3rd & Fairfax: The WGAW Podcast Writers Guild of America West

In this episode WGAW member Susie Singer Carter talks with 2024 Writers Guild Award-winning writer Jen D’Angelo (01:10) about crafting films such as Quiz Lady and Totally Killer, how her improv comedy experience informs her creative process, and more. For the Union Town segment (31:31), 2023 WGA Negotiating Committee Co-Chairs and past WGAW Presidents David A. Goodman and Chris Keyser receive WGAW’s Morgan Cox Award at the recent 2024 Writers Guild Awards, honoring their outstanding Guild service and leadership which played a key role in the WGA achieving unprecedent gains during last year’s MBA negotiations and 148-day writers’ strike.

In this episode’s Union Town segment (01:03), WGAW member “Jazz” Peck talks with American Federation of Musicians Local 47 President Stephanie O’Keefe about representing musicians in the industry, the power of solidarity, and the magic that both musicians and writers create with their work. Then, WGAW member Aaron Fullerton talks with A Murder at the End of the World co-creator-showrunner-writer and co-star Brit Marling (23:26) about telling stories that blend real emotions with big ideas, the unique pitching process she has with her writing partner, and more.

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.

In this episode’s new “Union Town” segment (1:18), WGAW member Jasmyne Peck speaks with educators Peter Gamble and Dara Resnik about how USC’s Adjunct Faculty Alliance is organizing with UAW (United Auto Workers) to improve their pay and working conditions. Next up, to coincide with Black History Month, Committee of Black Writers Co-Chair Hilliard Guess talks with Writers Guild Award & Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated writer Cord Jefferson (18:24) (Succession, Watchmen) about his acclaimed film American Fiction, the challenges of adaption, and creating Black-centered narratives.