OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
OnWriting is podcast from the Writers Guild of America East. In each episode, you’ll hear from the union members who create the film, TV series, podcasts and news stories that define our culture. We’ll discuss everything from inspirations and creative process to what it takes to build a successful career in media and entertainment.
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Episode 116: Writing Children's TV with Geri Cole and Bob Mittenthal
08/07/2024
Episode 116: Writing Children's TV with Geri Cole and Bob Mittenthal
Host Susan Kim sits down with children’s television writers Geri Cole and Bob Mittenthal to discuss balancing entertainment and education in children's storytelling, embracing restrictions – from budget limitations to writing for puppets — in creative ways, the ongoing fight for union coverage in animation, and more. Geri Cole is a full-time staff writer and lead interactive narrative designer for Sesame Street, co-chair of the WGAE Black Writers Salon, she's won five Daytime Emmys, a Writers Guild Award, a Producers Guild Award, and an NAACP Image Award. Geri also hosted seasons 7-11 of OnWriting. Bob Mittenthal has had a long career as writer and producer. Credits include Double Dare, KaBlam, and Bossy Bear. He created such shows as Welcome Freshmen, Think Fast, and Make the Grade. Other shows include It's Pony, Welcome to the Wayne, the Loud House, the Adventures of Pete and Pete, and the Naked Brothers Band. Susan Kim is an Emmy-nominated and award-winning documentary and children’s television writer known for her work on shows like Dragon Tales, Thomas & Friends, Bea’s Block, Bubble Guppies, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and more. She is co-chair of the WGAE Animation Caucus, and a former member of the WGAE Council. --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 115: Writing Slate's Acclaimed Podcasts
07/24/2024
Episode 115: Writing Slate's Acclaimed Podcasts
Host Katie Rich sits down with Sophie Summergrad, Christina Cauterucci and Madeline Ducharme — three of the journalists and producers behind Slate's "Slow Burn" and other acclaimed podcasts — to discuss their paths into journalism, the process of turning an idea into a critically acclaimed podcast, how a strong union contract gives you the freedom – and time – to do the things you care about, and much more. Sophie Summergrad is a producer at Slate currently working on season 10 of "Slow Burn". Before that, she worked on "Slow Burn" seasons 3 through 9, as well as the narrative podcast "One Year". Christina Cauterucci is a senior writer at Slate who covers politics and culture. She's also the host of season 9 of "Slow Burn": Gays Against Briggs, the host and co-founder of "Outward", Slate's weekly podcast about LGBTQ life, and previously wrote for and hosted episodes of "One Year". Madeline Ducharme is a producer for Slate's daily news podcast, "What Next". Before that, she produced season 4 of "Slow Burn", and has worked on other narrative shows at Slate including "One Year". Host Katie Rich is a comedy writer known for her six-year tenure writing for "Weekend Update" on Saturday Night Live. --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 114: Late Night Writers Roundtable
07/10/2024
Episode 114: Late Night Writers Roundtable
Host Liz Hynes, a WGAE Council member and writer for LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER, moderates a conversation with writers from some of your favorite late night comedy series about their experiences and insights from the world of late-night comedy writing. The panelists include late night writers Molly McNearney (JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!), Dan Amira (THE DAILY SHOW), Felipe Torres Medina (LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT) and Jenny Hagel (LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS). --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 113: Amy Schumer (Life & Beth) and John Hoffman (Only Murders in the Building)
06/20/2024
Episode 113: Amy Schumer (Life & Beth) and John Hoffman (Only Murders in the Building)
John Hoffman and Amy Schumer sit down to talk about the joys and challenges of leaning into the personal in your writing, the importance of finding the right collaborators, confronting the hardest parts of life with both vulnerability and confidence, and much more. John Hoffman is the co-creator and showrunner of the critically acclaimed and award-winning comedy-drama mystery series Only Murders in the Building. Amy Schumer is a writer, actor, director and producer known for creating and starring in the sketch comedy series Inside Amy Schumer, writing and starring in the 2015 comedy film Trainwreck and creating and starring in the comedy-drama series Life & Beth. Only Murders in the Building and Life & Beth are both currently available to stream on Hulu. --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 112: Meredith Scardino (Girls5Eva) & Paula Pell (Saturday Night Live)
06/12/2024
Episode 112: Meredith Scardino (Girls5Eva) & Paula Pell (Saturday Night Live)
