Screenwriters vent after again being left off Logies invite list

Sitting at home watching another Logies Awards play out, one Aussie talent couldn’t help but vent his frustrations.

Sunday night’s Logies spouted many memorable moments. From Karl Stefanovic’s jab at David Koch that didn’t quite land to Sonia Kruger’s “loose” acceptance speech for the Gold Logie.

But Australian TV’s night of nights wasn’t all about the winners and losers.

It was also about the people who couldn’t be there — most notably some screenwriters who expressed distaste over the fact that they weren’t invited along.

Taking to Twitter on Monday, The House of God screenwriter Blake Ayshford called out the Logies for leaving Australian writers sitting in front of the telly rather than at the awards themselves.

“Annual reflection that in Australia writers aren’t deemed important enough to be invited to the #Logies,” he wrote on the platform now referred to as “X”.

“I wrote or produced three of the projects nominated, but, like every year, will be sitting at home in front of the telly.”

Annual reflection that in Australia writers aren't deemed important enough to be invited to the #Logies. I wrote or produced three of the projects nominated, but, like every year, will be sitting at home in front of the telly.

— B E Ayshford (@episode2480) July 30, 2023

While he added that this might be a “niche whinge”, others flocked to the comments in support, with one commenter even writing that Ayshford would be “a more valuable addition to the proceedings than Bryce and Melinda from MAFS”.

Greg Waters, the writer for the ABC telemovie RIOT, also chimed in, commenting “I’ve never been [to the Logies] either. Made a lot of television though.”

David Sale, who created the Aussie soap opera Number 96, which won several Logies from 1974-76, also never got an invitation to attend the awards in person.

“Immediately after ‘Number 96’ made its first impact everybody associated [sic] with the show was invited to the Logies except the creator – me!,” Sale commented.

Speaking to news.com.au, Ayshford maintained that his tweet was playful.

I always assumed it was because we weren’t pretty and we drank too much. I’ve never been either. Made a lot of television though.

— Greg Waters (@gregnwaters) July 30, 2023

He added that the exclusion of writers from the event is discussed every year, and it doesn’t feel too good watching from behind a screen.

“At a time when it feels like the future of writing is at stake I thought the public might like to know how writers are left out of what bills itself as Australian TV’s biggest night,” he said.

“It’s not a great feeling watching at home knowing the only time a writer will get mentioned at the Logies is after they’ve died.”

He emphasised the importance of writers being included in events such as the Logies, saying that “there would be no celebrities without the work of writers”.

“Everything starts with us: not only drama and comedy, but reality series are written too. News programmes, documentaries, game shows, there would be no celebrities without the work of writers,” he said.

This is perhaps more important now as the writer’s strike continues, with many not feeling the love regardless of the Logies.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) brought Hollywood to a halt in May to strike for better pay and conditions, with The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joining the strike, too.

Immediately after "Number 96" made its first impact everybody assocuated with the show was invited to the Logies except the creator - me!.

— David Sale (@DavidSale96) July 30, 2023

The strike has already seen the postponement of The Emmys, as well as several productions being paused or axed completely. The cast of Oppenheimer — including big names such as Cilian Murphy and Emily Blunt — even walked out of the film’s UK premiere earlier in the month to join the picket line.

One of the casualties of the strike includes the series Metropolis – from the creator of the series Mr Robot, Sam Esmail – which was set to begin production in Melbourne.

In light of this, Ayshford said it felt “crucial” for him to speak up about the treatment Australian writers are being dealt, saying that Aussie writers are currently in “precarious” conditions.

“We find ourselves squeezed to breaking point, while networks and streamers make enormous profits. And now we are being told that AI could soon be used to replace us,” he said.

“That’s why it felt crucial to me, in one of the only times TV is celebrated in the year, to remind people that what we do is important.”