OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East
114 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 57 ratingsOnWriting is a screenwriting podcast brought to you by the Writers Guild of America, East. It's a show about the stories we see on our screens and the people who make them happen. Each week, writers from the film, television, news and digital media industries talk to us about their work - from pitching to production, from process to favorite lines, and everything in between. Season 1 is hosted by Jordan Carlos. Seasons 2 & 3 are hosted by Caroline Waxler. Seasons 4-6 are hosted by Kaitlin Fontana. Seasons 7 - 10 are hosted by Geri Cole.
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Episodes
Episode 109: Kathy McGee and Beth Godvik (CBS News)
April 11, 2024 01:15 - 59 minutes - 68.1 MBHost 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 yea...
Episode 108: John Wilson, "How To with John Wilson"
March 27, 2024 23:00 - 48 minutes - 55.6 MBHost 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 ...
Episode 107: Jesse Armstrong, "Succession"
March 14, 2024 00:30 - 1 hour - 85.9 MBTo 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 ...
Episode 106: Sarah Polley, "Women Talking"
February 17, 2023 01:00 - 42 minutes - 49.1 MBHost 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 ...
Episode 105: Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner, "The Fabelmans" (in conversation with Judd Apatow)
February 10, 2023 01:00 - 58 minutes - 66.8 MBAlison 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...
Episode 104: Tony Gilroy, "Andor"
February 03, 2023 16:00 - 50 minutes - 57.6 MBHost 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 nomin...
Episode 103: David Magee, "A Man Called Otto," "Lady Chatterley's Lover," "The School for Good and Evil"
January 23, 2023 02:00 - 42 minutes - 48.8 MBHost 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 adapta...
Episode 102: Sharon Horgan, "Bad Sisters"
January 20, 2023 01:30 - 38 minutes - 44.5 MBHost 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 BB...
Episode 101: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"
January 13, 2023 01:00 - 47 minutes - 54.4 MBHost 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. SIMPS...
Episode 100: Rian Johnson, "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery"
January 06, 2023 01:30 - 42 minutes - 49.1 MBHost 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 JED...
Episode 98: Noah Baumbach, "White Noise"
December 23, 2022 01:00 - 38 minutes - 43.6 MBHost 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 direct...
Episode 97: RJ Fried, "Tooning Out the News"
December 16, 2022 01:00 - 40 minutes - 46.7 MBHost 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 A...
Episode 96: Lena Dunham, "Catherine Called Birdy"
December 02, 2022 01:00 - 43 minutes - 50.2 MBHost 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...
Episode 95: Seth Reiss and Will Tracy, "The Menu"
November 25, 2022 01:00 - 46 minutes - 53.3 MBHost 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 ME...
Episode 94: Rebecca Lenkiewicz, "She Said"
November 18, 2022 01:02 - 51 minutes - 119 MBHost 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 nume...
Episode 93: James Gray, "Armageddon Time"
November 11, 2022 01:00 - 53 minutes - 61.2 MBHost 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,...
Episode 92: David O. Russell, "Amsterdam"
October 07, 2022 00:00 - 43 minutes - 98.6 MBHost 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 ...
Episode 91: Jessica Knoll, "Luckiest Girl Alive"
September 30, 2022 00:00 - 52 minutes - 120 MBHost 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, LUCKIE...
Episode 90: Greg Mottola, "Confess, Fletch"
September 16, 2022 00:00 - 54 minutes - 62.6 MBHost 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 dir...
Episode 89: David Jenkins, "Our Flag Means Death"
September 02, 2022 00:00 - 44 minutes - 51.4 MBHost 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 crea...
Episode 88: Phoebe Robinson, "Everything's Trash"
August 26, 2022 15:30 - 51 minutes - 58.4 MBHost 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 Fra...
Episode 87: Seth Meyers, "Late Night With Seth Meyers"
August 05, 2022 00:00 - 41 minutes - 47.1 MBHost 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 Guil...
