Interview with renowned writing consultant Jen Grisanti: 

A Mexican-Norwegian-American from Milwaukee, Gina Lucita Monreal spent five years writing, acting, directing, and producing in the Chicago theater community.  Her play Jack-In-The-Box was produced at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and she co-founded Infamous Commonwealth Theatre—a nonprofit that continues to thrive.  A year of research on the captive elephant resulted in Gina’s play, Big Dreams, which received multiple productions and was supported by grants from The Culture and Animals Foundation and Illinois Arts Council.  Gina recently earned her MFA through USC’s Writing for Screen & Television Program and participated in the NBC, CBS, and National Hispanic Media Coalition TV writing programs.  Through last year's ABC TV Writing Fellowship, she was staffed on Brothers & Sisters, where she co-wrote three episodes.  Currently, Gina is thrilled to be a Producer on CBS's NCIS.

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

·      Being new in the writers’ room

·      Lessons learned

·      Meeting deadlines