By Gene Maddaus
Plus IconGene Maddaus
Senior Media Writer
@GeneMaddaus See All
John August, left, Michele Mulroney and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel Getty Images Writing careers in film and TV are uneven. A lucrative year can be followed by a year with no work at all, or at least, no paid work.
Residuals are one way that writers sustain themselves. And since 2000, the Writers Guild of America has also had a “points” system that allows them to maintain health coverage when they’re not employed.
“You can afford to take a year or two where you’re not necessarily bringing in current money, but you’re creating potential new shows, and in that time you don’t have to take a lesser job,” said Daniel Petrie, Jr., who was president of WGA West when the benefit was first negotiated. “It’s very hard to move up if everybody has to take whatever job they can get in whatever year in order to adequately protect their family.”
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