Guild Launches TV Leadership Training Program

What makes a strong leader? Attributes often include consideration and respect for the entire staff, a sense of calm and plenty of common sense—not to mention knowing the tricks of the trade after years of experience.

WGAW Board members Nicole Yorkin and Melinda Hsu joined former board member Glen Mazzara to cover these topics—and many others!—as they launched the Guild’s Leadership Training Program (LTP) February 4 at the Writers Guild Theater. The six-week LTP is open to WGAW members in good standing who have TV experience at the producer level or higher. The new program is held lecture-style with Yorkin, Hsu, and Mazzara, and is covering key strategies for every stage of the television writing process, from staffing and running a room to managing set and post-production, and making sure companies are following the staffing minimums and other TV room protections writers fought for in the 2023 MBA. 

Leadership Training Program participant Kevin Garnett. Photo by Moises Marquez.

Over the course of the series, the trio will be joined by special guests to talk about how to ensure rooms have enough writers and enough weeks to do the work, as well as specific areas of expertise such as animation writing and comedy-variety.

Building on an idea that they first hatched while serving together on the WGAW Board seven years ago, Mazzara and Yorkin hope the program will help writers prosper as they advance in their careers, and then pay that expertise forward. The LTP is the first pilot program overseen by the newly-formed Board Education Committee, which has a mandate to oversee educational opportunities for television and screenwriters at various points in their careers. 

“What I really want is for some of you to be up here in 20 years teaching the next generation,” Mazzara told the group of more than 200 members during his welcoming remarks. “That’s how we go on as writers. That’s how we survive as a Guild.”

“In most big industries, there’s an apprenticeship program or some kind of employment training as people rise up in the ranks of their profession,” added Yorkin. “We wanted to consider the moral as well as practical components of being on a writing staff. What are our values as producers, number twos and showrunners? What set of skills should we know and have at each level? How should we treat our assistants and support staff? How do we codify all of this knowledge?”

These questions have long been of interest to Hsu who endured her share of dysfunctional rooms early in her career and made a point of managing things differently when she became a showrunner on Nancy Drew and Tom Swift. Even basic practices can make an impact, Hsu said, such as looking staff in the eye and saying thank you; replying “received” when you get an email; or promising to get back to someone with an answer on a specific date if you can’t answer the question when it’s asked.

“It’s not even magic. It’s just kind of being transparent and accountable to people and also giving people the space and encouragement to live their personal lives so they feel like they are respected for their time, and boundaries are established,” Hsu said. “When you do that for people, they actually want to stay longer and work harder, which is a business benefit.”

During a reception in the theater’s lobby before the program got underway, several members expressed their appreciation for the chance to get some valuable training. 

Leadership Training Program participant Franki Butler. Photo by Moises Marquez.

“It’s great that there are growth opportunities that the Guild is providing us to further our careers, and learn more about the jobs that we’re trying to get,” said Kevin Garnett, who looked forward to discussion of room management and post-production. “As you sort of rise through the ranks, room management is the one thing that you have to learn on the job and are not necessarily taught how to manage other writers.”

“Managerial stuff is where a lot of people get tripped up when they become showrunners,” added Matthew Cruz. “I have a very specific goal of being a really good showrunner one day, and that’s something I really want to iron all the kinks from before I’m in that position. It’s one thing to be an artist, and it’s another to go in and be in charge of 300 people on a set.”

Laurie Parres recalled taking the Guild’s Showrunner Training Program during which she was “typing notes the entire time.” She added that she was always excited about opportunities to hear Guild members share their best practices.

Parres’ opinion was echoed by 14-year WGAW member Jake Emanuel who learned of the LTP and jumped at the opportunity. 

“Every time I have been to something like this that the Guild has done, I’ve always taken away something new that I wasn’t expecting,” he said.

“It’s awesome that there are programs like this,” agreed Franki Butler. “Things that further our careers and also increase member engagement with each other are things that I’m really happy about.”