Episode 86: Ziwe, "Ziwe"
July 08, 2022 00:00 - 42 minutes - 48.2 MBHost 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 Amer...
Episode 85: Joel Kim Booster, “Fire Island"
July 01, 2022 01:06 - 53 minutes - 61.1 MBHost Marina Fang talks to Joel Kim Booster, writer and co-star of FIRE ISLAND, about the film’s Austenian origins, the boundaries between real-life and fiction throughout the writing process, and navigating issues of racial and sexual representation and the intersections of privilege. This episode is presented by the WGAE's Asian-American and LGBTQ+ Salons, in partnership with The Lower East Side Film Festival. Joel Kim Booster is a Los Angeles-based actor, comedian, producer, and writer...
Episode 84: Meredith Scardino, "Girls5eva"
June 24, 2022 00:00 - 41 minutes - 47.8 MBHost Alison Herman talks to Meredith Scardino, the creator, showrunner, writer, and producer of GIRLS5EVA, about the show’s writing and songwriting process, what you learn from mentors like Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, and Robert Carlock, and why so much of this series is about having agency over your own life. Meredith Scardino is a New York-based screenwriter, showrunner, and producer. After working on the LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN in the mid-2000s, she went on to write for television...
Episode 83: Natasha Lyonne & Alice Ju, “Russian Doll”
June 19, 2022 15:17 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBHost Geri Cole talks about the Netflix series RUSSIAN DOLL with co-creator, writer, producer, director, star Natasha Lyonne, and writer-producer Alice Ju They discuss how the series uses religious philosophy to work on both literal and metaphorical levels, taking the show from “Groundhog Day” to “Quantum Leap”, and exploring the nesting doll of dealing with grief. Warning, there are spoilers. -- Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews: www.onwriting.org/ -- Follow the G...
Episode 83: Natasha Lyonne & Alice Ju, "Russian Doll"
June 16, 2022 14:00 - 22 minutes - 25.9 MBHost Geri Cole talks about the Netflix series RUSSIAN DOLL with co-creator, writer, producer, director, star Natasha Lyonne, and writer-producer Alice Ju. They discuss how the series uses religious philosophy to work on both literal and metaphorical levels, taking the show from "Groundhog Day" to "Quantum Leap", and exploring the nesting doll of dealing with grief. Warning, there are spoilers. Natasha Lyonne is a New York-based actress, comedian, director, writer, and producer. Her diverse...
Episode 82: Amy Schumer, "Life & Beth"
June 10, 2022 00:00 - 35 minutes - 41 MBHost Alison Herman talks to Amy Schumer, creator and star of the comedy-drama series LIFE & BETH, about how motherhood changes your perspective as a writer, why she loves writing in bed and the differences between writing a sketch show like INSIDE AMY SCHUMER versus a scripted show like LIFE & BETH. Amy Schumeris a New York-based comedian, actress, and screenwriter. From 2013 to 2016, she was the creator, co-producer, co-writer, and star of the Comedy Central sketch comedy series INSIDE AMY S...
Episode 81: Michael Waldron, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness"
June 02, 2022 14:00 - 42 minutes - 97.2 MBHost Greg Iwinski talks to Michael Waldron, writer of DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS, about the Harmon Story Circle, how the worlds of wrestling and comic books are similar, and the cultural obsession with spoiling things. (Speaking of which, this episode does contain some spoilers. Proceed with caution!) Michael Waldron is a writer and producer who started his career in film & TV as a PA on the fifth season of the hit NBC sitcom COMMUNITY. After his time at Greendale Communit...
Episode 80: Danny McBride, “The Righteous Gemstones” – In conversation with Derek Lawrence
May 26, 2022 14:00 - 32 minutes - 74.3 MBEntertainment Weekly’s Derek Lawrence sits down with Danny McBride—the creator, writer, executive producer, and costar of the dark comedy series THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES. Danny McBride is a writer, actor, comedian, and producer. He wrote and starred in the HBO television series EASTBOUND & DOWN and VICE PRINCIPALS, both of which he co-created with Jody Hill. He's also known for his appearances in films like PINEAPPLE EXPRESS and TROPIC THUNDER as well as for his voice acting roles in films ...
