This is the fourth episode in the WGA inspired mini-season. A break from the usual "Directors on Directing," this season is focused on the granular mechanics screenwriting. Each of these conversations were recorded as a part of a remote writer's group that I ran in early 2020. Though they weren't ever intended to be released publicly - given the WGA (and now SAG) strikes, I thought it would be a small act of solidarity to bring our attention back to the work that goes into the creation of the screenplay.

This week's conversation is with the wildly talented writer, director, and cinematographer, MORGAN COOPER. Morgan created a spec trailer for a dramatic reimagining of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" called BEL-AIR and threw it up on YouTube. In quick succession, Will Smith found it and he and Morgan pitched and sold two seasons of the yet-to-be-created show to Peacock. Morgan has been on a rocket ship ride and is one of the most exciting and dynamic filmmakers to emerge in the past few years. He has multiple projects in development and I have no doubt, will become one of the preeminent TV creators of the next decade.

Morgan was kind enough to join our writer's group in early 2020 as he shared his screenwriting philosophy, approach, and experiences. He speaks about his outlining process, how to take network notes, and the ways in which creativity is influenced by constraints. At the time, he was writing a show for the now shuttered QUIBI, so quite a bit of the conversation revolves around that particular show. While Quibi is dead, the idea that one must write to the structure of the network is a transferable concept and one that I found to be quite valuable.

Morgan will be a featured interview in the larger S2, however, I'm excited to present our conversation here as a preamble for things to come.