The popularity of Netflix’s House of Cards has, I believe, caused some large changes in the awards criteria for the Writers Guild of America, according to this article from Deadline.com. While House of Cards is a big budget, network-quality television production, its new delivery method required opening up the awards categories to be more all-encompassing due to the impact of Internet “broadcasting.” Of course, for me, the best result is the now, all New Media projects over 15 mins in length compete directly with other, more traditionally distributed shows — removing them from the New Media Ghetto where they had previously been placed. I welcome all such changes in the New Media world, as I believe we will be seeing more and more productions emerging from this relatively new production and distribution system. My only wish is that it had happened much more quickly.
From Deadline.com and the WGA…
Writers Guild Makes Changes To Awards Eligibility & Submission Guidelines; New Media Series Like ‘House Of Cards’ OK
Los Angeles and New York – For the upcoming awards season, Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have changed awards eligibility and submission guidelines for the television and new media categories, and have added a new Quiz & Audience Participation writing award.
“Whether you’re watching content on a TV screen, online on a laptop, or with a hand-held device, outstanding writing and great storytelling deserve the same recognition,” said WGAW President Christopher Keyser and WGAE President Michael Winship. “These changes in eligibility and submission guidelines reflect the evolution of distribution models in the entertainment industry. We are also looking forward to giving out the new Quiz & Audience Participation Award in 2014.”