Programme

Day 1
Day 2

Day Two: Stories of Power

Time & Date

October 3, 2024
09:00 – 19:00

Venue

The g Hotel & Spa

Address

Wellpark, The Old Dublin Road,
Galway City,
H91 V0HR

Contact

+353 (0) 91 865 200
https://www.theghotel.ie/

Please note this programme is subject to change.

October 3rd

09:00 – 11:15

FSE/IAWG Joint Leadership Meeting
10:15 – 12:15

Networking Coffee Morning An opportunity to network with your fellow writers and with producers from the Irish Industry.
Sponsored by the National Talent Academy
12:15 – 13:15
Globalising Screen Industries: Balancing Inward Production and Domestic Screenwriting Talent This panel delves into the dynamics of globalised production and the implications for screenwriters worldwide. As the influx of inward production persists, often sidelining domestic writing talent, we examine the risks inherent in developing an industry heavily reliant on external service productions and share strategies to encourage more domestic projects.
Speakers
13:15 – 14:15

LUNCH
14:15 – 15:15
In Conversation with the WGA East and WGA West We take a deep dive into the organisation of last years WGA negotiations and strike. Followed by a Q&A.
Speakers
15:15 – 16:15
Roddy Who? A Commitment to Credits This panel explores how credits for screenwriters and producers diverge in different territories. We will analyze why showrunners sometimes belong in one category and sometimes in the other, and yet it’s still not a recognized credit, how much the “created by” credit matters, who’s getting it, and the value of a global standard for credits.
Speakers
16:15 – 16:30

Coffee break
16:30 – 17:30
Artificial Intelligence A conversation on what’s being done to protect screenwriters, and what we need to do next.
Speakers
17:30 – 18:00
KEYNOTE SPEECH: The Future is Unwritten
Speakers
- Laura Slattery
- Terry George
18:00 – 18:20

CLOSING REMARKS & RESOLUTION
19:00

Closing Party – St Nicholas Church

Alice Shearman

Alice Shearman is an influential leader with over two decades of experience in the screen and creative industries. Currently serving as the Executive Director of the New Zealand Writers Guild (NZWG) she has been instrumental in advancing the interests of scriptwriters across Aotearoa. Her previous roles include Senior Agent at Karen Kay Management, where she represented top tier actors and screenwriters, and Deputy Chair of Film Auckland Inc, where she championed the needs of Auckland’s screen sector. Alice’s governance experience is vast, including her position as Co-Chair of Toi Mai WDC, focusing on workforce development needs in the creative and cultural sectors.

Rachel Kilfeather

Rachel Kilfeather has written over 100 hours of produced television. She began her writing career in Children’s TV on such programs as: Little Roy (CBBC); Custer’s Last Stand-Up (RTÉ/BBC); and Foreign Exchange (RTÉ). She then moved on to Adult Drama, getting her break on the sitcom The Cassidys (RTÉ). She was a core writer on a variety of long-running series including: Hollyoaks (Channel 4); Red Rock (Virgin Media); and Fair City (RTÉ). Recent work includes Episode Writer on: King and Conqueror (CBS); Small Town Big Story (Sky Atlantic); and Lead Writer/Co-Executive Producer on Season 3 of Vikings: Valhalla (Netflix).

Gabor Krigler

Gabor’s career began on the writing staff of a daily serial at the Australian-German firm Grundy UFA in 1999. He became a Creative Executive at the Budapest office of HBO Europe in 2010. In 2019, Gabor founded his own company, Joyrider, to create and develop high-end scripted content for the international market. Besides working for hire as a writer-producer and managing the Joyrider slate, Gabor is also Head of Studies at the series-related programs of the Midpoint Institute, a guest tutor at various international drama series workshops, and does project consulting and story editing worldwide.

Bruce M. Smith

Bruce M. Smith was the Creator and Showrunner of Street Legal on CBC. He was previously Showrunner of CTV’s award-winning 19-2 for its four-season run, and for Cracked (CBC). Bruce has worked as a Writer/Producer on numerous dramas, including Durham County (HBO Canada) and Departure season 3. Bruce has also penned multiple award-winning MOWs and Mini-Series including: John A: Birth of a Country; The Sleep Room; Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story (all CBC); and The Investigation (CTV). Bruce is the President of the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC).

