E71 - Indie Panel: Writers’ Room Practices

We’re jamming with Jackie Decembly & Christina Pumariega on how a writers’ room actually works & how one climbs the ladder.

 

Born & raised in the Midwest, Jackie Decembly graduated from The Ohio State University & attended the University of Cincinnati for graduate school. After several years as a Spanish teacher, she left teaching to pursue a career as a TV writer. Now an LA based 1hr dramedy/drama writer, Jackie’s writing focuses primarily on female-driven stories that explore complicated family dynamics, female friendship & the idea of being a fish out of water. Her Blackish TV spec “Downsizing” was a semifinalist for The Breakk Screenwriting Competition. She has worked as a set production assistant, a line producer’s assistant & writers’ production assistant. She was a writers’ assistant on Netflix's Ginny & Georgia, and a staff writer on Disney +’s upcoming show Turner & Hooch. Jackie is currently a story editor on the CW's upcoming show the 4400.

 

Christina Pumariega acts & writes. Often simultaneously. Her play “Lei Chiede” (“She Questions”), inspired by her Italian-American grandmother’s experience interrogating POW’s in Baltimore Harbor, was commissioned by the Ammunition Theatre Company in LA & developed this summer with New Georges. “Her Math Play” has been developed at Joe’s Pub (Public Theater), and received a virtual performance as part of Hartford Stage’s American Voices New Play Festival in June. Her work has also been seen at the Lark and Ammo’s inaugural Writers’ Lab. Her TV writing credits include Turner & Hooch for Disney+ and Bluff City Law on NBC. Acting on & Off-Broadway, regionally and in TV & film, Pumariega has cross examined Coach Taylor, made out with the Fly & set a Cuban pharmacy ablaze in a corset. She’s an Expert Contributor to BackStage Magazine, and leads the collective Más Páginas, which dares more pages from diverse womxn writers. Born & raised all over the south, her father is Cuban, her mother is Italian-American. MFA, NYU Graduate Acting Program.

 

This program is brought to you by Catalyst Storieroad's partners: the National Academy of TV Arts & Sciences and WDSE-WRPT Duluth, in collaboration with our individual donors.