3rd & Fairfax: The WGAW Podcast - 2021

3rd & Fairfax, the official podcast of the Writers Guild of America West, features information and updates about the Guild and interviews with top writers.

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Executive Producers: Brian Gary and Steve Trautmann
Hosts: Aaron Fullerton, Brian Gary, Josephine Green Zhang, Hilliard Guess, Jon Gutierrez, Christopher Kubasik, Luciano Saber, David Sheftell, Monique Sorgen, Steve Trautmann, Moon Zappa

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DECEMBER 21, 2021

WGA 101 – David Seidler
Royal drama The King’s Speech has been named one of WGA’s 101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (*so far) – author/screenwriter Ken Pisani speaks with the film’s screenwriter David Seidler about how his personal experience shaped his historical script.

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DECEMBER 16, 2021

Ep. 278 – Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth
Brian talks with the team of screenwriters behind the epic feature film Dune: Jon Spaihts, and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth.

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DECEMBER 14, 2021

Ep. 277 – Nicole Holofcener & Ben Affleck & Matt Damon
Brian has a conversation with the writing team behind the film The Last Duel: Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said) & Ben Affleck (The Town) & Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting).

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DECEMBER 9, 2021

Ep. 276 – Nick Kroll
Steve Trautmann talks with Big Mouth co-creator/star Nick Kroll (The Kroll Show, The League) about the animated Netflix series, comedy and the importance of collaboration.

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DECEMBER 6, 2021

WGA 101 – Jordan Peele
Get Out has been named #1 on WGA’s 101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (*so far) list—host Hilliard Guess discusses with screenwriter-director Jordan Peele how he created his culture-defining horror thriller on this special bonus episode.

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DECEMBER 3, 2021

Ep. 275 – Edgar Wright & Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Host Josephine Green Zhang interviews Last Night in Soho screenwriter-director Edgar Wright (Baby Driver) & co-screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917) about how they stepped back in time to revisit ’60s London in their recent horror thriller.

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NOVEMBER 18, 2021

Ep. 274 – Paul Schrader
Host Brian Gary speaks with writer-director Paul Schrader (First Reformed, Affliction) about his latest film, The Card Counter, his creative process and career as an acclaimed screenwriter (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull) and filmmaker.

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NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Ep. 273 – Rawson Marshall Thurber
Host Luciano Saber talks with screenwriter-director Rawson Marshall Thurber (Skyscraper, Central Intelligence) about his new action-adventure movie, Red Notice.

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NOVEMBER 11, 2021

Ep. 272 – Zahir McGhee
Don’t Call it a Comeback: Host Hilliard Guess speaks to Queens creator-showrunner Zahir McGhee (Scandal, Private Practice) about his new ABC drama series that chronicles the reunion of a '90s female hip-hop group—and why age ain’t nothing but a number.

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NOVEMBER 4, 2021

Ep. 271 – Gary Janetti
Host David Sheftell talks with The Prince creator-showrunner-star and best-selling author Gary Janetti (Family Guy, Will & Grace) about satirizing the Royal Family on HBO Max’s animated comedy series.

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OCTOBER 28, 2021

Ep. 270 – Justine Bateman
Host Moon Zappa talks with filmmaker-author-actress Justine Bateman about making her screenwriting and directing feature debut with her new film Violet, exploring the difference between a person’s private thoughts and public face.

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OCTOBER 21, 2021

Ep. 269 – Abe Sylvia
Host Moon Zappa talks to writer Abe Sylvia (Dead to Me, The Affair, Nurse Jackie) about making the transition from the small to big screen and transforming a 2000 documentary into the 2021 feature film The Eyes of Tammy Faye, an empathetic exploration of the rise and fall of televangelists Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker.

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OCTOBER 14, 2021

Ep. 268 – Dan Dworkin & Jay Beattie
Host David Sheftell talks to The Lost Symbol developers-showrunners Dan Dworkin & Jay Beattie (Matador, The Crossing) about bringing Dan Brown’s novel to the TV screen for Peacock’s new action-adventure series.

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OCTOBER 7, 2021

Ep. 267 – Kay Cannon
Host Monique Sorgen talks with screenwriter-director Kay Cannon (the Pitch Perfect franchise) about reimagining Cinderella as a bold, new Amazon musical.

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Ep. 266 – Eliza Clark
Host Josephine Green Zhang speaks with Y: The Last Man developer-showrunner-writer Eliza Clark (Animal Kingdom, The Killing) about the new FX on Hulu series where a post-apocalyptic society is run by women after the obliteration of all cisgender males on Earth…except one.