Acclaimed comedy writers Meredith Scardino and Paula Pell sit down together for a conversation about their journeys to WGAE membership, their journeys to the WGAE office, how producing differs from other positions in the writers room, the importance of both deadlines and procrastination in the creative process and much more. Meredith Scardino is a screenwriter, showrunner and producer who has written for multiple TV comedies, including The Colbert Report, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Mr. Mayor. Most recently, she created and is the showrunner of the Peacock/Netflix musical comedy series Girls5eva. Paula Pell is a writer, actor and producer known for her work as a writer and supervising producer on the late-night sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, a writer and producer on the comedy series 30 Rock, and as the writer of the 2015 comedy film Sisters. Paula received the WGAE's Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence at the 2020 Writers Guild Awards. She also currently stars as Gloria in Girls5eva. --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 111: Nonfiction TV Roundtable with Chinisha Scott, Gautam Singhani and Sarah Katz
05/29/2024
Episode 111: Nonfiction TV Roundtable with Chinisha Scott, Gautam Singhani and Sarah Katz
Host and WGAE Nonfiction Women of Color Caucus Chair Chinisha Scott talks with WGAE members Gautam Singhani and Sarah Katz, who both recently worked at the nonfiction television production company Story Syndicate. Story Syndicate is one of the latest nonfiction television shops to join the Writers Guild of America East and they are currently negotiating their first collective bargaining agreement. This week, we focus on nonfiction television, lovingly described as the Wild West. Chinisha, Gautam and Sarah discuss advocating for the truth, both in nonfiction production and the labor movement, why the time to unionize is now and what it means to be fairly compensated in nonfiction television. --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 110: Ron Nyswaner, "Fellow Travelers"
04/24/2024
Episode 110: Ron Nyswaner, "Fellow Travelers"
Host T Cooper is joined by Ron Nyswaner to discuss having the confidence to push Hollywood's boundaries, staying flexible during the unpredictable reality of being on a TV set, telling authentic LGBTQ+ stories without always centering suffering, and more. Ron Nyswaner is the 2024 recipient of the WGA East’s Walter Bernstein Award, and creator of the Showtime series Fellow Travelers. He is known for his feature screenplays, including Smithereens, Philadelphia, and My Policeman. He is also known as a writer and producer of the Showtime series Ray Donovan and Homeland. Over the course of his career, Ron has been nominated for numerous awards including an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. His most recent project is the Showtime series Fellow Travelers. Based on the 2007 fictional novel of the same name by Thomas Mallon, the historical drama follows the paths of political staffers Hawkins Fuller and Tim Laughlin, whose paths converge at the height of the Lavender Scare of the 1950s. Despite the constant threat of getting caught, their searing love for each other only intensifies in the tumultuous decades that follow. Their volatile romance spans the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s, the drug-fueled disco hedonism of the 1970s and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, as they face obstacles in the world and in themselves. This episode is hosted by T Cooper, a Writers Guild of America East member with credits including The Get Down and The Blacklist. T. also serves as co-chair of the Guild's LGBTQ+ Writers Salon. --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 109: Kathy McGee and Beth Godvik (CBS News)
04/11/2024
Episode 109: Kathy McGee and Beth Godvik (CBS News)
Host Greg Iwinski is joined by CBS New York writer-producer Kathy McGee and CBS Chicago writer-producer Beth Godvik for a conversation about their work in the Broadcast/Cable/Streaming News sector. They discuss the winding paths that make a career, trusting your instincts in a fast-paced news environment, and keeping up with a constantly evolving media landscape. Kathy McGee is a news writer-producer at WCBS-TV with more than 30 years of experience in broadcast journalism — and over 20 years of experience as an active leader in the WGAE. She writes stories about theater and cultural arts, has served as shop leader at CBS News New York since 2007, and was on the negotiating committee for four CBS contracts. Beth Godvik is a news writer-producer at CBS Chicago, WBBM-TV, where she has worked since 2004. Beth currently works on the 4:30 to 7 A.M. show cut-ins and 9 A.M. and 11 A.M. newscasts, and she designed the format for WBBM-TV’s weekend morning shows. She’s a union co-steward in her newsroom and has served on three negotiating committees for CBS News contracts. Kathy and Beth also both serve on the WGAE Council – Beth as a Broadcast/Cable/Streaming News sector councilmember, and Kathy as the Broadcast/Cable/Streaming News Vice President. This episode of OnWriting is hosted by Greg Iwinski. Greg is an Emmy-winning comedy writer and no-award-winning performer whose writing includes LAST WEEK TONIGHT and THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT. He recently finished writing the first season of GAME THEORY WITH BOMANI JONES on HBO, and can be found on Twitter --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 108: John Wilson, "How To with John Wilson"
03/27/2024
Episode 108: John Wilson, "How To with John Wilson"