Lesley Gannon

Lesley Gannon is Deputy General Secretary of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) a UK trade union representing professional writers in TV, film, theatre, radio, books, comedy, poetry, animation and videogames. As Deputy General Secretary, Lesley plays a key role in the negotiation and implementation of WGGB national agreements. She leads on WGGB research and policy and oversees other core areas of the union’s work. She represents WGGB in the UK and abroad, and deputises for the General Secretary.

Josep Gatell

A screenwriter since 2005, Josep has written both feature films and TV series. His latest credits include: Consulting Producer for Mentiras Pasajeras (El Deseo); the scripts of the feature films It’s For Your Own Good; Undercover Wedding Crashers; and Tad the Lost Explorer: the Emerald Tablet. He was Executive Producer and Co-Showrunner with Teresa de Rosendo on the second season of El Vecino for Netflix, and also co-wrote the book Target: Writers Room with Teresa. Josep is a board member and Vice President of the Spanish Writers Guild ALMA.

David Goodman

David A. Goodman began his writing career as a Staff Writer on The Golden Girls, and has since written for over 20 television series, including serving as Showrunner/Executive Producer for Family Guy, and the upcoming Hysteria!. His film Honor Society won the 2023 WGA Award for best TV and New Media Motion Picture. David served on the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) Board of Directors from 2006-2014, was Vice President from 2015-2017, and President from 2017-2021. As President, he led the successful struggle to eliminate talent agency packaging fees. In 2023, he was co-chair of the WGA Negotiating Committee during the Guild’s strike.

Meredith Stiehm

Meredith Stiehm has been a Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) member since 1994, and served on the Board of Directors for six years before becoming WGAW President in 2021, leading Guild members through the 2023 writers’ strike. She was a Writer and Executive Producer of Homeland (Showtime) for five years – winning the Emmy, Golden Globe, Writers Guild, and Peabody Awards for drama series. Meredith was also the Co-Creator and Executive Producer of The Bridge (FX), winner of a 2013 Peabody Award, and Creator and Executive Producer of the drama series Cold Case, which ran for seven years on CBS.

Chris Keyser

For more than 25 years, Chris Keyser has been the Creator, Showrunner, and Executive Producer of numerous television series. He began, in 1994, by creating (along with his partner, Amy Lippman) the show Party of Five, which ran for six years on Fox and won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama. From 2011-2015 he served as President of the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW). He was also the co-chair of the 2023 WGA Negotiating Committee, and co-chair of the Agency Campaign Negotiating Committee.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is President of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE). She is the first person of color and the third woman to serve in the role. For founding the WGAE’s Salon network of affinity groups and co-chairing its Committee for Inclusion and Equity, Lisa was awarded the 2020 Richard B. Jablow Award. She has developed a dozen drama pilots for Apple, Netflix, ABC, NBC, CBS, Universal Studios, A&E and Warner Bros, and has served as a Writer/Producer on shows including The Endgame and Law & Order: SVU.

Denis Goulette

Holding a Master’s degree in Intellectual Property, Denis Goulette has worked for 20 years in the media and cultural sectors. As the head of La Guilde Française des Scénaristes for four years, Denis deepened his understanding of the various issues related to authors’ rights and the vulnerabilities creators face in the industry. Founder of the Cabinet Avocat-DG law firm, he now brings his expertise as a lawyer in contractual law to clients, mainly artists-authors and professional organizations. In this capacity, he is the General Delegate of the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE).

Barbara Petronio

Barbara Petronio is an Italian creator, writer and executive producer and her production company, Bullet Point, was recently launched to develop English and Italian language international scripted programming. Most recently she created the upcoming TV series Uonderbois (Wonderboys) shot in Naples, Italy, and launching on Disney+ in 2024. She also co-created and was the Head Writer on Subarra, a crime drama set in Rome based on the novel of the same name. Barbara has worked as a screenwriter for over 15 years, creating and writing dozens of shows including the iconic TV series Romanzo Criminale (Seasons 1 and 2), and Devils for Sky.

Emma Reeves

Chair of the Writers Guild of Great Britain (WGGB), Emma’s TV credits include: The Beaker Girls and My Mum Tracy Beaker (Lead Writer); the 2019 revival of  The Demon Headmaster (Lead Writer); The Worst Witch (Lead Writer); three seasons of  Eve (Lead Writer and Co-Creator); episodes of  The Dumping Ground, Hetty Feather, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Young Dracula, Doctors, Belonging, and the upcoming show  The Hardacres for Channel 5. Her stage credits include the Olivier Award winning adaptation of  The Worst Witch and Hetty Feather (Olivier nominated and CAMEO Award winner). Audio work includes episodes of Big Finish’s Doctor Who and Torchwood Ranges. She has twice been nominated for BAFTA awards.

