Events!

New Podcast: Words Into Pixels Video Game Writing Panel

It's been a while since our last podcast, so we're excited to share this one from our recent sold-out event Words Into Pixels: Couches, Consoles and Creating Worlds, which was all about writing for video games. Moderated by Neil Druckmann (THE LAST OF US, UNCHARTED 4: A THIEF'S END), our panel included TJ Fixman (RATCHET & CLANK series), Marianne Krawczyk (GOD OF WAR series) and Tom Bissell (GEARS OF WAR: JUDGMENT). Listen for their insightful and very funny stories on:

  • The specific challenges and constraints of writing video game scripts
  • The most annoying parts of the job (Barks!)
  • What skills are important if you want to write for games.

[powerpress url="https://www.wgfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/VGpanel.wgf.podcast.mp3"]

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Music on the podcast is Electronic World v2 by FoxythePirateFoxPL

Master Class Moments: Meredith Stiehm and Pam Veasey Share Lessons Learned

Within the first few minutes of Tuesday night's Master Class, HOMELAND executive producer and writer Meredith Stiehm shared her first failure: A spec script she had sold for NORTHERN EXPOSURE inevitably did not get produced despite her attempts at multiple revisions. The lesson? Get back up and do it again. It was the first of many lessons shared by Stiehm, who parlayed that first failure to a staff gig on BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 and then NYPD BLUE, which she credits as the show that made her career and instilled in her an approach to writing for television.

"[NYPD BLUE co-creator David Milch] once said to me, 'Television doesn't demand quality, but it doesn't preclude it either' and that was back when network was really all there was," said Stiehm. "That always stuck with me. If you're doing it, why not do the best you can do."

The event, moderated by CSI:CYBER showrunner and WGF board member Pam Veasey, offered more insights from what to expect when choosing a career in TV writing to tips on how to impress a showrunner.

"If you are considering television writing, you are not writing TV by yourself. If you are interested in being on staff, you will get your heart broken day after day if you think your scenes, your words are going to be preserved," said Stiehm. "Your writer's draft will not be the shooting draft. It's a collaboration and you have to look at it with a little bit of reserve."

Having both transitioned from staff writer to showrunner, Stiehm and Veasey offered tips on how to pitch your way into a writing job, among other practical advice.

"Start with what's interesting is the first part of your pitch and having confidence," advised Veasey. "Be sure, positive and unwavering about your idea. Let your characters take you through your pitch and know who you're selling to."

"I find it nerveracking and awful to pitch. I write a script and I refine it and memorize it and act the whole thing out to my cat," added Stiehm.

When it comes to writing for HOMELAND, Stiehm embraced her role as the only female in the writers room, where she was naturally designated as the "Carrie Keeper." "Claire [Danes] and I have an affinity. She likes the writing and we work well together," said Stiehm. "I like being that person. That's my big contribution to the show."

Audio of the full event will be posted soon. Until then, enjoy some photos below and check out more upcoming events!

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Words Into Pixels: Video Game Writing Panel Packs the House

The audience's excitement was palpable well before the panelists hit the stage for Wednesday evening's event, "Words Into Pixels: Couches, Consoles and Creating Worlds." Students, aspiring writers, seasoned gamers and a smattering of proud moms, some of whom had driven from as far as Fresno, packed the WGAW's Del Reisman Multi-Purpose Room to learn how to break into writing for the gaming industry from our lineup of writers, which included WGF Board member and moderator Neil Druckmann (THE LAST OF US), TJ Fixman (RATCHET & CLANK series), Marianne Krawczyk (GOD OF WAR series) and Tom Bissell (GEARS OF WAR: JUDGMENT). The panelists certainly did not disappoint. From hilarious anecdotes about their respective introductions to the world of video game writing to practical details about the constraints and considerations behind navigating through a game's complex script, the conversation deftly informed and entertained. Tom Bissell offered some clarity about what makes video game writing distinctive from, say, writing for film: "A lot of it is not writing scenes for actors to portray. A lot of it is coming up with solutions to production decisions. If they cut an entire level out, now you have to figure out a way to connect them that wasn't apparent to you before."

We'll post the audio recording of the entire panel and Q&A soon so you can listen to every nugget of wisdom and each funny story. Until then, here are some photos from the event and audience responses on social media.

A huge thank you to Neil, TJ, Marianne and Tom for lending their time and sharing their tremendous knowledge and experiences with us!

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Tom Bissell on the challenges of marrying narrative with game play: "It's this completely absurd set-up that you have to do in the voice of the character and make it seem normal. This is a form of writing that throws some real curveballs at you."

IMG_2867 Marianne Krawczyk on an "a-ha" moment students reach in her video game writing classes at Loyola Marymount University: "You have to deal with a living agency within your game. Your character's not necessarily going to do what you want it to do and you have to write from that angle." IMG_2865 A look at the video game scripts we offer at our Library, which includes THE LAST OF US, ASSASSIN'S CREED series and ALIEN series. IMG_2868

Each panelist stayed after to answer individual questions and take pics.

 

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Last week, we celebrated women in writing

Last week we held a gathering in the library to celebrate women in writing - from the early days, when writers like Anita Loos, Dorothy Parker and Frances Marion reigned, to modern times, when writers like Robin Swicord (MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, LITTLE WOMEN) and Winnie Holzman (WICKED, MY SO-CALLED LIFE), Veena Sud (THE KILLING), Michelle Ashford (MASTERS OF SEX) and Terri Edda Miller (CASTLE) actually joined the celebration. We're always proud to celebrate the milestones made by writers of all stripes. In today's industry climate, women are underrepresented in just about every profession, so it's vital that the conversation continue.

And we were thrilled that so many writers and industry professionals showed up to help us celebrate. Take a look:

Georgia Jeffries, associate professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and a member of the WGF board of directors, speaks to the crowd.

Robert Nelson Jacobs, WGF Board President, also addressed the crowd...

 

...as did WGF Executive Director Katie Buckland.

The crowd in question. The library was packed from wall to wall!

Everyone came to celebrate women in writing.

Drinks were served by scotch ambassador Martin Daraz.

We were also joined by Miranda Banks, assistant professor at Emerson College's department of media and visual arts. Miranda is author of the book THE WRITERS: A HISTORY OF AMERICAN SCREENWRITERS AND THEIR GUILD, and performed much of her research for the book in the WGF Archive.

We also featured an exhibit of archival materials spotlighting women in writing - like Lillian Hellman's original application to the Screen Writers Guild.

...And this letter to Mary O'Connor from the office of Cecil B. de Mille.