Close Up with the Hollywood Reporter Season 2 Episode 12 Writers

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter is an engaging talk show series that features candid discussions with some of the most prominent names in the entertainment industry. In season 2 episode 12, the show focuses on the world of writers, bringing together some of the most celebrated and talented writers from various mediums.

The episode is hosted by acclaimed journalist Lacey Rose, who leads the conversation with the six writers based on their experiences and viewpoints on their work and the industry as a whole. The six writers featured in this episode are: Lena Waithe, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Peter Morgan, David E. Kelley, Dustin Lance Black, and Gloria Calderón Kellett.

With such a diverse blend of writers from different genres, the talks cover a wide spectrum of topics from how they got started in the business, to story building, and what keeps them motivated. The discussions delve into the creative process behind creating a great script and the challenges they face while creating stories that people can connect with.

Lena Waithe, creator of 'The Chi,' and writer of the hit Netflix series 'Master of None,' talks about her approach to storytelling. Lena views her work as an opportunity to give the readers and viewers an experience they haven’t encountered yet in their life. She adds that while writing a story, she thinks about who she is writing for and what kind of story she wants to tell them.

The creator of the popular series 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' Amy Sherman-Palladino talks about the importance of relatable and memorable characters. She believes that the characters she writes are real and her fans often feel a connection to them. She discusses the challenges of creating dynamic and captivating storylines that evoke emotions from the characters’ journeys.

Meanwhile, writer Peter Morgan, who penned the British historical drama 'The Crown,' speaks about the research and preparation involved in creating a drama based on real-life events. He discusses the complexity of balancing fact with fiction and states that the drama is not a documentary. He also adds that his role as a writer is to tell the story behind facts without misrepresenting them.

David E. Kelley, creator of 'Big Little Lies' and 'Ally McBeal,' shares his views on how to write compelling dramas that impact the audience. He believes that a good story should strike an emotional chord with the viewers that make them invested in the characters’ lives. He also adds that he never writes what he doesn't believe as he thinks keeping all your writing personal is the key to staying true to your work.

Dustin Lance Black, Academy Award-winning screenwriter of 'Milk,' talks about the representation of LGBTQ people on television and film. Dustin says he always wanted to tell human stories to a mass audience and always had the intention to produce engaging stories reflecting on LGBTQ lives. He adds that he doesn't want to be known just as a gay writer but a writer who writes to connect the characters to people.

Gloria Calderón Kellett, the showrunner of the Netflix hit series 'One Day At A Time,' talks about navigating the cultural nuances and creating a show that represents different communities responsibly. Gloria thinks that her show's themes carry a sense of intimacy and a place where people could see themselves reflected. She says that the efforts towards inclusivity has to be done thoughtfully, with care and respect for all the individual groups involved.

The episode delivers an engaging and insightful discussion that provides a glimpse into the minds of writers with different backgrounds and perspectives. The conversation around the creative process, the power of characters, and the challenges of creating an engaging story is explored thoroughly, giving viewers an in-depth understanding of what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite TV shows and films. Whether you are a fan of movies, TV shows or storytelling in general, the episode is a must-watch.