Dani Hanks on Writing with Authentic Voice & Building a TV Career, Emerging Screenwriter Interview

Writer, director, and creative powerhouse Dani Hanks joins Shaya Weber for an in-depth conversation about her journey from actor to award-winning writer, how chronic illness shaped their perspective, and their process for writing powerful, character-driven stories. Learn how Dani approaches outlining, keeps momentum through rejection, and balances a thriving creative life with a demanding day job. Perfect for emerging screenwriters, showrunners-in-training, and anyone seeking inspiration and practical tips for breaking into TV writing. BiographyDani Hanks (they/she) is a disabled writer/director who subverts the status quo with a bit of comedic flair. After receiving their BFA in drama at NYU Tisch, they directed the Banff-nominated political comedy web series "Fake News Writer," which was optioned after winning the Webby Award for Video Entertainment in 2019.  They are a 2024 Austin Film Festival Winner for the Josephson Entertainment Fellowship, as well as a fellow of the WGA East Support Staff Basic Training program (Script Coordinating Track), Stowe Story Labs, and Disability Belongs (formerly RespectAbility) Entertainment Lab. Dani has worked on projects in development at FilmRise, RKO, and TikTok.  They are a full-time meme connoisseur, sometime AD, former member of Mensa, anxious bisexual, and have 10 years of experience cutting animal tissue (much to the dismay of their pet rats).