“It’s better for characters if their arc isn’t a straight line. You get to see how far they will go for something. You get to test them.” – Latoya Morgan
LaToya Morgan (@MorganicInk) is screenwriter who currently serves an executive producer on AMC’s Into the Badlands. Previously, she has worked on the shows Shameless and Turn. She is currently developing a drama for AMC based on Wesley Lowery’s best-selling book They Can’t Kill Us All.
In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and LaToya talk about her early upbringing and influences (2:30); diversity on television (8:30); her decision to become a writer (15:00); the role of research versus personal experience in writing (28:00); the the experience of working in a writers’ room (34:00); and managing work/life balance (48:00).
Notable Links:
- Stephen King (author)
- The Twilight Zone (television show)
- Black Mirror (television show)
- General Hospital (television show)
- One Life to Live (television show)
- Oprah (television personality / media executive)
- Friday Night Lights (television show)
- Mad Men (television show)
- Game of Thrones (television show)
- The X-Files (television show)
- John Steinbeck (author)
- American Film Institute
- Charlie Chaplin (actor)
- City Lights (film)
- Final Draft (screenwriting software)
- Melrose Place (television show)
- Sunset Boulevard (film)
- Warner Brothers Television Writers’ Workshop
- Southland (television show)
Books mentioned:
- Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
- The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
- Cannery Row, by John Steinbeck
- The Art of Dramatic Writing, by Lajos Egri
- Save the Cat, by Blake Snyder
- The Hero’s Journey, by Joseph Campbell
- Story, by Robert McKee
- On Writing, by Stephen King
- Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.
Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.