Host Geri Cole sits down with documentarian John Wilson to discuss How To choose episode titles that will make for good stories, How To make your writers room feel like a therapy session, How To find serendipitous interview subjects, and more. John Wilson is a New York City-based documentary filmmaker known for creating and hosting the acclaimed comedy-docuseries, How To with John Wilson. How To with John Wilson chronicles self-proclaimed "anxious New Yorker" John as he films his fellow New Yorkers while attempting to give advice on topics ranging from “how to watch birds” to “how to put up scaffolding.” The HBO series premiered in October 2020 and has received widespread critical acclaim and several accolades, including Primetime Emmy and Writers Guild Award nominations. The third and final season concluded in September 2023, and all three seasons are available to stream on HBO Max. This episode of OnWriting is hosted by Geri Cole, a writer and performer based in New York City. She is currently a full-time staff and interactive writer for SESAME STREET, for which she has received Writers Guild Award and two Daytime Emmys. She also performs sketch and improv at theaters and festivals around the country. --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 107: Jesse Armstrong, "Succession"
03/14/2024
Episode 107: Jesse Armstrong, "Succession"
To kick off a brand new season, host Taffy Brodesser-Akner sits down with Succession creator and showrunner Jesse Armstrong to discuss how he staffed and ran his writers’ room, the importance of maintaining distance and perspective in your artistic endeavors, what's next for Jesse now that Succession is over, and much more. Jesse Armstrong is a screenwriter, showrunner, and producer known for his work on several critically acclaimed television series. He rose to prominence as co-creator and writer of British sitcoms Peep Show and Fresh Meat, as a writer on the first three seasons of The Thick of It and cowriter of its 2009 feature adaption, In the Loop, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Most recently, Jesse served as creator and showrunner of the HBO black comedy Succession, for which he received – among others – four consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, three Golden Globes, and two Writers Guild Awards for Drama Series. Succession centers on the ultra-wealthy and ultra-dysfunctional Roy family, owners of global media and entertainment conglomerate Waystar RoyCo, and their fight for control of the company amidst uncertainty about the health of the family's patriarch. The series—which is nominated for the 2024 Writers Guild Award for Drama Series—concluded its fourth and final season concluded last year, and the entire series is available to stream on Max. This episode of OnWriting is hosted by screenwriter, journalist, and author Taffy Brodesser-Akner. Taffy is the creator and showrunner of the FX on Hulu miniseries Fleishman Is in Trouble which is based on her 2019 novel of the same name. She has previously worked as a freelance writer and as a contributor for GQ and The New York Times, where she is currently a staff writer. You can follow Taffy on Twitter at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 106: Sarah Polley, "Women Talking"
02/17/2023
Episode 106: Sarah Polley, "Women Talking"
Host Alison Herman talks to writer-director Sarah Polley about finding a balance between reality and allegory in a film adapted from a fictional novel based on true events, how her process has changed since becoming a parent and recovering from a head injury, what writing (and rewriting) this film taught her about rigor, and much more. Sarah Polley a writer, director, and actor. She wrote and directed the 2006 film AWAY FROM HER, which earned her first Academy Award nomination for adapted screenplay, as well as the 2011 film TAKE THIS WALZ, the 2012 documentary STORIES WE TELL, and is the writer of ALIAS GRACE, the 2017 miniseries adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel. Most recently, Sarah is the writer and director of WOMEN TALKING. The film is adapted from the Miriam Toews novel that was inspired by true events, and stars Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, and Frances McDormand as a group of women who have only two days to decide how to take action against a group of men who have been arrested for years of abuse toward the women in the remote and isolated Mennonite community. WOMEN TALKING premiered in December 2022 and is currently nominated for the Academy and Writers Guild Awards for Adapted Screenplay, as well as the Academy Award for Best Picture. Alison Herman is a staff writer for The Ringer, where she writes about culture in general and television in specific. When not fighting a losing battle against Peak TV, she tweets at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 105: Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner, "The Fabelmans" (in conversation with Judd Apatow)
02/10/2023
Episode 105: Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner, "The Fabelmans" (in conversation with Judd Apatow)
Alison Herman hands it over to guest moderator Judd Apatow for a live conversation with Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner about their latest collaboration, THE FABELMANS. Steven Spielberg a screenwriter, director, producer, and studio executive. In a career spanning over four decades, Spielberg has directed nearly three dozen feature films and written or cowritten the screenplays for four. His directorial work has covered many themes and genres–from science-fiction and adventure films to subjects like the Holocaust, the Transatlantic slave trade, war, and terrorism. He has been the subject of widespread critical acclaim, and numerous awards and accolades including 19 nominations and 3 wins at the Academy Awards, multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations and wins, and the 2015 United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, among many others. Tony Kushner is a celebrated playwright, author, and screenwriter who is perhaps best known for writing the acclaimed play Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes—and its TV miniseries adaptation—as well as for his collaborations with Steven Spielberg as screenwriter of MUNICH, LINCOLN—both of which earned him Oscar nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay—and the 2022 adaptation of WEST SIDE STORY. Angels in America earned Tony both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play in 1993, and he received Emmy and Writers Guild Awards for its onscreen adaptation. He also received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama in 2013. Together, Steven and Tony cowrote the screenplay for THE FABELMANS, which Steven also directed. The semi-autobiographical story of Spielberg's own adolescence follows a young Sammy Fabelman as he falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see "The Greatest Show on Earth." Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother - and discovers how the power of films can help him see the truth about his dysfunctional family and those around him. The Oscar- and Writers Guild Award-nominated film was released in November 2022 and is now available on most major SVOD platforms. Moderator Judd Apatow is a writer, director, comedian, and producer known for his work writing and directing films such as THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN, KNOCKED UP, and FUNNY PEOPLE, among many others. In 2012, he received the Writers Guild of America, East’s Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence. --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 104: Tony Gilroy, "Andor"
02/03/2023
Episode 104: Tony Gilroy, "Andor"
Host Greg Iwinski talks to Tony Gilroy about ANDOR, how his music career influenced his work as a screenwriter, why empathy is the key to imagination, the similarities between being a showrunner and a dairy farmer, and more. Tony Gilroy is a writer, director, and showrunner known for his numerous screenplays, including THE CUTTING EDGE, the JASON BOURNE franchise, and his 2007 acclaimed directorial debut MICHAEL CLAYTON, for which earned received Oscar, BAFTA, and Writers Guild Award nominations for Original Screenplay. Currently, Tony is the showrunner and executive producer of the Star Wars series ANDOR. The show, which he also created, serves as a prequel to both the 2016 spin-off ROGUE ONE as well as the original 1977 STAR WARS film. The Writers Guild Award-nominated series follows Cassian Andor, a Rebel spy during the formative years of the Rebellion, and chronicles his difficult missions for the cause. ANDOR premiered in September 2022 and is in production for its second season. Season one is currently available to stream on Disney+. Greg Iwinski is an Emmy-winning comedy writer and no-award-winning performer whose writing includes LAST WEEK TONIGHT and THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT. He recently finished writing the first season of GAME THEORY WITH BOMANI JONES on HBO, and can be found on Twitter --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 103: David Magee, "A Man Called Otto," "Lady Chatterley's Lover," "The School for Good and Evil"
01/23/2023
Episode 103: David Magee, "A Man Called Otto," "Lady Chatterley's Lover," "The School for Good and Evil"
Host Alison Herman talks to David Magee about writing three films that were released in the same year, adaptation as a form of translation, exploring the deeper cause of pain and bitterness in both Chatterley and Otto, and much more. David Magee is the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of FINDING NEVERLAND, THE LIFE OF PI, MARY POPPINS RETURNS and many more. His credits in 2022 include an impressive three feature films: THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL, now streaming on Netflix; an adaptation of D. H. Lawrence's LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER, also streaming on Netflix. And finally, A MAN CALLED OTTO, and an adaptation of the Swedish novel and film, A Man called Ove, which is now streaming in theaters. Alison Herman is a staff writer for The Ringer, where she writes about culture in general and television in specific. When not fighting a losing battle against Peak TV, she tweets at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 102: Sharon Horgan, "Bad Sisters"
01/20/2023
Episode 102: Sharon Horgan, "Bad Sisters"
Host Alison Herman talks to Sharon Horgan about how she kept her stories straight when writing across two timelines, her tips for pitching a project, the universal ideas at the heart of a story about four sisters failing spectacularly at attempting murder, and more. Sharon Horgan is an acclaimed writer, actress, producer, and director, best known for her multiple award-winning sitcom CATASTROPHE, which she co-wrote and starred in with Rob Delaney. Her other writing credits include the BBC comedy series PULLING, the comedy series SHINING VALE, and the BBC sitcom MOTHERLAND. As an actress, Sharon is known for her roles in feature films like GAME NIGHT, DATING AMBER, THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT, among others. Her latest project is BAD SISTERS, which she co-created, wrote, and stars in. The ten-part comedy thriller follows a group of five sisters (the Garveys) and the promise they make to always protect each other after their parents’ premature death. The Writers Guild Award-nominated series premiered in the US in August 2022 and is available to stream on Apple TV+ Alison Herman is a staff writer for The Ringer, where she writes about culture in general and television in specific. When not fighting a losing battle against Peak TV, she tweets at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 101: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"
01/13/2023
Episode 101: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"