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SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Ep. 265 – Aron Gaudet & Gita Pullapilly
Host David Sheftell interviews screenwriters-directors and married creative partners Aron Gaudet & Gita Pullapilly about their coupon caper comedy Queenpins.

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SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

Ep. 264 – Clay Tarver
Monique interviews writer-director Clay Tarver (Silicon Valley) about his career and recent film Vacation Friends streaming on Hulu.

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SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

Ep. 263 – Julie Delpy
Host Moon Zappa interviews On the Verge creator-writer-director-star Julie Delpy (Before Sunset, Before Midnight) about her Netflix dramedy series that follows four female friends who use midlife as an opportunity for reinvention.

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Ep. 262 – Avi Issacharoff & Lior Raz & Dawn Prestwich & Nicole Yorkin
Brian interviews Avi Issacharoff & Lior Raz & Dawn Prestwich & Nicole Yorkin, the co-creators and showrunners of the Netflix dramatic series Hit & Run.

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

Ep. 261 – Dave Callaham
Host Josephine Green Zhang talks with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings co-screenwriter Dave Callaham (Mortal Kombat, Wonder Woman 1984) about making history with Marvel’s first Asian superhero movie and inclusive storytelling to the MCU..

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SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Ep. 260 – Sublime Primetime 2021 Drama Panel
Before you watch the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, listen to our recent Sublime Primetime 2021 virtual panel featuring Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Emmy-nominated writers, presented by Writers Guild Foundation and Writers Guild of America West in partnership with Variety and Final Draft.

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SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Ep. 259 – Sublime Primetime 2021 Comedy Panel
In advance of the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, listen to our recent Sublime Primetime 2021 virtual panel featuring Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Emmy-nominated writers, presented by Writers Guild Foundation and Writers Guild of America West in partnership with Variety and Final Draft.

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AUGUST 18, 2021

Ep. 258 – Jen Statsky
Host Josephine Green Zhang interviews Emmy-nominated Hacks co-creator/co-showrunner Jen Statsky (The Good Place, Broad City) about HBO Max’s breakout comedy series.

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AUGUST 12, 2021

Ep. 257 – Michael Waldron
Brian interviews creator-showrunner-writer Michael Waldron about his Marvel series Loki on Disney+.

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AUGUST 5, 2021

Ep. 256 – Alissa Nutting and Christina Lee
Hot Chip: Host Josephine Green Zhang talks with Made for Love co-creator/novelist Alissa Nutting and co-creator/showrunner Christina Lee about HBO Max’s dark comedy series.

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JULY 30, 2021

Ep. 255 – Neil Burger
Brian interviews writer, director, and producer Neil Burger (The Illusionist) about his latest film, Voyagers.

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JULY 15, 2021

Ep. 254 – Steve Yockey
Host Christopher Kubasik speaks with 2021 (73rd) Emmy-nominated The Flight Attendant developer-showrunner-writer Steve Yockey (Doom Patrol, Supernatural) about the breakout HBO Max series and more.

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JULY 13, 2021

Ep. 253 – Ilana Glazer & John Lee
Host Josephine Green Zhang talks to Broad City co-creator/co-star Ilana Glazer & John Lee (The Heart She Holler), who make the move from comedy to horror with the maternity thriller False Positive.

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JULY 8, 2021

Ep. 252 – David Manson
Brian interviews writer, director, producer, and showrunner David Manson (House of Cards, Ozark, Saved) about his WGA/PGA/Emmy-nominated, and Peabody Award-winning career in film and television.

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JULY 2, 2021

Ep. 251 – Iliza Shlesinger
Monique talks with writer, actor, producer, and stand-up comic Iliza Schlesinger about her Netflix comedy Good On Paper.

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JUNE 29, 2021

Ep. 250 – Gemma Baker & Nick Bakay
David Sheftell interviews showrunners Gemma Baker (Two and a Half Men) & Nick Bakay (Paul Bart: Mall Cop) about the final season of the CBS sitcom Mom.

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JUNE 24, 2021

Ep. 249 – Katori Hall
The Pole Truth: Host Josephine Green Zhang speaks with P-Valley creator-showrunner and 2021 Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall (The Hot Wing King) on her Starz series which explores sexuality, gender, and race, destigmatizing stripping and combating stereotypes in the process.

