ASA Mission Statement The American Screenwriters Association™ (ASA) is the world's leading professional association organized for educational purposes, including the promotion and encouragement of the art and craft of screenwriting. A non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, ASA is committed to the international support and advancement of screenwriters. We welcome interested individuals from around the world who are pursuing the writing of documentaries, educational films, feature films, television, new media and even large screen format (Omnimax ™, IMAX ™) films. ASA exists to serve the largest, most under-represented writer's population today...the hundreds of thousands of screenwriters who are diligently working to write and sell their film and television scripts, or are currently working in film or television and looking to advance their careers.  Today, the American Screenwriters Association has an international membership of more than 40,000 members located throughout the United States, Europe, the Pacific and the Middle East in 41 countries and 2000+ cities! We accomplish our mission by providing writers with practical resources, networking opportunities, and services and programs that enhance their skills. We have worked, and will continue to work, with many of the leading screenwriters and industry professionals including Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Big, Dave, Pleasantville), Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, An American President, A Few Good Men, Sports Night), Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout), Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot (Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek, The Mask of Zorro, Aladdin), Syd Field, Linda Seger, Michael Hauge, Lew Hunter, Richard Walter and too many more to name here. Finally, we believe that screenwriters should be committed to the advancement of the art and craft of screenwriting and their screenwriting skills, as well as the improvement of the community at large through their writings and personal activities.

To Become A Member of ASA
To become a member of ASA, all you need to do is complete a membership application and pay your annual dues. Wee have no set criteria (production points, scripts written, etc.) on becoming a member.
 

Writers Guild of America (WGA)

ASA (nor anyone else for that matter) should not be confused with the Writers Guild of America (WGA). The WGA is a labor union that represents more than 8,500 professional writers who create your favorite films and television programs. The WGA traditionally is involved with contract negotiations with producers and studios on behalf of all writers. 

ASA is not a competitor of the WGA. The WGA achieves its goals through contract negotiations and advanced educational initiatives for writers currently in the Guild. ASA accomplishes its mission through educating and empowering screenwriters to the point they are working professionally and can obtain membership in the WGA, or are currently in the WGA but want to advance their careers. There are more than 350,000 estimated screenwriters in the world, and since only 8,500 are in the WGA and half of those are working at any given time, you can see why a professional organization like the American Screenwriters Association is greatly needed.
 

Guild Membership

To become a member of the Guild, an aggregate of twenty-four (24) units of Credit as set forth on the Schedule of  Units of Credit, which units are based upon work completed under contract of employment or upon the sale or licensing of previously unpublished and unproduced literary or dramatic material is required. Said employment, sale or licensing must be with a company or other entity that is signatory to the applicable WGA Collective Bargaining Agreement and must be within the jurisdiction of the Guild as provided in its collective bargaining contracts. The twenty-four (24) units must be accumulated within the preceding three (3) years of application. 

To Contact the WGA

WGA West
7000 West Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323- 951-4000 (within Southern California)
800-548-4532 (outside Southern California)
www.wga.org

WGA East
555 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
212-767-7800
www.wgaeast.org