside Branch Committees that represent each Australian state. Membership is an essential aspect of the Guild as they dictate the leadership, action and fund distribution of the association. Shane Brennan, an Australian writer and producer, was elected president of the National Executive Committee in 2019.
As of 2019, The Australian Writers Guild is supported financially by the Australian Film Commission, Screen Australia, Scripted Ink, Film Finance Corporation Australia, Screenwest, Screen NSW, Screenrights, Media Super, and the South Australian Film Corporation. The AWG also receives assistance from the Literature Fund of the Australia Council.
The Guild was founded in March 1962 when a group of 17 radio writers met at the Australia Hotel in Sydney and decided to form a guild to represent their professional interests. It was originally called The Australian Radio, Television and Screenwriters' Guild. Founded on the notions of misrepresentation within Australian society, exceptional underfunding and poor professional treatment, the AWG aimed to aid in these areas. The early 60s also saw an influx of imported media from predominantly the United States and England to Australian Television. This left minimal room for the local market and severely impacted the state of the Australian Media industry. A pivotal moment in societal advancement in switching from predominantly focused radio entertainment to the television, the founders of the guild were determined to ensure Australia was not left behind. The first interim committee comprised Don Houghton, Richard Lane, Ric Aspinall, Kay Keaveney and Lyle Martin.
Nearing the end of 1962, the Australian Writers Guild was officially registered as a Trade Union in New South Wales. This was seen as important because it provided recognition and support from other trade unions within the industry, notably Actors' Equity and the Musicians' Union.
1963 saw the AWG's first industrial dispute over an Australian network offering an unacceptable amount for a script written by Eleanor Witcombe. To quote Gillian Armstrong, a major Australian film director, 'Eleanor was not a self-promoter. She was proud and passionate and dedicated, and truly a great writer'. The Guild's deal encompassed both the entity itself and all reserved rights. Members stood against this cementing the Guilds power within the industry. The dispute was appropriately managed and the writer was appropriately paid. This became the Guild's first successful case in fighting for creators rights.
In 1967 Guild established the AWGIE Awards, with the first event held in 1968. These were presented to performance writers who demonstrated exceptional work within their respective fields. Created by the members, these awards aim to recognise and reward excellence in an extensive list of categories.
Australian Writers' Guild
The Australian Writers' Guild (AWG) is the professional association for Australian performance writers for film, television, radio, theatre, video, and new media. The AWG was established in 1962, and has conferred the AWGIE Awards since 1968, the Monte Miller Awards since 1972, and the John Hinde Award since 2008.
The Australian Writers' Guild has been representing Australian screenwriters, playwrights, radio writers, comedy writers and digital media writers since 1962. It was created for writers by writers, with the council consisting of members within their respective performative industries. It aims to promote the Australian cultural voice within the arts. The guild recognises through their mission statement that performance writing and performance writers "thrive as a dynamic and integral part of Australian storytelling, shaping, reflecting and enhancing the Australian cultural voice in all its diversity." This is exemplified through AWG's work as a political voice through lobbying the Australian Government on issues such as funding and copyright protection in order to protect Australian content. The AWG is a member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
The AWG is a democratically run association, run by the members of the guild. Each year, the members elect the National Executive Council alongside Branch Committees that represent each Australian state. Membership is an essential aspect of the Guild as they dictate the leadership, action and fund distribution of the association. Shane Brennan, an Australian writer and producer, was elected president of the National Executive Committee in 2019.
As of 2019, The Australian Writers Guild is supported financially by the Australian Film Commission, Screen Australia, Scripted Ink, Film Finance Corporation Australia, Screenwest, Screen NSW, Screenrights, Media Super, and the South Australian Film Corporation. The AWG also receives assistance from the Literature Fund of the Australia Council.
The Guild was founded in March 1962 when a group of 17 radio writers met at the Australia Hotel in Sydney and decided to form a guild to represent their professional interests. It was originally called The Australian Radio, Television and Screenwriters' Guild. Founded on the notions of misrepresentation within Australian society, exceptional underfunding and poor professional treatment, the AWG aimed to aid in these areas. The early 60s also saw an influx of imported media from predominantly the United States and England to Australian Television. This left minimal room for the local market and severely impacted the state of the Australian Media industry. A pivotal moment in societal advancement in switching from predominantly focused radio entertainment to the television, the founders of the guild were determined to ensure Australia was not left behind. The first interim committee comprised Don Houghton, Richard Lane, Ric Aspinall, Kay Keaveney and Lyle Martin.
Nearing the end of 1962, the Australian Writers Guild was officially registered as a Trade Union in New South Wales. This was seen as important because it provided recognition and support from other trade unions within the industry, notably Actors' Equity and the Musicians' Union.
1963 saw the AWG's first industrial dispute over an Australian network offering an unacceptable amount for a script written by Eleanor Witcombe. To quote Gillian Armstrong, a major Australian film director, 'Eleanor was not a self-promoter. She was proud and passionate and dedicated, and truly a great writer'. The Guild's deal encompassed both the entity itself and all reserved rights. Members stood against this cementing the Guilds power within the industry. The dispute was appropriately managed and the writer was appropriately paid. This became the Guild's first successful case in fighting for creators rights.
In 1967 Guild established the AWGIE Awards, with the first event held in 1968. These were presented to performance writers who demonstrated exceptional work within their respective fields. Created by the members, these awards aim to recognise and reward excellence in an extensive list of categories.