How to Get Through the WGA Strike As an Aspiring Writer

The latest in pop-culture news, recaps, and reviews, plus close reads, profiles, interviews, and more from Vulture.com. [Brand Logo]( advice [How to Get Through the WGA Strike As an Aspiring Writer]( It might feel hopeless now, but there is a place for you in this industry — one that’ll be more sustainable after a deal is reached. Photo: HBO As a former comedy agent at UTA and WME, Priyanka Mattoo — whose memoir will be published by Knopf in 2024 — represented numerous big-name writers and performers before leaving to start a TV production company with Jack Black. Now she writes and directs, but she still encounters a tidal wave of comedy hopefuls looking for the advice, information, and pep talks that only a former agent can provide. In show business, they say that it’s all about who you know. Well, you’re in luck, because now you know Priyanka! I moved to L.A. five years ago to follow my dream of becoming a TV writer. I landed a job as a writer’s assistant, and it seemed for a second that I might get promoted, but right now continued employment seems difficult. The dwindling jobs — and now the strike — have me pretty dejected about my current prospects. I absolutely understand why the strike needs to happen, but right now how am I supposed to (1) live and (2) keep my spirits up? I had been starting to feel like there was a place for me, but now I’m just not sure I should stay. —Miryam, L.A. My first instinct is to try to find a solution for you, because I can’t help feeling like this is my fault. Since I [started writing this column](, my only goal was to get more kinds of people out here — the kinds who didn’t have a well-lit path illuminating the way. Having elbowed my own way into the business, and not seeing many faces like mine, I wanted to hold the door wide open and clear up the opacity that this industry can sometimes create. I’ve assured my loyal readers for years that if they have good [samples]( and the [right attitude]( that they will find friends, then [representatives](, then jobs. [read more]( Devour pop culture with us. [Subscribe now]( for unlimited access to Vulture and everything New York. The Latest TV Recaps • Dave: [Hollywood Pecking-Order Bullshit]( • Vanderpump Rules: [The Scandoval Has Landed]( • Love & Death: [Media Circus]( • Mrs. Davis: [Logging Off]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Stories We Think You’ll Like [‘I’m Managing Jeopardy! 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Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty Images Vulture Recommends We consume it all so you don’t have to. Photo: Random Order If the enduring success of Seinfeld proves anything, it’s that a bunch of best friends trading dumbass opinions is the third-purest form of comedy (after slipping on a banana peel and farting). Brothers Trevaunn “Trey” and Jermaine “Jae” Richards and Sheldon “Shellz” Sabastian, the Toronto-based hosts of the Headgum podcast [Random Order](, understand this inherently. Each week since [January 25, 2019]( (the same day the Richardses ended their previous YouTube talk show, [GroupChat](), Trey, Jae, and Shellz [have dropped conversations about]( hot sauces, missed flights, Theraguns, Canadian race relations, Ikea arguments, or some other total nonsense in a cross-platform barrage of downloadable audio and video. [Read more from Vulture]( A newsletter of TV and movie recommendations. [Sign up]( to get it every week. 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