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JUNE 17, 2021

Ep. 248 – Ethan Hawke
Host Christopher Kubasik talks with The Good Bird Lord co-creator and 2021 Writers Guild Award nominee Ethan Hawke (Before Sunset, The Hottest State) about co-writing and starring as abolitionist John Brown in Showtime’s acclaimed limited series set in Antebellum-era America.

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JUNE 9, 2021

Ep. 247 – Darlene Hunt
Host Monique Sorgen speaks with Call Me Kat developer-showrunner Darlene Hunt (The Conners, The Big C) about writing comedy for primetime network TV.

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JUNE 3, 2021

Ep. 246 – Chris Van Dusen
Host David Sheftell speaks with Bridgerton creator-showrunner Chris Van Dusen (Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy) about his modern take on period drama in Netflix’s hit series that explores love, marriage, and class in Regency London.

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MAY 26, 2021

Ep. 245 – Suzan-Lori Parks
Host Hilliard Guess has a conversation with screenwriter-playwright Suzan-Lori Parks (The U.S. vs. Billie Holiday, Native Son) about creating NatGeoTV’s Genius: Aretha limited series and honoring the life and legacy of the Queen of Soul.

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MAY 21, 2021

Ep. 244 – Sierra Teller Ornelas & Jana Schmieding
Rutherford Falls co-creator/showrunner Sierra Teller Ornelas and co-star/writer Jana Schmieding speak with writer Tazbah Chavez about the groundbreaking Peacock comedy series that explores Native identity and history with indigenous representation in front of the camera and in the writers’ room.

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MAY 15, 2021

Ep. 243 – Tracey Wigfield
Host Monique Sorgen talks with Saved by the Bell developer-showrunner and Emmy/Writers Guild Award-winning writer Tracey Wigfield (30 Rock, The Mindy Project) about bringing Bayside High up to date for the teen comedy series’ Peacock reboot.

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MAY 6, 2021

Ep. 242 – Little Marvin
Host Hilliard Guess talks with Them: Covenant creator-showrunner-EP-writer Little Marvin about how Amazon’s anthology series explores racism through the lens of horror.

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APRIL 30, 20021

Ep. 241 – Nikole Beckwith
Host Monique Sorgen interviews Nikole Beckwith (Impulse, Tell Me Your Secrets), about her new film, Together Together, a dramedy that explores love, parenthood, and boundaries she wrote and directed.

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APRIL 22, 2021

Ep. 240 – Eric Heisserer
Host Christopher Kubasik talks with screenwriter Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Bird Box) about the new fantasy-adventure Netflix series, Shadow and Bone (based on the Grishaverse novels by Leigh Bardugo), that he serves as developer, showrunner, writer, and executive producer.

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APRIL 15, 2021

Ep. 239 – Ben Falcone
Host Josephine Green Zhang talks with screenwriter-director Ben Falcone (Life of the Party, The Boss, Tammy) about his latest film, the superhero comedy Thunder Force, his creative collaboration with his wife/co-star Melissa McCarthy, and more.

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APRIL 8, 2021

Ep. 238 – Lizzie Molyneux & Wendy Molyneux
Host David Sheftell speaks with The Great North co-creators-showrunners Lizzie Molyneux & Wendy Molyneux (Bob’s Burgers) about animation writing, their collaborative process, and more.

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APRIL 1, 2021

Ep. 237 – Jessica Goldberg
Host Christopher Kubasik speaks with Cherry co-screenwriter Jessica Goldberg (Away, The Path) about adapting Nico Walker’s novel for the AppleTV+ film which chronicles an Army medic’s battle with PTSD and descent into addiction.

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MARCH 25, 2021

Ep. 236 – Cheryl Guerriero
Host Christopher Kubasik speaks with Palmer screenwriter Cheryl Guerriero about the family drama that explores nonconformity, bullying, and tolerance..

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MARCH 18, 2021

Ep. 235 – Todd Robinson
Host Luciano Saber talks with screenwriter-director Todd Robinson (Phantom, Lonely Hearts) about making his film The Last Full Measure, a military drama chronicling U.S. Air Force Pararescueman William H, Pitsenbarger, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery on the battlefield.

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MARCH 11, 2021

Ep. 234 – Will Berson & Shaka King
Host Hilliard Guess speaks with Judas and the Black Messiah screenwriters, 2021 Writers Guild Award-nominees, and Paul Selvin Award honorees Will Berson & Shaka King (director) about bringing the life and legacy of slain Black Panther leader Fred Hampton to the screen.

