Writers Talk

In this new edition of the Writers Guild podcast, 3rd and Fairfax, there's a bit of a twist.

The second interview -- the one with the TV or screenwriter -- is with Matt Nix, who created the series Burn Notice and The Comedians.  However, it's the first interview, the one that's more Guild machinations-oriented, that I want to bring your attention to.

This first interview is with Dr. Miranda Banks, a professor at Emerson College -- which might not immediately leap up in your area of interest -- but she's written a book on the history of the WGA:  The Writers: A History of American Screenwriters and their Guild.  More to the point, though, as far as I'm concerned at least, is that Dr. Banks is interested by my friend Jeff Melvoin.  Jeff is a terrific guy, who runs the Guild's Showrunner Training Program, for the people who are in charge of TV shows.  He's been in charge of a slew of programs himself, most recently Army Wives, but also Alias and Picket Fences, among others, and wrote for Northern Exposure and Remington Steele, among many others.  In addition, though, before his television career began, Jeff was a reporter for Time Magazine -- the point here being, besides being a great guy and accomplished writers, he's a top-notch interviewer, too.

Plus, he likes the Chicago Cubs.