Two independent producers have accused the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) of punitive tactics amid a dispute regarding screenwriter payments for a feature film.

The allegation is regarding a grievance against the film Someone’s Daughter, which went into production in Quebec’s Eastern Townships on Aug. 25.

According to documents obtained by Playback Daily, the WGC issued a grievance against the producers (cited as 9543-9022 Quebec Inc. in the grievance) on Sept. 3, claiming it was in violation of the Independent Production Agreement (IPA) with the Canadian Media Producers Association because producers had not fully paid fees owed to both credited screenwriters on the production, and therefore did not have the rights to produce the film.

The outstanding fee in is for the second draft of the script, which was delivered to the original production company developing the film and paid for back in 2021. However, the WGC claimed that because the production companies took over as lead producers in 2024, the terms of the IPA require them to also pay for the second draft. Additionally, the option for the original script expired in 2024.

In correspondence with the WGC, the producers claimed that the production itself was not new, since the original production company remained attached as an executive producer. As part of the partnership, they assumed all existing financial obligations for the films, including prior debts, and expected that already paid fees would be credited. As for the option, the rights were extended multiple times before the option collapsed.

In a release issued Thursday (Oct. 23), the producers argued that the WGC has imposed itself on an agreement made in good faith by the involved parties. Among the documents is a claim by the producers that the writer and their agent had previously agreed to deduct previous payments from the production fee.

The producers have also taken issue with WGC’s action to inform other parties of the grievance, including public funders and distributors, which “threatens both the film’s financing and its reputation.” In one instance, a party has told producers that they will not pay the license fee for the film until the matter is settled, Playback understands.

“We respect the WGC and the importance of fair compensation. But this action isn’t about fairness,” said Bunbury Films president Frederic Bohbot in a statement. “The Guild seems unable or unwilling to consider the specific circumstances and show flexibility. Instead, it has chosen to act punitively.”

Lisa Blanchette, WGC’s director of communications, told Playback in a statement that notifying funders and distributors is “standard practice” for the Guild.

“The Writers Guild of Canada ensures writers are properly paid for the rights to use their work. With respect to this project, we are pursuing the available remedies under our collective agreement. We are unable to comment on matters currently under the grievance and arbitration process. It is our standard practice to notify the project’s funders and distributors of the dispute because the chain of title to the script is affected by the outcome,” said Blanchette.

The matter is being taken to arbitration, with an arbitration date not set at press time.

Someone’s Daughter is produced by Bohbot of Bunbury Films and Kacim Steets Azouz of Rebel Labs, and executive produced by Robert Vroom of Prospector Films. It is directed by Wiebke von Carolsfeld, and co-written by von Carolsfeld and Doug Taylor.

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