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ASJA Direct - Michael Zam

Michael Zam is co-creator, writer, and producer on FX’s Feud: Bette and Joan, the smash 8-part limited series that Zam and writing partner Jaffe Cohen first wrote as a screenplay, Best Actress (Black List 2010). For Feud, they were nominated for two prime time Emmy Awards, as well Golden Globe, Producers Guild, Writers Guild, and Critics Choice Awards, and were honored with the American Film Institute Award for significant “Contribution to America’s Cultural Legacy.” Zam and Cohen have a number of film and TV projects in development, including those based on the lives of Vivien Leigh, Mama Cass, William Haines, Kate Hepburn, and Lois Weber. He also co-created a limited series with Emmy-winning director Robert Trachtenberg based on the life of one of the 20th Century’s most influential designers and photographers, Cecil Beaton. Zam wrote the book to Off-Broadway musical The Kid (music by Andy Monroe and lyrics by Jack Lechner) based on Dan Savage’s best-selling memoir, winning the Outer Critics Circle, BMI’s Jerry Bock Award, and American Theater Wing’s Jonathan Larson Prize. The Kid was also nominated for 5 Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical and Best Book for Zam, the Lucille Lortel for Best Musical, and the GLAAD Media Award for Best New York Theatrical production. Zam teaches screenwriting, TV writing, and film and theater studies at NYU and a class on British Theatre every August in London.

Click here to access the recording


In this podcast, he spoke with journalist and writing coach Estelle Erasmus about the following:

  • How he came up with the idea forFeud: Bette and Joan with his co-creater Jaffe Cohen
  • How Ryan Murphy got involved
  • Advice on screenwriting
  • How he got his start
  • His projects in development
  • What ASJA members can learn from his experience

Follow Estelle Erasmus on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and on her website for publishing advice and editor interviews

Read Estelle’s interview with Michael Zam

Read a Writer’s Digest interview on Michael Zam

Links:

NYU blogpost on Michael Zam

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