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MARCH 9, 2021

Ep. 233 – Tiller Russell
Brian interviews writer-director-producer Tiller Russell (Chicago Fire, Chicago PD) regarding his new feature film about the rise and fall of the darknet marketplace, Silk Road.

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MARCH 4, 2021

Ep. 232 – Mark Lafferty
Steve Trautmann talks with Mark Lafferty (Castle Rock, Halt and Catch Fire) about his career and new series about the Mercury project, The Right Stuff.

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FEBRUARY 25, 2021

Ep. 231 – Moisés Zamora
Host Josephine Green Zhang talks with Selena: The Series creator/co-showrunner Moisés Zamora (American Crime, Star) about honoring the life and legacy of the late pop icon on Netflix’s hit show, the importance of an inclusive writers’ room with Latinx and LGBTQ+ voices, and more.

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FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Ep. 230 – Sofia Coppola
Host Moon Zappa speaks with Writers Guild and Academy Award-winning screenwriter-director Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation, The Beguiled, Marie-Antoinette) about her latest film, On the Rocks, reteaming with co-star Bill Murray, her filmmaking process, and more.

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FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Ep. 229 – Emerald Fennell
Host Moon Zappa speaks with actress-writer Emerald Fennell (The Crown) about her feature screenwriting-directing debut, the audacious new thriller Promising Young Woman.

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FEBRUARY 5, 2021

Ep. 228 – Tara Miele
Host Moon Zappa talks with screenwriter-director Tara Miele (The Nomads, Starving in Suburbia), about how real-life experience inspired her latest film, Wander Darkly, about parents forced to deal with trauma amidst their troubled relationship.

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JANUARY 28, 2021

Ep. 227 – Judd Apatow
New host David Sheftell speaks with The King of Staten Island co-screenwriter-director Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, This is 40) about his recent dramedy, career, and creative process.

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JANUARY 25, 2020

Ep. 226 – Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines
Host Steve Trautmann talks with Borat Subsequent Moviefilm screenwriters Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines (Who is America?, Ali G. Rezurection) about devising their stealth satire that skewers sacred cows and made headlines of its own.

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JANUARY 21, 2021

Ep. 225 – Kemp Powers
Host Hilliard Guess speaks with screenwriter-playwright Kemp Powers on adapting his play for the new Amazon film One Night in Miami, when four legends—Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke—came together for one legendary night.

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JANUARY 14, 2021

Ep. 224 – Alan Ball
Host Josephine Green Zhang speaks with Uncle Frank screenwriter-director Alan Ball (Six Feet Under, True Blood) about how coming home can be as complicated as coming out.

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JANUARY 14, 2021

Ep. 223 – Benjamin Cavell
Host Brian Gary talks with The Stand co-developer/showrunner Benjamin Cavell (SEAL Team, Justified) about reimagining Stephen King’s post-apocalyptic tale for a contemporary audience amidst a real-life global pandemic.

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JANUARY 7, 2021

Ep. 222 – Lang Fisher
Host Josephine Green Zhang speaks with Never Have I Ever co-creator/showrunner Lang Fisher (The Mindy Project, 30 Rock) about the hit Netflix series chronicling an American-Indian teenage girl’s coming-of-age, inspired by co-creator Mindy Kaling’s own childhood.

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DECEMBER 23, 2020

Ep. 221 – Jon Raymond & Kelly Reichardt
Host Christopher Kubasik interviews screenwriters Jon Raymond & Kelly Reichardt (director) about making their film, First Cow, a Western fable about the balance between friendship and capitalism set in 1820s Northwest.

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DECEMBER 17, 2020

Ep. 220 – David E. Talbert
In the spirit of the season, host Gary Goldstein speaks with screenwriter-director David E. Talbert (Almost Christmas, Baggage Claim, First Sunday) about creating his Netflix holiday film, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, and the power of inclusion and representation.

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DECEMBER 10, 2020

Ep. 219 – Kevin J. Hynes
Host Luciano Saber speaks with TV writer Kevin J. Hynes (Dirty John, Perry Mason, Scorpion) about writing crime dramas, his creative process, and career.

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DECEMBER 3, 2020

Ep. 218 – Clea Duvall
Host Moon Zappa talks with screenwriter-director-actress Clea Duvall (The Handmaid’s Tale, Veep, The Intervention) about her LGBTQ+ holiday romantic comedy, Happiest Season, and making the transition from in front of to behind the camera.

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