Host Greg Iwinski talks to Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole about their collaboration process for BLACK PANTHER and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, rewriting a screenplay while – and as part of – grieving, space-saving ways to write a half-dozen languages into your script, and more. Ryan Coogler is a writer-director whose credits include the 2013 biopic FRUITVALE STATION and the CREED franchise. Joe Robert Cole is a writer-director who has written for the series THE PEOPLE VS. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY, and wrote and directed the feature film ALL DAY AND A NIGHT. Ryan and Joe cowrote the screenplay for BLACK PANTHER as part of Phase Three of the MCU. The film was nominated for a Writers Guild Award for Adapted Screenplay and became the first superhero film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER – their latest project together and the sequel to the 2018 film – follows Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje during their fight to protect Wakanda from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with Nakia and Everett Ross to forge a new path for their beloved kingdom. The film was released in November 2022. It’s currently playing in theaters and will be available to stream on Disney+ starting February 1, 2023. Greg Iwinski is an Emmy-winning comedy writer and no-award-winning performer whose writing includes LAST WEEK TONIGHT and THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT. He recently finished writing the first season of GAME THEORY WITH BOMANI JONES on HBO, and can be found on Twitter . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 100: Rian Johnson, "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery"
01/06/2023
Episode 100: Rian Johnson, "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery"
Host Greg Iwinski talks to Rian Johnson about his latest project, the rich tradition of destination vacation murder mysteries, the joys of the theatrical experience, and the value of a good notebook. Rian Johnson is a writer and director who made his feature film debut with the 2005 neo-noir mystery BRICK. He went on to write and direct several critically acclaimed films, including the caper dramedy THE BROTHERS BLOOM in 2008, the sci-fi thriller LOOPER in 2012, and STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI in 2017. In 2019 he returned to the mystery genre with KNIVES OUT (2019), which earned him Academy and Writers Guild Award nominations for Original Screenplay. His latest writing-directing credit is GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT STORY. In this sequel to the 2019 film, famed detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends. GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT STORY was released in theaters in November 2022 and on Netflix in December 2022, and is currently available to stream on Netflix. Greg Iwinski is an Emmy-winning comedy writer and no-award-winning performer whose writing includes LAST WEEK TONIGHT and THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT. He recently finished writing the first season of GAME THEORY WITH BOMANI JONES on HBO, and can be found on Twitter . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 98: Noah Baumbach, "White Noise"
12/23/2022
Episode 98: Noah Baumbach, "White Noise"
Host Alison Herman talks to writer and director Noah Baumbach about the adaptation process, how his frequent collaborators influence and inform his work, and much more. Noah Baumbach is the writer/co-writer and director of more than a dozen feature films, starting with KICKING AND SCREAMING in 1995. His 2005 film THE SQUID AND THE WHALE and his 2020 film MARRIAGE STORY were both nominated for the Academy and Writers Guild awards for Original Screenplay. Most recently, he wrote and directed the absurdist dramedy WHITE NOISE. An adaptation of the 1985 Don DeLillo novel of the same name, the film follows college professor Jack Gladney, whose comfortable suburban life is upended when a nearby chemical leak causes "The Airborne Toxic Event," releasing a noxious black cloud over the region that forces the Gladney family to evacuate. WHITE NOISE was released in November 2022 and is available to stream on Netflix. Alison Herman is a staff writer for The Ringer, where she writes about culture in general and television in specific. When not fighting a losing battle against Peak TV, she tweets at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 97: RJ Fried, "Tooning Out the News"
12/16/2022
Episode 97: RJ Fried, "Tooning Out the News"
Host Katie Rich talks to TOONING OUT THE NEWS co-creator and showrunner RJ Fried about how animation can help us address uncomfortable subjects, the challenges of covering topical issues on a streaming platform, and his transition from professional hockey player to professional writer. RJ Fried is a writer and performer. He co-created OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT, was the head writer on PROBLEMATIC WITH MOSHE KASHER, a writer on THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, and wrote on the Writers Guild Award-winning series TRIUMPH’S ELECTION WATCH 2016. He’s currently showrunner for the animated satirical news program TOONING OUT THE NEWS, which he co-created with Stephen Colbert, Chris Licht, and Tim Luecke. The show features a cast of animated characters, led by anchor James Smartwood, who lampoon top news stories and interview real-world guests, newsmakers and analysts. Seasons 1 and 2 of TOONING OUT THE NEWS can be streamed on Paramount+. Season 3 can be streamed on Comedy Central, and new episodes air on Wednesdays after THE DAILY SHOW. Katie