The Writers Room

Since 1974, Humanitas has honored and empowered screenwriters whose work explores the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way. We champion screenwriting projects that explore the human condition, as we believe the act of acknowledging our common humanity can be transformational for audiences. A strong desire to identify and nurture new generations of screenwriters dates back to Humanitas’s founding and led to the creation of annual programs like the New Voices Fellowship, College Screenwriting Awards, and Industry 101. 

Thanks to generous support from The Muriel Pollia Foundation, Humanitas is continuing The Writers Room, a TV writing workshop for high school students. The Writers Room offers students an introduction to TV writing and the opportunity to act as the “staff” of a TV “writers room,” working together to pitch, outline, and draft a teleplay of a pre-existing series. The Writers Room Workshop concludes with a table read in front of an audience. The 2024-25 Writers Room will be offered in person at Hollywood High School once a week throughout the school year. 

The first semester will be an introduction to screenwriting, the culture that surrounds it, and provide an opportunity for students to know each other. The second semester will be the Screenwriting Workshop. With a writing culture established and the basics fully internalized by students, the hired teaching artist will serve as a “showrunner” for students who will act as the “staff” of a TV “writers room,” working together to pitch, outline, and draft ONE teleplay of a pre-existing series. 

Humanitas is currently accepting applications for the 2024-25 Teaching Artist. 

THE WRITERS ROOM 2023-24

After the 12-weeks of workshops offered in person at Hollywood High School once a week from Fall to Winter 2023, The Writers Room at Hollywood High School concluded with a table read of their spec script for On My Block. In attendance were the creators and writers of the show, Jeremy Haft and Eddie Gonzalez, who had some words of encouragement for the students. 

Hollywood High’s school newspaper, The Crimson Chronicle has released an article about the event which you can read here. 

In addition to writing instruction, a collaborative, creative process like TV writing offers the unique opportunity for students to practice interpersonal communication, compromise, teamwork, active listening, and conflict resolution skills alongside the ability to receive feedback and offer constructive criticism. 

Thank you to our 2023-24 teaching artist, J.D. Shields and the teaching team at Hollywood High for helping develop the program.