Episode 79: David Simon (“We Own This City”)
May 06, 2022 15:55 - 57 minutes - 131 MBHost Geri Cole talks to David Simon, co-creator and showrunner of the new HBO miniseries WE OWN THIS CITY, about how he sees the mini-series as the coda to his legendary show, THE WIRE; the lessons he learned as a journalist that have helped him as a television writer; and why the drug war is one of America's worst policies and needs to end. David Simon is a Baltimore-based screenwriter, journalist, author, and television producer. A former crime reporter for the Baltimore Sun, he is the a...
Episode 79: David Simon, “We Own This City”
May 06, 2022 15:55 - 57 minutes - 131 MBHost Geri Cole talks to David Simon, co-creator and showrunner of the new HBO miniseries WE OWN THIS CITY, about how he sees the mini-series as the coda to his legendary show, THE WIRE; the lessons he learned as a journalist that have helped him as a television writer; and why the drug war is one of America's worst policies and needs to end. David Simon is a Baltimore-based screenwriter, journalist, author, and television producer. A former crime reporter for the Baltimore Sun, he is the aut...
Episode 78: Melissa Silverstein in conversation with Liz Meriwether (“The Dropout”)
April 29, 2022 14:00 - 45 minutes - 105 MBGeri hands it over to guest host Melissa Silverstein, the founder and publisher of Women in Hollywood, for a conversation with THE DROPOUT creator and showrunner Liz Meriwether. Liz Meriwether is a writer, showrunner, and producer known for her work as the creator and showrunner of the hit comedy series NEW GIRL and the sitcom BLESS THIS MESS, as well as for writing the screenplay for the 2011 romcom NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Guest moderator Melissa Silverstein is the founder and publisher of...
Episode 77: Jonathan Tropper, “The Adam Project”
April 15, 2022 14:00 - 44 minutes - 51.2 MBHost Geri Cole speaks with Jonathan Tropper about The Adam Project's eight-year journey to the screen, how to write a great action scene, the rules of writing time travel, and why you don't tell Bob when to drink the Coke. Jonathan Tropper is a screenwriter, novelist, and producer. He is the internationally-acclaimed author of six novels, the two most recent of which—This Is Where I Leave You and One Last Thing Before I Go—were both New York Times bestsellers. His screenwriting credits inc...
Episode 76: Soo Hugh, "Pachinko"
April 08, 2022 15:10 - 41 minutes - 47.5 MBHost Geri Cole is joined by PACHINKO showrunner, writer, and producer Soo Hugh to talk about how the writers adapted the acclaimed novel to keep it focused on family over colonialism; the process of crafting a complex, authentic story that couldn't have been told the same way a decade ago; and the power inherent in telling extraordinary stories of ordinary people. Soo Hugh is a writer and producer whose past credits include sci-fi and horror drama series like CBS sci-fi mystery UNDER THE D...
Episode 75: Mariama Diallo, “Master”
March 11, 2022 18:00 - 46 minutes - 52.9 MBHost Geri Cole talks to writer-director Mariama Diallo about the uncanny—and all-too-real—experience of navigating predominately white spaces as a Black woman, the complexities of identity, the importance and necessity of your community, and more. Mariama Diallo is a writer and director whose short film “Hair Wolf” premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival—where it won the Short Film Jury Award—and was then released on HBO and the Criterion Channel. Diallo also co-wrote, co-directed, an...
Episode 74: Bruce Miller and Yahlin Chang, "The Handmaid's Tale"
March 04, 2022 22:30 - 46 minutes - 53.7 MBHost Geri Cole welcomes THE HANDMAID’S TALE creator, showrunner, writer, and EP Bruce Miller and writer and EP Yahlin Chang to the show to talk about how real-world refugee stories give the show inspiration and guidance, the ways in which writing can be both cruel and cathartic, and how the show encourages everyone—both above and below the line—to bring their A-game. ** - Please note: This episode comes with a spoiler alert as well as a content warning for a discussion of sexual violence a...
