04/09/2026 |
WGA, MTM and Hollywood Stories with Victoria Riskin
Show Notes:
Hollywood legacy meets union leadership in this revealing conversation with Victoria Riskin. A second-generation screenwriter and former President of the Writers Guild of America West, Riskin brings stories from inside the industry’s golden era—and the picket lines of today.
Host Cynthia Bemis Abrams and Riskin discuss the evolving power dynamics between writers and studios, tracing the WGA’s long fight for equity. With insights into Riskin’s parents—Oscar-winning screenwriter Robert Riskin and King Kong star Fay Wray—this episode blends personal history, feminist storytelling, and behind-the-scenes power plays in television and film.
You’ll hear about:
- The Writers Guild’s formation and Riskin’s presidency
- Her father’s battle for writer recognition in 1930s Hollywood
- Stories of Norman Lear, Mary Tyler Moore, Carl Reiner, and Larry Gelbart
- Victoria’s global human rights advocacy and leadership
Riskin is also the author of Fay Wray and Robert Riskin: A Hollywood Memoir, a sweeping family chronicle that echoes the very themes this episode explores.
Referenced Resources:
- Victoria Riskin’s website: https://www.victoriariskin.com/
- Fay Wray and Robert Riskin – https://www.victoriariskin.com/index.php/about
- The Last Best Year – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Best_Year
- Projections of America – http://projectionsofamerica.com/
- Bluedot Living – https://bluedotliving.com/