WGA East Elects Lisa Takeuchi Cullen as Its New President

The Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members have elected Lisa Takeuchi Cullen as its new president. Cullen, who was an unopposed candidate for the posititon, takes over for outgoing president Michael Winship, who introduced his choice to not search reelection of his longtime put up over the summer time.

“I’m honored to change into the subsequent President of the Writers Guild of America East,” Takeuchi Cullen mentioned in a press release. “Even once we negotiate a good take care of the Hollywood studios — and it’s a when, not an if — I do know the struggle shouldn’t be over. The struggle continues for all of our members, TV and screenwriters in addition to journalists and podcasters, to attain compensation commensurate to the worth of our vital work. The struggle continues for all staff to earn a lifetime of dignity. The struggle continues for all labor to place human rights over company income. As the primary particular person of coloration and third lady to guide our 69-year-old union, I’ll proceed my career-long push for extra fairness and alternatives amongst all storytellers. That’s, in spite of everything, what we’re. Our tales matter. Our work issues. And I’ll struggle like hell to verify nobody tells us in any other case.”

Along with electing Takeuchi Cullen president, as a part of its 2023 council election, the WGA East has re-elected Christopher Kyle to secretary-treasurer; Erica Saleh has been elected vice chairman of the Movie/Tv/Streaming sector; and Sofia Alvarez, Josh Gondelman, Liz Hynes, Greg Iwinski, Sarah Montana and Sasha Stewart had been elected to serve on the Movie/TV/Streaming members council. Moreover, Caitlin Cruz, Sie Morley and Samantha Smylie had been elected to the On-line Media members council. There have been no open seats within the Broadcast/Cable/Streaming Information council.

Kyle, Gondelman, Hynes, Iwinski, Stewart and Cruz are all incumbents re-elected to their positions. Saleh, who at present serves on the Movie/Tv/Streaming council, will vacate her council seat at mid-term. Per WGAE guidelines, the officers and council members in the identical sector can select to fill the emptiness with “both the unsuccessful candidate from that work sector who acquired probably the most votes within the earlier election or one other eligible member in the identical work sector.” WGAE says the choice on that place will probably be made within the close to future.

WGAE council members who’re at present serving with one 12 months left of their time period embody: Movie/Tv/Streaming sector’s Monica Lee Bellais, Kaitlin Fontana, Gina Gionfriddo, Tian Jun Gu and A.M. Properties; On-line Media sector’s vice chairman Sara David, Susan Rinkunas and Jessica Schulberg; the Broadcast/Cable/Streaming Information sector’s vice chairman Kathy McGee, Justin Raffael DiLauro, Elizabeth Godvik and Gail Lee.

Per the WGA East, “Votes had been solid by 13.3% of complete eligible voters (7,166) for President and Secretary-Treasurer. In Movie/TV/Streaming, votes had been solid by 19.1% of eligible voters (4,183). In On-line Media, votes had been solid by 7.5% of eligible voters (2,012). In Broadcast/Cable/Streaming Information, votes had been solid by 8.03% of eligible voters (971).”