TTIE Newsletter - October 2024
TTIE Training Recap: How to Run an Equitable and Inclusive Writers Room
It was an honor to share our How to Run an Equitable and Inclusive Writers Room training with up-and-coming showrunners at the WGAE’s Showrunner Basic Training. We offered guidance on developing collaborative leadership skills and intentionally building a workplace culture that encourages creative risk-taking. We walked participants through each step, including expanding your search to find a diverse cross-section of writers to meet the day-to-day challenges of navigating sometimes uncomfortable story conversations.
If you would like to explore providing this workshop to your community or cohort, please reach out to info@writeinclusion.org.
#WriteInclusion Factsheet Spotlight: It’s Hispanic and Latinx Heritage and Filipino American History Months!
In October, we are celebrating Hispanic and Latinx Heritage and Filipino American History Months! It’s a time to uplift the milestones and highlight the struggles of Latinx and Filipino creatives.
You can find our Latinx People and Southeast Asians factsheets – and all of our #WriteInclusion: Tips for Accurate Representation factsheets – here.
Ask TTIE - Reputation Damage Control
Send us your questions about navigating the TV industry. We gather answers from working writers across levels and communities. We share select questions and answers here in our newsletter and on our Instagram, @writeinclusion. You can view all answered questions on our website.
Q: Years ago, a former colleague besmirched my reputation. Despite this person’s ill repute, their lie has caused lasting damage to my career. What can I do to move forward and put this untruth in my rearview? —Anonymous
Anonymous, this is a tough situation; challenging and stressful. It must feel especially frustrating that the person slandering you is known to be problematic.
Below are excerpts of answers from TTIE members - you can find their complete responses on our website.
“As someone who has been in a similar situation…for me, it was essential to take care of myself first and foremost. Find your support system and lean on them.”
“While some aspects of this are beyond your control, it may be worth it to ask - if someone is willing to believe a lie from someone unreliable - is this someone I want to work with? Give yourself grace, Anon, and lean on the people who know who you are and how you work - this is how I was fortunate enough to find the next gig!
“If you have reps and trust them, talk to them about it…. Build new relationships. Whether it’s through WGA activities or volunteer work …foster genuine connections. While it takes time to build trust, these folks will eventually be able to speak to your character, and even hire you.”
“Outside the support you may need from your existing trusted friends, try not to give the false rumor, or the person who started it, your time and energy. Focus on moving forward, on being the awesome person that you are, on bettering your craft. Go where the love is. Rise above.”
An additional thought from TTIE: For our readers who are in a hiring position, we strongly recommend connecting with multiple sources when vetting prospective hires. You want to ensure you’re not asking just one person, however trusted, and taking only their word. We all hold biases or may have connected with someone on their worst day – it may not define the candidate.
Do you have thoughts about this question or TTIE’s responses that you’d like to share? Click here to weigh in.
Requests from Our Friends
Take the Inclusive Storytelling Survey
The Center for Scholars and Storytellers at UCLA is developing a roadmap for achieving "authentically inclusive representation" (AIR) in film and television. As part of our research, we’re inviting writers and creators to share their experiences and insights on inclusive storytelling through a brief online survey. Participants will receive a $75 gift card. Your voice is crucial in helping us create a more diverse entertainment landscape!
Take the survey here.
Questions or comments? Please contact leelazar17@g.ucla.edu or perryartreed@gmail.com.
Humanitas’ Second Annual Food Insecurity Survey
Humanitas has launched its second annual Groceries for Writers Food Insecurity Survey. This survey will help us further understand the prevalence and impact of food insecurity in the screenwriting community.
We want as many professional and emerging screenwriters (whether they write features or teleplays) to take it while it’s available, so we can have as large a dataset, to create as complete a picture, as possible. Humanitas conducted a first of its kind Food Insecurity Survey in 2023. The results of that are available here and were covered in The Hollywood Reporter in February.
Please click here to take the survey. This anonymous survey will close at 11:59 PM PT on October 31.
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