The Blog
Josh Weltman, MadMen co-producer and author of Seducing Strangers and I have launched “The CEO’s Writer’s Room Project.” A project designed to focus the story arc of the CEO’s vision and unite the energies of the people who drive the business. The CEO’s Writer’s Room Project takes the proven principles of the writer’s room that have for decades created episodic television shows, and applies those principles to modern businesses, and the big complicated narratives and legacies that today’s CEO’s need to manage.
A few words on the project from Josh Weltman, Founding Partner, of the CEO’s Writer’s Room Project:
“I worked on MadMen for seven years. And every season began the same. Matt Weiner, the creator, executive producer and show-runner of the series would walk into the writer’s room and lay out the most important parts of the new season’s story; what the main character, Don Draper, wanted, and where he was going to end up in the last episode. We didn’t know how we would get there (that was the job of the writers and producers in that room). But we knew where we were going. And the direction gave common purpose to the writers, producers, department keys, craftsmen, actors, editors, studio executives and network partners who made MadMen successful.
In the writer’s room, I was told, “If you don’t know where you’re going, no road will get you there.” And that insight became the inspiration for me and Jim Walker to create the CEO’s Writers Room Project.
In today’s world, a successful CEO not only needs to run a company, a successful CEO must also run the show, act as head writer and executive producer of a big complicatednarrative that is critical to their company’s success. Where will we be in five years? Who’s in our way? What struggles will we overcome? What will we learn? And what will we teach our investors, partners and customers?
What desire drives the company? And why will the world applaud us?
The CEO’s Writer’s Room Project exists to take a CEO’s vision and turn it into step by step, scene by scene story that will focus the efforts of people in the organization and lead to an inspiring and enduring company legacy.
For more info contact:
Victoria Horton
victoria@jimwalkerseattle.com
