INDUSTRY 101 EVENT SERIES
Unions 101:
The History and Future of the WGA
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 5-6:30 PM PT | Online
Everything you always wanted to know about unions but have never asked!
Join us for this informational session for a brief history and current work of the Writers Guild of America, the role of committees, what unions do for writers throughout the course of their careers, when writers join, and more.
PANELISTS
Cathy Genovese
Screen Enforcement Specialist/Organizer, Writers Guild of America West
Cathy Genovese joined the Writers Guild of America West in 2015 and has worked in the Member Organizing department over the last ten years. She has primarily worked with Screenwriters during her time at the Guild in such areas as Creative Rights and served as a lead organizer during the 2023 strike. Her current role as Enforcement Specialist/Organizer focuses on handling enforcement issues for theatrical writers. Prior to joining the Guild, Cathy worked in the music industry for many years with songwriters and recording artists.
Taraneh Mansouri
Membership, Writers Guild of America West
Taraneh Mansouri is nine years strong at the WGAW, spending most of her time at the Guild as Coordinator in the Membership Department. Her work is primarily focused on identifying eligible writers, advising and facilitating membership admission. She has a BA in Sociology, concentrating on Social Movements, Politics and International Systems, with an added focus on the study of Peace. She has and been an educator, traveler, human rights advocate, and promotes social justice in all areas of life. Her favorite phrase to be able to type on an email to a writer is “Congratulations!”
Hilary Swett
Archivist, The Writers Guild Foundation
Hilary joined the Writers Guild Foundation in 2014 and works toward the preservation and promotion of WGA history and the craft and business of writing for the screen. She earned a BA in Film Production and worked in a variety of roles in the entertainment industry before completing a Master’s in Library and Information Science at San Jose State University. She is thrilled that she gets to use her combined entertainment and archival knowledge every day to the benefit of writers, historians, movie buffs, and lovers of the written word. When she is not researching obscure vintage TV shows, she is visiting local parks with her husband and preschooler, or trying to get a little more sleep (thanks to the preschooler).
MODERATOR
Dustin Fleischmann
Director, Events and Communications, Writers Guild Foundation
Dustin Fleischmann joined the Writers Guild Foundation in 2018 as the Events & Operations Coordinator, eager to contribute to the mission of providing educational programming for aspiring and emerging screenwriters. In 2020, Dustin moved to Netflix to serve as the Writing Outreach & Engagement Coordinator to develop their Animation Writing Program and building a talent pipeline for emerging writers who were hired into writers rooms across various animation projects. He returned to the WGF in 2024 as the Director of Events & Communications to create unique and valuable events for the public. In his spare time, Dustin is teaching himself to play the guitar and piano, writes, and enjoys solving the New York Times Crossword with his friends.
