Candidate for President
I can’t make promises. I can offer goals.
First, we need to reinforce the basics. Protecting the health care and pension funds. Defending free speech and the value of our work. Guaranteeing meaningful compensation and a safe work environment. Resisting prejudice and all its dangers.
Our members, active and united, are essential to our strength, as all three sectors of our Guild brace for the upcoming headwinds: Artificial Intelligence, copyright infringement, anti-union badgering, corporate cynicism, government threats, shrinking opportunities.
Since Covid slammed into our lives, I have been racked by the same fears and frustrations as most writers. The Guild can’t create jobs, but we can, through negotiation, mentoring, retraining and production tax rebates, maintain traditional ways of making money, while supporting innovation — being open to new ideas and generating new strategies, ever mindful of our union’s past victories.
I’ve served on the council and negotiating committees. I’ve served as VP of the Guild and President of the Writers Guild Initiative (WGI), our charitable foundation. I’m still on the board of that amazing group of volunteers. I have a strong relationship with the Guild staff, the film/tv production community and many of our members.
Over the course of my career, I’ve been a freelancer, staff writer, story editor, producer and showrunner on broadcast, cable and streaming. I’ve written TV shows, plays, films, an audio drama series and essays for the NYT. I’ve produced documentaries. I’ve even appeared on a late night talk show. To save you a trip to IMDb, here are a few examples of the series I’ve created and/or showrun: HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET, OZ, Canal+’s BORGIA and, most recently, I was co-creator & co-showrunner on MONSIEUR SPADE.
Being a part of the WGAE has been a major factor in my career. I’m proud of the fact we represent so many different kinds of writers working in so many different mediums. And we aren’t done yet.
I believe in speaking the truth, especially to those in power. At a congressional committee hearing, I went tusk-to-tusk against Rupert Murdoch, fighting to block the consolidation of local newspapers, TV and radio stations by a single large media company. I had an encounter with Donald Trump, which I’d be happy tell you about over a bourbon in a bar.
A last thought: Once upon a time there were no films, no radio, no television. On-line meant standing in a line. I believe, for us writers, the future holds yet-to-be-conceived forms of entertainment, of news, of expression. Let’s set our minds loose, explore the possibilities and find the answers together. Let’s tell our stories.
Oh, wait, there is one promise I can make: I will listen.
Endorsements
Chris Albers, Sofia Alvarez, John Auerbach, Neena Beber, Andy Bergman, David Blum, Eric Bogosian, Kyle Bradstreet, Adam Brooks, Joe Cacaci, Micharne Cloughley, Larry Cohen, Larry J Cohen, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Bonnie Datt, Sara David, Kevin Deiboldt, Devin Delliquanti, Chris Dingess, Richard Dresser, Glenn Eichler, Cameron Faulkner, Tina Fey, Kaitlin Fontana, Scott Frank, Gabrielle Fulton, Terry George, Christopher Gethard, Michael Gleason, Elizabeth Godvik, Tian Jun Gu, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Jim Hart, Melissa Hilfers, Jeff Holmes, A.M. Homes, Don P Hooper, David Jaher, Jamal Joseph, Christina Kallas, Steven Katz, Thomas Kelly, Tom Kemnitz, Jr, Susan Kim, Penelope Koechl, Brian Koppelman, Christopher Kyle, Richard Lagravenese, Gail Lee, Warren Leight, Todd Levin, Amy Lippman, Jenny Lumet, Eduardo Machado, John Markus, Julie Martin, Glen Mazzara, Sarah Montana, Matthew Nemeth, Allan Neuwirth, Marsha Norman, Philip Pilato, Victoria Pollack, Regina Porter, CQ Quintana, Michael Rauch, Willie Reale, Andrew Rheingold, Celine Robinson, Céline Robinson, Sharyn Rothstein, Erica Saleh, Melissa Salmons, Kenneth Sanzel, James Schamus, William Scheft Jr, Bob Schneider, David Simon, Nick Snyder, Aurin Squire, Sasha Stewart, Susanna Styron, John Thibodeaux, Suzanne Weber, Joseph Weisberg, Joe Weisberg, Michael Weller, Colleen Werthmann, Beau Willimon, Michael Winship, Jim Yoshimura, Jorge Zamacona
WGAW: Andrea Ciannavei, Joel Fields, Sean Jablonski
Endorse Tom Fontana for President
Note: WGAW members who wish to endorse a candidate may follow the process outlined in section G.1.B of the 2025 Election Policy.
