OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East Episode 110: Ron Nyswaner, "Fellow Travelers"
Apr 24, 2024
Ron Nyswaner, an award-winning screenwriter and creator of the Showtime series Fellow Travelers, discusses his journey through Hollywood. He shares insights on balancing authenticity in LGBTQ+ storytelling while avoiding trauma tropes. Ron emphasizes the importance of collaboration on set, managing budget constraints creatively, and crafting compelling genre narratives. He also reflects on historical accuracy, structuring timelines across decades, and the challenges of writing intimate scenes that empower actors. Plus, he offers valuable advice for LGBTQ+ writers pitching their stories.
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Spend Dollars Where Audience Feels Them
- Reuse or redress existing sets when budgets demand and prioritize spending where the audience will feel stakes.
- Negotiate with production and accept compromises that free budget for music, extras, or other high-impact elements.
Bringing Departments Into The Story
- Ron personally walked departments through historical context, like the White Night riots, to motivate authentic performances and staging.
- That cross-department storytelling built buy-in and emotional accuracy on set.
Expand Source Material To Reflect Community
- Nyswaner intentionally expanded the novel's cast to add Black characters and broader community texture.
- Historical research revealed vibrant Black gay communities that the original book omitted.