Episode 73: Michael Cyril Creighton in conversation with Hannah Bos & Paul Thureen, "Somebody Somewhere"
February 18, 2022 15:20 - 29 minutes - 34.1 MBGeri Cole turns it over to Michael Cyril Creighton for a special conversation with showrunners Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen to discuss their series, SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE. Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen are a writing duo whose credits include HIGH MAINTENANCE, MOZART IN THE JUNGLE and DRIVEWAYS. Moderator Michael Cyril Creighton is a writer and actor known for his recent performance as the cat-loving Howard Morris in ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING and his roles on HIGH MAINTENANCE and SPOTLIGHT, ...
Episode 72: Zach Baylin, "King Richard"
February 11, 2022 15:00 - 40 minutes - 46.9 MBHost Geri Cole talks to Zach Baylin—screenwriter of KING RICHARD—about how a serendipitous meeting before heading to the US Open led to the script landing in the hands of Will Smith, his experience collaborating with the Williams family, and the importance of writing every day, because even a few lines can feel like a success. Zach Baylin is a screenwriter whose script, KING RICHARD, was #2 in the 2018 Black List survey, and is his first produced writing credit. His next project is CREED I...
Episode 71: Adam McKay & David O. Russell, "Don't Look Up"
February 08, 2022 23:30 - 1 hour - 139 MBGeri Cole turns it over to David O. Russell for a conversation with Adam McKay about his latest project, DON’T LOOK UP. David O. Russell is the Oscar- and Writers Guild Award-nominated writer and director best known for his work on titles like FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, THREE KINGS, I HEART HUCKABEES, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, AMERICAN HUSTLE, and most recently, JOY. Adam McKay is a writer, director, comedian, and co-founder of the comedy group Upright Citizens Brigade. He kicked off his fil...
Episode 70: Zhubin Parang, Josh Johnson, Kat Radley, and Roy Wood Jr. , "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah"
February 04, 2022 15:00 - 47 minutes - 54.1 MBHost Geri Cole is joined by four writers from THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH: supervising producer and head writer Zhubin Parang, writers Kat Radley and Josh Johnson, and correspondent Roy Wood Jr. The writers and Geri cover what it takes to put together an episode of THE DAILY SHOW… and to do it daily, how being encouraged to bomb creates a sense of community in the writers’ room, and how segments like “CP Time” help teach chapters of Black history you won’t find in a textbook. THE DAILY...
Episode 69: Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky, "And Just Like That"
January 28, 2022 17:30 - 53 minutes - 61 MBHost Geri Cole is joined by Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky—writers and executive producers of AND JUST LIKE THAT—to talk about how they first came to work on SEX AND THE CITY, their very intimate writing process for AND JUST LIKE THAT, and how success can sometimes feel like being lost in L.A. Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky are long-time collaborators whose credits together include SEX AND THE CITY, SIX DEGREES, SMASH, ODD MOM OUT—where they also served as co-showrunners, and DIVOR...
Episode 68: Tony Kushner, "West Side Story"
January 14, 2022 17:35 - 45 minutes - 52.1 MBHost Geri Cole kicks off a new year, and a new season of OnWriting, in conversation with celebrated screenwriter, playwright, and author Tony Kushner—the screenwriter behind the recent adaptation of WEST SIDE STORY. Geri and Tony discuss the process of adapting one of the most famous musicals of all time, how in-depth research about New York's West Side added historical context and deeper meaning to the script, and how even the likes Tony Kushner get anxious looking at a blank page. Tony...
