Episode 44: OnWriting Live - Ruben Santiago-Hudson, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"

<p>OnWriting presents three live-taped episodes of OnWriting celebrating Black History Month, presented by the WGAE Black Writers Salon. In each installment, two co-chairs of the WGAE Black Writers Salon—OnWriting’s own <strong>Geri Cole</strong> and <strong>Rashidi Hendrix</strong>—speak with Black screenwriters who have each written amazing films about Black icons in history.</p> <p>To kick things off, we’re joined by <strong>Ruben Santiago-Hudson</strong> and the screenwriter of MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, which is currently available to stream on Netflix.</p> <p><strong>Ruben Santiago-Hudson</strong> is a versatile talent who — in addition to his many acting credits in projects like BILLIONS and THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS — wrote the award-winning stage play for LACKAWANNA BLUES as well as its Emmy and Writers Guild Award-nominated TV film adaptation.</p> <p>MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM is an adaptation of the August Wilson play of the same name. The film, set in 1920s Chicago, follows a recording session where tensions rise between mother of blues Ma Rainey (<strong>Viola Davis</strong>), and her ambitious horn player named Levee (<strong>Chadwick Boseman</strong>).</p> <p>--</p> <p><strong>Read shownotes, transcripts, and other member interviews:</strong><br /> <a href="http://www.onwriting.org/">www.onwriting.org/</a></p> <p>--</p> <p><strong>Follow the Guild on social media:</strong><br /> Twitter: @OnWritingWGAE | @WGAEast<br /> Facebook: /WGAEast<br /> Instagram: @WGAEast</p>