“For the very nicest thing Hollywood can possibly say to a writer is that he is too good to be only a writer.”
–Raymond Chandler
"I always wanted to be a film director, except for a short period when I wanted to drive a locomotive."
-Ingmar Bergman
Joseph Dougherty has been a successful playwright and television writer, producer, and director for more than thirty years. He’s written for breakthrough series that have changed the way we look at television drama, from thirtysomething to Pretty Little Liars, winning everything from Emmys to Teen Choice Awards along the way.
Joseph Dougherty follows up his hit book on writing, A Screenwriter’s Companion, with a look at what happens when the script is done. A Writer Directs contains Dougherty’s personal thoughts on the craft drawn from a directing career that stretches from thirtysomething to Pretty Little Liars. A Writer Directs continues the intimate creative conversation Dougherty started in A Screenwriter’s Companion. Opinionated, entertaining, thought provoking, these are books for serious film students and just plain movie lovers.
A Writer Directs
The perfect book for anyone who needs advice and encouragement from a professional who has written and directed television for over 30 years.
Joseph Dougherty is an Emmy and Humanitas Prize winner for his work on the groundbreaking series thirtysomething, he has written several movies for HBO including the remake of Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman directed by Christopher Guest, and the Emmy-winning noir/occult mashup Cast a Deadly Spell, which was nominated for a Ray Bradbury Award by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
His play Chester Bailey premiered at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, where it was selected Outstanding World Premiere Play and Outstanding Production of a Play by the TBA Awards. It was subsequently produced at the Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where it was a New York Times Critics’ Pick. Chester Bailey had its New York premiere at The Irish Repertory Theatre. He earned Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for his play Digby, produced by Manhattan Theatre Club, and wrote the libretto for the Tony-winning musical version of My Favorite Year, presented at Lincoln Center.