The BAFTA TV Writer Award

01 July 2011
Posted in TV



By Gail Renard, Chair of the WGGB Television Committee

Let me start by saying I have every respect for BAFTA. I’m a member and also a proud BAFTA Award winner and, if I could, I’d use the picture from that moment as my passport photo.

But writers have been coming to the Guild with a grievance. It's been a concern that, for the past few years, BAFTA has shifted the Writer Award to their Craft Awards, which is no longer a part of their main televised Television Awards.

Added to that, BAFTA only give one award for writers, covering wildly different genres. In this year’s category were the one-off Eric And Ernie; comedy series Getting On and The Inbetweeners, as well as the dramatic mini-series, Five Daughters. These shows are all superb and award-worthy in their own ways, but how can one possibly (and fairly) compare televisual chalk and cheese?

Over the past two years, the Guild’s Television Committee has written to BAFTA on several occasions asking them to reconsider. Our requests have been sadly refused. In answer to our members’ continuing pleas, the TV Committee proposed a motion which was passed unanimously last week: 'The AGM would respectfully ask BAFTA to reinstate writers as part of the main awards, where they clearly belong. The writer is the creator of any work.'

We also asked BAFTA for separate comedy and drama awards for writers; as there already are for actors and every indeed other category.

As ever, let’s remind the world that without writers, there’d be no shows. We start with a blank
page, often without pay at first, sometimes developing a project for years. We create something out of nothing. We’re there at the start as the creators; an integral part of the production. We should bethere at the end as well, getting honoured alongside our peers who wouldn’t be there, but for our work.

Let’s all join together and ask BAFTA to please reinstate the writers' awards in their main ceremony and to have separate comedy and drama awards for writers. And remember, despite rumours to the contrary, that writers are highly photogenic. 

Comments  

 
+5 #1 JS 2011-07-01 15:51
Maybe they'd be more amenable to the idea if writers agreed to sit seperately and screened from view so they don't remind the actors they did not make it up themselves as they went along and the producers/directors were'nt the sole creative force behind the project.. Ooh Missus. Did I say that? Never mind, my audience is my award
Quote
 
 
0 #2 HW 2011-07-08 14:57
"Let’s all join together and ask BAFTA to please reinstate the writers' awards..."
How do we join together? Please let us know to whom at Bafta you'd like us to address our comments/pleas. We need an address we can tweet, put on facebook etc.
Quote
 
 
0 #3 Gail Renard 2011-07-08 18:21
The Guild will be writing to BAFTA to express our views. Meanwhile BAFTA can be found on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/bafta

And on Twitter: @Bafta

Or at

195 Piccadilly
London W1V 0LN

You could also organise a petition. Let us know if you do.
Quote
 
 
0 #4 Gail Renard 2011-07-08 18:22
Sorry. That should be: www.facebook.com/bafta
Quote
 
 
0 #5 Simon Le Boggit 2011-07-09 10:05
How much respect did Bafta show to writers when it relegated them to the backwaters of the craft awards? Perhaps it's time the Writers' Guild stopped pussyfooting with Bafta, and called for a boycott of the Bafta Lip-service awards.
Quote
 
 
+1 #6 Graham Lester George 2011-07-15 17:10
As a Bafta member who is a writer, I feel let down that our Academy reinforces the arrogant, director-centric view that the writer's contribution is somehow the lesser one. Remember what happened when writers put down their pens for the WGA strike; the directors were left sitting on their thumbs with nothing to make and Hollywood haemorrhaged millions and millions of dollars
Quote
 
 
0 #7 sudafed 2011-07-15 18:00
Why aren't you organising a petition? have some guts, don't allow us to be sidelined in this way
Quote
 
 
0 #8 Graham Lester George 2011-07-16 00:06
I find it curious that someone who hides behind a pseudonym exhorts me to "have some guts". If you don't have the courage to reveal who you are, then your exhortations ring very hollow.
Quote
 
 
0 #9 trisha hopkins 2011-07-16 06:49
Petitions are about as much use as a chocolate teapot. Go viral and get all writers to bombard DAFTA with individual protest, get on to all the other writers that you know and get them to write in. I've just sent a very snotty e.mail to the deluded folk in Piccadilly might I suggest that you lot stop sniping at each other and do the same.
Come on Gail - get this shower of slackers organised!
Quote
 
 
0 #10 Gail Renard 2011-07-16 07:00
Thanks for your display of confidence, Trisha! Can we please concentrate on the real problem, which is getting Bafta to acknowledge writers at their awards in a professional and respectful manner. Arguing amongst us isn't productive.

The WGGB is contacting Bafta officially and it's only polite to wait for an reply. As ever, we'll report that message back. If the problem's solved; then hurrahs all around. If it isn't, we can all think about a next step. As ever, can I remind us all that the Guild is run by its members... and I'm a writer with deadlines too. But, as ever, all together, we'll make a difference!
Quote
 

Add comment


Security code
Refresh