Rich is an Emmy-nominated, WGA and Peabody award-winning writer, actor and producer who attended Northwestern University before joining Chicago’s Second City. After Second City, Katie joined the writing staff of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, where she worked for seven seasons. She has also written for and consulted on many award shows such as The Emmys, The Academy Awards, The Golden Globes, The ESPYs, and NFL Honors. You can hear her writing on NPR's LIVE FROM HERE or actually hear her voice on Showtime's OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT, HBO’s BATMAN: THE AUDIO ADVENTURES and Netflix’s CHICAGO PARTY AUNT, on which she also served as co-creator and executive producer. Katie currently lives in Los Angeles where she is co-executive producer on the spin-off of HBOMax’s HARLEY QUINN. Follow Katie on Twitter at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 96: Lena Dunham, "Catherine Called Birdy"
12/02/2022
Episode 96: Lena Dunham, "Catherine Called Birdy"
Host Alison Herman is joined by Lena Dunham to talk about the challenges of adaptation, the impact of success at an early age, discovering a love for outlining, and how it all comes back to the writing. Lena Dunham is the writer and director of several feature films, including TINY FURNITURE and SHARP STICK, as well as the creator and star of the acclaimed HBO series GIRLS. Most recently, she is the writer and director of CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY. CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY is an adaptation of the 1994 novel of the same name by Karen Cushman. The film follows Catherine (known as Birdy), the daughter of a financially destitute Lord in medieval England, and her efforts to thwart her father's plans to marry her off to a wealthy suitor. The comedy film premiered in September 2022 and is available to stream on Prime Video. Alison Herman is a staff writer for The Ringer, where she writes about culture in general and television in specific. When not fighting a losing battle against Peak TV, she tweets at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 95: Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, "The Menu"
11/25/2022
Episode 95: Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, "The Menu"
Host Alison Herman talks to THE MENU co-writers Will Tracy and Seth Reiss about the transition from satirical newspaper to late-night to feature writing, finding humor in sadness, the shared qualities between restaurant kitchens and writing rooms, and much more. Will Tracy and Seth Reiss are veterans of late-night shows like LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER and LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS, and before that, the satirical newspaper The Onion. Their first-ever feature screenplay is THE MENU, a horror satire that is set in the world of fine dining. The film was released in November 2022 and is now playing in theaters. Alison Herman is a staff writer for The Ringer, where she writes about culture in general and television in specific. When not fighting a losing battle against Peak TV, she tweets at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 94: Rebecca Lenkiewicz, "She Said"
11/18/2022
Episode 94: Rebecca Lenkiewicz, "She Said"
Host Marina Fang is joined by SHE SAID screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz to discuss the process of collaborating with Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, how screenwriting compares to the world of theater, creating a realistic depiction of journalism on screen, the importance of giving a voice to survivors, and more. Rebecca Lenkiewicz is a screenwriter and playwright. Her plays have been performed in London and internationally including at London's Royal National Theatre, and she has written numerous productions for BBC Radio. As a screenwriter, she is known for co-writing the 2013 drama IDA, the 2017 romance DISOBEDIENCE, and the 2018 biopic COLETTE, as well as for her work on TV series SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL, THE EDDY, and SMALL AXE. SHE SAID is based on the groundbreaking New York Times investigation by reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, and their editor Rebecca Corbit, as well as Jodi and Megan's book of the same name. The film follows Twohey and Kantor through the process of publishing the story that exposed sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein—and became a launching pad for the #MeToo movement, shattering decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault and harassment. The film premiered in September 2022 at the New York Film Festival, and will be released in theaters in the US on November 18, 2022. Marina Fang (she/her) is a senior culture reporter at HuffPost, based in New York. She primarily covers film and television, examining their intersection with politics, race and gender. She can be found on Twitter at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 93: James Gray, "Armageddon Time"
11/11/2022
Episode 93: James Gray, "Armageddon Time"
Host Alison Herman talks to writer and director James Gray about his upbringing as a secular Jew in Queens, attempting to empathize with Maryanne Trump, the purpose of art in encouraging empathy across class and racial lines, and more. James Gray is the writer and director of eight feature films, beginning with his 1999 debut LITTLE ODESSA, as well as films like the 2007 crime thriller WE OWN THE NIGHT and the 2013 drama THE IMMIGRANT, and the 2016 biopic THE LOST CITY OF Z. Most recently, he directed Brad Pitt in the 2019 space drama AD ASTRA, which he co-wrote with Ethan Gross. His latest project as writer-director is the semi-autobiographical drama ARMAGEDDON TIME, in which he returns to New York and more specifically Queens for an intimate portrait of social class, assimilation and coming of age. ARMAGEDDON TIME was released in late October 2022 and is now playing in theaters nationwide. Alison Herman is a staff writer for The Ringer, where she writes about culture in general and television in specific. When not fighting a losing battle against Peak TV, she tweets at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 92: David O. Russell, "Amsterdam"