Episode 67: Tracey Scott Wilson, "Respect"
December 17, 2021 19:30 - 38 minutes - 43.6 MBHost Geri Cole is joined by Tracey Scott Wilson, writer of the Aretha Franklin biopic RESPECT, about writing the film’s screenplay on a very expedited timeline, how being a playwright has informed her film & television career, and her creative process – which includes writing in longhand and starting each day reading scripts. Tracey Scott Wilson is an accomplished television writer, producer and playwright. She served as a co-executive producer on FOSSE/VERDON and MORNING SHOW. Before that...
Episode 66: Amanda Peet and Jennifer Kim, "The Chair"
December 10, 2021 15:00 - 38 minutes - 44.2 MBFor the latest live taping of OnWriting, Amanda Peet and Jennifer Kim join host Geri Cole to discuss their work on the new Netflix (academi)comedy-drama series, THE CHAIR. Amanda Peet is the co-creator, showrunner, writer, and executive producer of THE CHAIR. You may also know her from her extensive acting credits, including DIRTY JOHN, BROCKMIRE, and TOGETHERNESS. Jennifer Kim is a writer on THE CHAIR, as well as a staff writer for the upcoming Mel Brooks variety series HISTORY OF THE W...
Episode 65: John Hoffman, "Only Murders in the Building"
December 03, 2021 15:00 - 39 minutes - 45.1 MBHost Geri Cole talks to John Hoffman—co-creator and showrunner of ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING—about the art of putting together a compelling mystery in a writers' room, how his own life experience shaped his connection to the series, and the creative value of staying in bed. Spoiler Alert: This episode contains lots of big reveals. We recommend you watch the series before you listen. John Hoffman is a writer, director, and actor who wrote and co-starred in the 1997 Disney Channel origin...
Episode 64: Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, "PEN15"
November 24, 2021 15:00 - 47 minutes - 54.7 MBHost Geri Cole speaks to PEN15 co-creators, co-writers, and co-stars Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle about how the duo met (at an experimental theater program in Amsterdam), how PEN15 has become even more honest and raw in its second season, and the curious case of writing for yourself as a 13-year-old. Maya Erskine is a writer and actor known for her onscreen roles in several comedy series, including MAN SEEKING WOMAN, HEARTBEAT, CASUAL, and INSECURE. Anna Konkle is a writer, actor, and di...
Episode 63: Erica Saleh, "One of Us Is Lying"
November 19, 2021 15:00 - 30 minutes - 34.8 MBHost Geri Cole talks to Erica Saleh—writer & EP of ONE OF US IS LYING—about the process of developing the series for three different networks before finally finding its home on Peacock, how ’80s and ’90s nostalgia influenced the writers’ room, and the importance of having faith in your ability to finish a draft. Erica Saleh is a TV writer and playwright whose past television credits include EVIL, INSTINCT, WISDOM OF THE CROWD, and CHANNEL ZERO. As a playwright she is a member of Ensemble S...
Episode 62: Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve, "Dune"
November 12, 2021 15:00 - 39 minutes - 44.8 MBHost Geri Cole is joined by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve—two-thirds of the writing team behind DUNE—to discuss the challenges of writing a story that serves two audiences, relearning the lesson of focusing on the human element in science fiction, and just how much coffee it takes for three masters of filmmaking to collaborate on the script of DUNE (spoiler alert… it's a lot). Jon Spaihts wrote the screenplays for PROMETHEUS, THE DARKEST HOUR, and MARVEL'S DR. STRANGE. Denis Villeneuv...
Episode 61: Jen Statsky, "Hacks"
November 05, 2021 14:00 - 44 minutes - 50.9 MBHost Geri Cole is joined by Jen Statsky—co-creator and showrunner of the HBO Max series HACKS—to talk about the show's journey from an idea on a road trip to a hit series, why writing about people's flaws can bring out the best in a character, and the challenges of writing a comedy series about writing comedy. Jen Statsky is a TV writer and comedian who cut her comedy-writing teeth on Twitter. Her posts were popular, and she eventually found herself with enough of a following that, in 2011...