Shirley Frimpong-Manso Shirley Frimpong-Manso has revolutionised Ghanaian TV by upping the calibre in every department of production. Not just a writer-creative, she is a producer, a director and is also the CEO of Sparrow Productions. Sparrow has just recently created a VOD service - Sparrow Station, that allows people outside of Ghana, to watch all of the got-to-be-seen shows. Place of Birth: Ghana, Kwahu Papease YOB: 1977 Awards: 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards - Best Director The One To Watch: Shampaign | |
Barbara Hall Barbara Hall has been active in TV since 1987, where along side writing novels, she wrote for TV. She has scribed for shows such as Moonlighting, Anything But Love, Chicago Hope, I'll Fly Away and Northern Exposure. In 1999 she became a writer-producer, creating Judging Amy, then went on to create Joan of Arcadia and Madam Secretary. Place of Birth: US, Chatham, Virginia YOB: 1960 Awards: Television Critics Awards The One To Watch: Madam Secretary | |
Rob Thomas Rob Thomas, also a writer of books, made his initial mark by writing episodes for season one of Dawson's Creek. He stepped into the writer-creative mould in 1998 with his show Cupid, but really captured TV land, when he gave us the high school sleuth Veronica Mars. Rob now heads the entire creative process for iZombie with production partner Diane Ruggiero-Wright. Place of Birth: US, Sunnyside, Washington YOB: 1965 Awards: Nominated for Golden Satalite Awards The One To Watch: Veronica Mars | |
Aaron Sorkin Aaron Sorkin started off as a playwright, in fact you may have seen one of his plays as a film adaption; A Few Good Men. Continuing to write for the silver screen as well as the little one, he created and penned Sports Night, The West Wing (for which he wrote a staggering 88 episodes - 4 seasons) Studio 60 and The Newsroom. Place of Birth: US, Scarsdale, New York YOB: 1961 Awards: Academy, BAFTA, Critiques Choice, Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy, Satalite Award and Writers Guild of America. The One To Watch: The Newsroom | |
Shonda Rhimes Shonda Rhimes also has movie credits to her name, but really hit the mark when she created Grey's Anatomy, which is about to start its 13th season. Around GA's airing, Shonda found time to create Scandal and Private Practice, a spin-off from GA. Shonda also brought in another 2 shows for her production company Shondaland, in the forms of How To Get Away With Murder and The Catch. Place of Birth: US, Chicago, Illonois YOB: 1970 Awards: Writers Guild of America, Producerss Guild of America, NAACP Image, Primetime Emmy, GLADD Media, Directors Guild of America, Black Reel Award and Banff. The One To Watch: Scandal | |
Diane Pictured with Joseph Morgan, who plays vampire Klaus in The Originals. An honourable mention has to go out to Diane Ademu-John, a name you have probably seen pop-up numerous times, on many highly rated show's credits. She has been behind the scenes for 13 years, writing, story editing, producing and serving as an executive producer for programmes such as Missing, Crossing Jordan, The Originals, Medium, Body of Proof and Empire. And with such writing prowess and experience, it's only a matter of time before she creates her own shows, that I am sure will shake the pillars of TV land. |