Betsy Thomas

Betsy grew up in Michigan and moved to Los Angeles with a used typewriter and no idea what the hell she would do. She landed her first television job on My So-Called Life. Shortly after she moved to half-hour comedy with creating Then Came You (ABC), Run of the House (WB), and My Boys (TBS), which also began her directing career. She is currently writing two comedy pilots, one for ABC and one for MGM+. Secretary Treasurer of the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) since 2021, Betsy served on the 2018 AMBA Negotiating Committee and was co-chair of the 2020 MBA Negotiating Committee. She is chair of the Membership & Finance Committee and oversees the strike relief funds and other writers’ assistance funding. She also serves on the WGAW Awards Committee and the WGA PAC committee.

Marcus Seibert

Marcus Seibert is chairman of Deutscher Drehbuchverband (DDV–the German Writers Guild) after being part of the K18-Movement. He works mostly as screenwriter for cinema and series, and also in development. He studied Philosphy, and came to film via writing comical shorts for Children Television and working in Writers’ Rooms for Soap Operas. He then co-developed two still running dailies (Alles was zählt, Rote Rosen) and wrote many episodes for series like Lindenstra ße. His first feature film We Monsters (with Sebastian Ko) was remade by Veena Sud under the title The Lie.

Jennifer Davidson

Chair of the Writers Guild of Ireland (WGI) since 2020, Jennifer writes for Ireland’s national soap opera, Fair City. Since 2023, she is also Chair of the International Affiliation of Writers’ Guilds (IAWG). She is currently developing a Screen Ireland funded original Rom Com series entitled Meet Cute with Wildfire Films, and in 2023 founded her own production company: HeartFelt Drama. Having begun her career in documentaries, her years spent encouraging other people to have their stories told on screen informs her work as a writer. A fierce advocate for Irish writers through her work with the Guild, she has originated and run a wide number of training and development initiatives for new writers.

Dr Abigail Rekas

Dr. Abigail Rekas is a lecturer in law and innovation at the University of Galway. Her research focuses on the intersection of copyright and technology. Recently, she has focused on creativity, authorship and AI, presenting this work to diverse audiences including the Irish Arts Council, television industry groups, and scholarly conferences. She is an attorney, licensed in Massachusetts, and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Galway, a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law, and a BA from the University of Massachusetts.

Ellen Stutzman

Ellen Stutzman is Executive Director the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), a labor union representing more than 10,000 television and film writers. In 2023, she served as the chief negotiator for the Writers Guild of America in its contract talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for an industry-wide agreement. Ms. Stutzman has more than eighteen years of experience at the Guild and holds a B.S. from Cornell University in Industrial and Labor Relations and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Victoria Shen

With a background in labour and human rights law, Victoria Shen is the Executive Director at the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) and the first person of colour to lead the Guild. She was formerly the Special Advisor at the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) and the Director of National Industrial Relations and Counsel at the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). In addition, Victoria has served as Faculty Instructor for the Osgoode Certificate in Entertainment Law, a board member to the Pacific Screenwriting Program, Reelworld Film Institute, and Reel Asian International Film Festival.

David Kavanagh

Before becoming the Executive Officer of the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE), David Kavanagh worked as CEO of the Writers Guild of Ireland (WGI), Film Officer of the Arts Council of Ireland, Chief Executive of the Irish Film Institute and General Secretary of the European Script Fund. He was a Board Member of the Light House Cinema Exhibition and Distribution Company, and is a member of both the Irish Film and Television Academy and the European Film Academy.

Laura Slattery

Laura Slattery is a journalist for The Irish Times. From Dublin, she has been the newspaper’s media columnist since 2011 and she regularly writes about the screen industry as part of her work for the title.

Terry George

Terry’s first play, The Tunnel, was staged at the Irish Arts Center in New York in 1986, the first of numerous collaborations with writer/director Jim Sheridan. In 1992, George and Sheridan wrote In the Name of the Father, nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Screenplay. Since then, he has written and/or directed numerous feature films including: The Boxer; A Bright Shining Lie; Hart’s War; Reservation Road; The Promise; and Hotel Rwanda. Television credits include The District and HBO’s Luck. Terry has been a Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) member since 1992, served for several years on the WGAE council and was part of the WGA negotiating team during the 2007 contract strike.

Programme

October 3rd

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