10/07/2022
Episode 92: David O. Russell, "Amsterdam"
Host Alison Herman talks to writer and director David O. Russell about themes like love and loyalty in AMSTERDAM, his long collaboration with actors like Christian Bale, his real life work with organizations like Ghetto Film School to increase representation in Hollywood, and more. David O. Russell is a writer and director known for films like THE FIGHTER, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, AMERICAN HUSTLE, and JOY. He has received numerous accolades for his screenplays, including three Academy and Writers Guild Award and two Golden Globe nominations, and two BAFTA and Independent Spirit Awards. He has also received multiple nominations and wins for his directorial work. His latest project is the period mystery film AMSTERDAM, which he wrote and directed. The comedy follows three friends and World War I veterans who witness—and are subsequently implicated in—the murder of a U.S. Senator and wind up uncovering one of the most outrageous plots in American history. The film will be released in theaters on October 7, 2022. Alison Herman is a staff writer for The Ringer, where she writes about culture in general and television in specific. When not fighting a losing battle against Peak TV, she tweets at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 91: Jessica Knoll, "Luckiest Girl Alive"
09/30/2022
Episode 91: Jessica Knoll, "Luckiest Girl Alive"
Host Marina Fang talks to Jessica Knoll about the extensive process of adapting her own book, how her personal experiences shaped the film, why Gillian Flynn is her guiding light, and so much more. Jessica Knoll is a screenwriter and novelist known for her thrillers Luckiest Girl Alive, and The Favorite Sister. In 2021, she was named a screenwriter to watch by Variety, and in 2019 her original script, 'TIL DEATH sold to Amazon and made The Black List. Her feature screenplay debut, LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE, is an adaptation of her first novel (of the same name). The mystery-thriller stars Mila Kunis as Ani Fanelli, an up-and-coming writer at a glossy magazine who is set to get married at a lavish Nantucket wedding. But when a director of a documentary urges Ani to go on camera to tell her side of a school shooting that took place when she was a teenager, Ani is forced to confront the dark truths of her past that threaten to unravel her meticulously crafted life. The film premieres on October 7, 2022 and will be available to stream on Netflix. Marina Fang (she/her) is a senior culture reporter at HuffPost, based in New York. She primarily covers film and television, examining their intersection with politics, race and gender. She can be found on Twitter at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 90: Greg Mottola, "Confess, Fletch"
09/16/2022
Episode 90: Greg Mottola, "Confess, Fletch"
Host Greg Iwinski talks to Greg Mottola about leaning into the absurdity of the everyday, bringing a 70s-era whodunnit into the 21st century, our rediscovered love of murder mysteries, and much more. Writer and director Greg Mottola began his career with his 1996 indie dramedy film THE DAYTRIPPERS, for which he received a Golden Camera nomination at the Cannes Film Festival for best first feature film. He then went on to direct the hit 2007 coming-of-age comedy SUPERBAD, then wrote and directed the critically acclaimed 2009 film ADVENTURELAND, which earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Screenplay. Since then, he has gone on to direct other film projects like PAUL and KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES. Mottola has also directed episodes of several hit television series, including the pilots of FX’s DAVE and HBO’s THE NEWSROOM, as well as episodes of the THE COMEBACK, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, UNDECLARED, and THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS. He most recently wrote and directed the crime comedy film CONFESS, FLETCH, which is based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Gregory Mcdonald and a reboot of the hit 1980s series starring Chevy Chase. CONFESS, FLETCH stars Jon Hamm as the roguishly charming and endlessly troublesome Fletch, who becomes the prime suspect in a murder case while searching for a stolen art collection. The only way to prove his innocence? Find out which of the long list of suspects is the culprit - from the eccentric art dealer and a missing playboy to a crazy neighbor and Fletch’s Italian girlfriend. Crime, in fact, has never been this disorganized. The film will be released simultaneously in limited theaters and on paid digital streaming platforms on Friday, September 16, and will be available to stream on Showtime starting October 28. --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 89: David Jenkins, "Our Flag Means Death"
09/02/2022
Episode 89: David Jenkins, "Our Flag Means Death"
