Watch - More Than a Period: Writing Girls Coming of Age Stories for TV

On August 13, we teamed up with Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting for a discussion about crafting girls’ coming-of-age stories. The panel of writers will share how their shows address this formative period for its characters, how their own experiences informed their writing, and why coming-of-age stories are an endless source of stories.

Panelists:

• Rheeqrheeq Chainey - Staff Writer, The Baby Sitters Club

• Sonia Kharkar - Executive Story Editor, On My Block, Never Have I Ever

• Christina Nieves - Staff Writer, Generation

• Ilana Peña - Creator, Diary of a Future President

Moderated by Dr. Rosanne Welch, Director of Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting.

Watch above or listen to the audio-only version below!

Watch - So You Want to Be a Staff Writer: Comedy Edition

On August 5, we learned about the role of the Staff Writer in a TV comedy writers room. Our panel of writers will share how they got the job, their experiences working in their respective rooms, and how they approach building a career writing for TV.

Panelists:

• Aadip Desai - Staff Writer, The Goldbergs

• Yael Green - Staff Writer, Space Force, Upload, Dickinson

• Sarah Naftalis - Staff Writer, What We Do In The Shadows

Moderated by WGF librarian Lauren O’Connor.

Watch above or listen to the audio-only version below!

Watch - WGF x Business of Creating: Creating and Selling Short-Form Content

On August 4, we partnered with Business of Creating for an interactive panel and Q&A with seasoned entertainment professionals to learn about short-form content: What is it and how do you create it? Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent creating content specifically for mobile phones that consumers watch exclusively on mobile devices. 

Topics will include: What types of short-form platforms exist? For whom can you create content? What is unique about short form platforms from 3 perspectives: Content Creators, Advertisers, and Audiences? How do you write, produce and pitch to short-form platforms like TikTok, Quibi, YouTube? How do you market your projects both to and on short-form platforms?

Panelists:

• Catherine Halaby - Entertainment Content Partnerships Lead,  TikTok

• Dan Heale -  CEO, Way To Blue

• Jeffrey Wisenbaugh - Head of Content, Instagram

• Michael Fisk - Studio Marketing Exec. and Owner of InterMark Strategy & Consulting

Moderated by Jennifer Mangan, Writer/Producer, Beautiful Day Productions

Watch above or listen to the audio-only version below!

Watch - So You Wanna Be a Staff Writer: Drama Edition

On July 29, we learned about the role of the Staff Writer in a TV drama writers room. Our panel of writers shared how they got the job, their experiences working in their respective rooms, and how they approach building a career writing for TV.

Panelists:

• Sarah Berry - Staff Writer, Hightown

• Daniel K. Hoh - Staff Writer, Station 19

• Marcelena Campos Mayhorn - Staff Writer, Selena: The Series

• Cameron Moore - Story Editor, All-American

Moderated by WGF Librarian Lauren O’Connor.

Watch above or click below for the audio-only version!

NOTE: Due to internet connectivity issues, Daniel Hoh’s stream cuts out at one point in the discussion. We apologize for the technical error.

Watch: Research Methods for Writers

On July 15, we heard about the research methods practiced by screenwriters Andrew Lanham (Just Mercy, The Kid) and Kevin Willmott (Da 5 Bloods, BlacKkKlansman). They shared how they gather information, how their research informs their screenplays, and how they approach writing stories about real people and events. Moderated by WGF librarian Lauren O’Connor.

Watch above or listen to the audio-only version below!