In this episode’s Union Town segment (1:00), Writers Guild members turn out in force to show solidarity at the recent Many Crafts, One Fight rally to kick off crew unions IATSE, Teamsters, and Hollywood Basic Crafts’ negotiations with the AMPTP. Then, host Josephine Green Zhang talks with Mr. and Mrs. Smith co-creator and showrunner Francesca Sloane (9:45) about her new Amazon series, creative process, career, and more.
This year has seen multiple newsroom strikes, massive lay-offs, and sudden closures. In this episode’s Union Town segment (1:01), WGAW Asian American Writers Committee Chair Kristina Woo talks with Media Guild West President and former Los Angeles Times writer Matt Pearce about how reporters are organizing the newsroom to push back against corporate greed and protect good jobs. Kristina then speaks with writer and former journalist Albert Kim, developer and showrunner of Avatar: The Last Airbender, about crafting his new hit Netflix series, how Asian representation matters, and more. (31:51)
In this episode’s “Union Town” segment (1:05), host Andra Whipple speaks with Rebekah Walendzak Slepski & Bina Martin about how educators at the Second City Training Center in Chicago, members of the Association of International Comedy Educators, reached a tentative deal with the iconic comedy company after a marathon, 11-hour bargaining session, thwarting a planned strike and ending a two-year fight for their first contract. Then host Monique Sorgen talks with writer-actor-comedian Gina Yashere (25:18) about her Nigerian-British roots and her unique path from stand-up to co-creating and co-starring on CBS’ hit comedy series Bob Hearts Abishola.
Host Moon Zappa speaks with filmmaker Sarah Polley about writing and directing her latest film Women Talking, adapted from Miriam Toews’ novel about women in an isolated religious community who grapple with reconciling their faith with brutal reality.
Host David Sheftell talks with Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty co-creator-showrunner-EP-writer Max Borenstein (The Terror: Infamy, Godzilla vs. Kong) about HBOMax’s series chronicling the ’80s-era L.A. Lakers basketball team on and off the court.
Host Hilliard Guess talks with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever screenwriters Ryan Coogler (director) & Joe Robert Cole about Marvel’s hit sequel and moving the MCU franchise forward.
Host David Sheftell chats with writer Alisha Ketry (American Dad, Fuller House) about the comedy film I’m Totally Fine.
Host David Radcliff talks with Terence Winter (The Sopranos, The Wolf of Wall Street) about the new Paramount+ series Tulsa King, thriving in the writers' room, and law school.
Host Josephine Green Zhang speaks with Chris Estrada about co-creating, writing, and starring in Hulu’s acclaimed, Latinx-centric comedy series This Fool, why representation matters, and more.
Host Monique Sorgen speaks with writer-actor-comedian Brittani Nichols (A Black Lady Sketch Show, Drop the Mic) about writing for ABC’s award-winning, hit comedy series Abbott Elementary and more.
Host Aaron Fullerton speaks with filmmaker Todd Field (Little Children) about writing and directing his latest film Tár, which explores fame and power.
Host David Radcliff speaks with screenwriter-director James Gray (Ad Astra, The Lost City of Z) about his latest film, Armageddon Time, a personal coming-of-age story about the strength of family and the generational pursuit of the American Dream.
Host Brian Gary talks with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power developers-showrunners J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay about Amazon’s epic fantasy series set in in the Second Age of Middle Earth, thousands of years before J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Host Hilliard Guess chats with screenwriter-director Abi Damaris Corbin & co-screenwriter Kwame Kwei-Armah about their recent film Breaking, whose title resonates in more ways than one.
Host Andra Whipple speaks with Wednesday creators-showrunners Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (Smallville, The Shannara Chronicles) about their Netflix’s Addams Family spinoff comedy -mystery series, creative process, and more.
All Things Must Come to an End: Host David Radcliff talks with Better Call Saul writers-EPs Gordon Smith and Alison Tatlock about the final season of AMC’s acclaimed, award-winning series.
Home for the Holidays: Host Susie Singer Carter chats with filmmaker Charles Shyer (Father of the Bride, Baby Boom) about co-writing and directing Netflix’s holiday romantic drama The Noel Diary, his career, and more.
Host Aaron Fullerton speaks with From Scratch creators-writers-sisters Attica & Tembi Locke about their Netflix limited series, based on Tembi’s memoir about finding love and home in Sicily.
Be Kind Rewind: Host Andra Whipple chats with Blockbuster creator-showrunner Vanessa Ramos (Superstore, Kenan) about her new Netflix comedy series and more.
To salute Veterans Day, hosts Steve Trautmann and Ken Pisani speak with veteran writers Brian Anthony (Station 19), Megan Ferrell Burke (Outlander), and Jalysa Conway (9-1-1: Lone Star) about how their military experience informs their work and their collaboration on the new comic book anthology Soldier Stories.
Host Moon Zappa talks with Let the Right One In creator-showrunner Andrew Hinderaker (Away, Penny Dreadful) about adapting the Swedish horror film and novel with a fresh, diverse spin for Showtime’s new series.
Host Brian Gary talks with writer Carlton Cuse (Jack Ryan, Locke & Key) about co-developing the AppleTV+ drama series Five Days at Memorial, chronicling the impact of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath at a local hospital.
Host Hilliard Guess talks with screenwriter Dana Stevens (Fatherhood, Safe Haven) about the historical epic The Woman King and more.