Host Alison Herman talks to OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH showrunner David Jenkins about the creative freedoms that come with a virtual writer's room, why the true story of pirates Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard makes the most sense as a romance, the labor implications of ratings transparency in the streaming age, and much more. David Jenkins is a television writer, showrunner, producer, and playwright. He’s known for creating the 2016 TBS sci-fi comedy series PEOPLE OF EARTH, and for his work as creator and showrunner of the acclaimed HBO Max pirate workplace rom-com series OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH. OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH is a (very) loose adaptation of the true adventures of 18th century would-be pirate Stede Bonnet. After trading in the seemingly charmed life of a gentleman for one of a swashbuckling buccaneer, Stede becomes captain of the pirate ship Revenge. Struggling to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew, Stede’s fortunes change after a fateful run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard. Stede and crew attempt to get their ship together and survive life on the high seas. The series, which was recently renewed for a second season, premiered on HBO Max in March 2022. The full first season is available to stream on HBO Max. Alison Herman is a staff writer for The Ringer, where she writes about culture in general and television in specific. When not fighting a losing battle against Peak TV, she tweets at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 88: Phoebe Robinson, "Everything's Trash"
08/26/2022
Episode 88: Phoebe Robinson, "Everything's Trash"
Host Marina Fang talks to Phoebe Robinson—the creator, writer, and star of EVERYTHING’S TRASH—about the experience of writing "TV Phoebe,” balancing studio notes with your creative vision, the importance of portraying realistic New York City living, and much more. Phoebe Robinson is a writer, comedian, and actress known for her work as the co-creator and co-star of the hit podcast-turned-HBO series 2 Dope Queens and critically acclaimed podcasts including Sooo Many White Guys and Black Frasier, as well as for her starring roles in the films IBIZA and WHAT MEN WANT. She’s also the nationally bestselling author of Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes, You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain, and Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay, the latter of which is the basis of her comedy series EVERYTHING’S TRASH. EVERYTHING’S TRASH follows Phoebe, an outspoken podcast star, who is forced to start her journey into maturity when her older brother launches a political campaign while navigating life, love, her career, and living Brooklyn. The comedy series, which premiered on Freeform in July 2022, airs Wednesdays on Freeform and is available to stream on Hulu. Marina Fang (she/her) is a senior culture reporter at HuffPost, based in New York. She primarily covers film and television, examining their intersection with politics, race and gender. She can be found on Twitter at . --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 87: Seth Meyers, "Late Night With Seth Meyers"
08/05/2022
Episode 87: Seth Meyers, "Late Night With Seth Meyers"
Host Greg Iwinski is joined by Late Night’s Seth Meyers to talk about the spirit of 12:30 and how a diverse writing staff is essential to success – and to take a closer look at A Closer Look. Seth Meyers is a writer, comedian, and author known for his work on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and as the host/writer of NBC’s LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS. He was named one of the 2014 TIME 100, Time magazine’s 100 most influential people and has received numerous awards and accolades, over 30 Writers Guild and Emmy Award nominations altogether, a 2009 Peabody Award, and back-to-back Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Talk Show in 2020-21. LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS is the fourth incarnation of the LATE NIGHT franchise. Each episode features monologues and news segments that add a comedic lens to that day's biggest alongside a slate of guests that includes both A-list celebrities, as well as people not seen anywhere else in late night like political figures and other interesting newsmakers. The series, which recently received its first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Variety Talk Series, airs weeknights on NBC at 12:37 AM. --- Before it was a podcast, OnWriting was a print publication. Check out . Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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Episode 86: Ziwe, "Ziwe"
07/08/2022
Episode 86: Ziwe, "Ziwe"
Host Greg Iwinski talks to Ziwe, creator, host, and writer of the comedy-variety sketch series ZIWE, about coming up in the Chicago comedy scene, the importance of Stephen Colbert’s White House Correspondents dinner speech, and how she puts together the show, the writers’ room, and its voice. Ziwe'a current project is the comedy-variety sketch series ZIWE, now in its second season on Showtime. The show is a no-holds-barred mix of musical numbers, interviews and sketches that challenge America's discomfort with race, politics, and cultural issues. She previously wrote for shows such as THE RUNDOWN WITH ROBIN THEDE and DESUS AND MERO, and publications such as THE ONION, REDUCTRESS, and THE NEW YORKER. She created the YouTube comedy show BAITED WITH ZIWE, as well as its reincarnation on Instagram Live. -- Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: -- Follow the Guild on social media: Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast Facebook: /WGAEast Instagram: @WGAEast
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