Katie Buckland has been experiencing a lot of firsts lately as the executive director of theWriters Guild Foundation.
We never figured it out.
Theres also some studio funding for a screenwriting program we run for veterans.
Katie Buckland, executive director, The Writers Guild FoundationCourtesy
We cannot give you the money that we had promised you.
So it was kind of a tough day at work.
Eventually, Buckland had to dip into the foundations savings to cover payroll for her eight staffers.
Weve never had to do that, admits Buckland.
Its the first time weve ever had to use our emergency savings account for operating expenses.
I have never worried about money the way that Im worrying now.
How to do that?
By reminding everyone of the foundations popular programs and the difference they make in Hollywood.
The positions of script coordinators and writers assistants are a way in the door.
The first time we opened up the very first class in 2021, it crashed our servers.
We had something like 2,200 applications in 2021.
Its essentially a writing competition.
Theyre amazing writers, and several of them have already been staffed on TV shows.
So its a really effective pipeline program.
The foundation also maintains an extensive script library that also serves as a place for writers to work.
For more information about the foundation,click here.
