Jane Espenson
Jane Espenson | |
---|---|
MCM London Comic Con | |
Born | Ames, Iowa, U.S.[1] | July 14, 1964
Occupation(s) | Television producer, television writer |
Years active | 1994–present |
Website | http://www.janeespenson.com/ |
Jane Espenson (born July 14, 1964) is an American television writer and producer.
Espenson has worked on both
After her work on Buffy, she wrote and produced episodes of
From 2011 to 2018, Espenson worked as a consulting producer and co-executive producer on ABC's series
She currently works on the Apple TV+ series Foundation.
She has written numerous comic books, edited multiple volumes of essays, and published several short stories.
Early life
Espenson grew up in Ames, Iowa, and graduated from Ames High School.[2] As a teenager, Espenson found out that M*A*S*H accepted spec scripts without requiring the writer to have industry representation. Though she was not an established writer, she attempted to write a script. She recalls, "It was a disaster. I never sent it. I didn't know the correct format. I didn't know the address of where to send it, and then I thought, they can't really hire me until I finish junior high anyway."[1]
Linguistics studies
Espenson studied
While in graduate school, she submitted several spec scripts for Star Trek: The Next Generation as part of a script submission program open to amateur writers; Espenson has referred to the program as the "last open door of show business".[2]
Career
In 1992 Espenson won a spot in the Disney Writing Fellowship,[1] which led to work on a number of sitcoms, including ABC's comedy Dinosaurs and Touchstone Television's short-lived Monty. This was followed by work on the short-lived sitcoms Me and the Boys, and Something So Right. In 1997 she joined the writing staff of Ellen Degeneres's sitcom Ellen.[1]
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
After years in sitcoms, Espenson decided to switch from comedic to dramatic writing and submitted her sample scripts to
In 1998, Espenson joined
She wrote episodes both humorous (e.g. "
Espenson is credited as the writer or co-writer of the following Buffy episodes:
Episode number | Title | Credit | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|
3.06 | "Band Candy" | Writer | November 10, 1998 |
3.11 | "Gingerbread" | Teleplay (story by Espenson & Thania St. John) | January 12, 1999 |
3.18 | "Earshot" | Writer | September 21, 1999 |
4.03 | " The Harsh Light of Day "
|
Writer | October 19, 1999 |
4.08 | "Pangs" | Writer | November 23, 1999 |
4.11 | " Doomed "
|
Writer (with David Fury & Marti Noxon) | January 18, 2000 |
4.12 | " A New Man "
|
Writer | January 25, 2000 |
4.17 | "Superstar" | Writer | April 4, 2000 |
5.03 | "The Replacement" | Writer | October 10, 2000 |
5.11 | " Triangle "
|
Writer | January 9, 2001 |
5.12 | " Checkpoint "
|
Writer (with Douglas Petrie )
|
January 23, 2001 |
5.15 | " I Was Made to Love You "
|
Writer | February 20, 2001 |
5.18 | " Intervention "
|
Writer | April 24, 2001 |
6.03 | "After Life" | Writer | October 9, 2001 |
6.04 | "Flooded" | Writer (with Douglas Petrie) | October 16, 2001 |
6.05 | "Life Serial" | Writer (with David Fury) | October 23, 2001 |
6.12 | " Doublemeat Palace "
|
Writer | January 29, 2002 |
7.03 | "Same Time, Same Place" | Writer | October 8, 2002 |
7.07 | "Conversations with Dead People" | Writer (with Drew Goddard) | November 12, 2002 |
7.08 | "Sleeper" | Writer (with David Fury) | November 19, 2002 |
7.14 | "First Date" | Writer | February 11, 2003 |
7.16 | "Storyteller" | Writer | February 25, 2003 |
7.21 | " End of Days "
|
Writer (with Douglas Petrie) | May 13, 2003 |
She also co-/wrote several comic book stories for
Battlestar Galactica and Caprica
Espenson joined the crew of
Torchwood
In August 2010 it was announced that
Husbands
In 2011 Espenson also co-wrote and produced her first independent web series with partner Brad Bell. Entitled
Once Upon a Time
In May 2011, Espenson was brought on to the
Game of Thrones
In 2011, working as a freelancer, Espenson wrote episode 6 of season 1 of Game of Thrones, titled "A Golden Crown". It is notable as one of only four Game of Thrones episodes written by women.[21]
Jessica Jones
In 2015, during the hiatus between seasons of
The Nevers
In 2018, Espenson joined the
Foundation
Espenson consulted on the Apple TV+ series Foundation in season 1, joining the writing staff in season 2 with writing credits on half of the episodes.
Other
Espenson has written episodes for several other television shows, including episode 4.17 ("
Espenson is the editor of the book Finding Serenity: Anti-Heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's Firefly (
Espenson wrote the short story "What Holds Us Down", which appears in Still Flying from Titan Press,
In 2016, Espenson served on the MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle) committee to select inductees into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.[26] She is featured as a video/voice commentator in the museum itself.
Espenson has written for three of the 101 Best Television Series as determined by the Writers Guild of America: Battlestar Galactica, Game of Thrones and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.[27]
Appearances in media
Espenson has appeared as an "
She appears in the documentary interview series
Production credits
Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Screenwriter | Producer | |||
1994 | Monty | Yes | Episode written: "The Principal's Interest" | |
Dinosaurs | Yes | Episodes written: "Driving Miss Ethyl" "Variations on a Theme Park" | ||
1995 | Me and the Boys | Yes | Episode written: "The Age of Reason" | |
1996 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Yes | Episode written: "Accession" | |
Nowhere Man
|
Yes | Episode written: " Zero Minus Ten "
| ||
1996–1997 | Something So Right | Yes | Episodes written: "Something About Jack's Ex" "Something About Thanksgiving" "Something About a Silver Anniversary" "Something About Secrets & Rules" | |
1997–1998 | Ellen | Yes | Episodes written: "Like a Virgin" "Womyn Fest" | |
1998–2003 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer
|
Yes | Yes | 23 episodes written, 88 episodes produced |
1999–2000 | Angel | Yes | Episodes written: "Rm w/a Vu" "Guise Will Be Guise" | |
2002 | Firefly | Yes | Episode written: "Shindig" | |
2003 | The O.C. | Yes | Episode written: " The Gamble "
| |
2003–2004 | Gilmore Girls | Yes | Yes | Episodes written: "Chicken or Beef?" "The Reigning Lorelai" 22 episodes as co-executive producer |
2005 | Tru Calling | Yes | Yes | Episode written: " In the Dark " 6 episodes as co-executive producer |
The Inside | Yes | Yes | Episodes written: "Skin and Bone" "Gem" "Aidan" "Everything Nice" 13 episodes as co-executive producer | |
2005–2006 | Jake in Progress | Yes | Yes | Episode written: "The Two Jakes" 20 episodes as co-executive producer |
2006–2009 | Battlestar Galactica | Yes | Yes | Episodes written: "The Passage" "Dirty Hands" "Escape Velocity" "The Hub" "Deadlock" 20 episodes as co-executive producer |
2007 | Andy Barker, P.I. | Yes | Yes | Episode written: "Fairway, My Lovely" 3 episodes as consulting producer |
The Batman | Yes | Episodes written: "The Joining: Part 1" "The Joining: Part 2" | ||
Eureka | Yes | Episode written: "Family Reunion" | ||
Battlestar Galactica: Razor Flashbacks | Yes | 7 episodes as co-executive producer | ||
Battlestar Galactica: Razor | Yes | TV movie | ||
2008-2009 | Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy | Yes | Yes | 10 episodes as writer and executive producer |
2009 | Dollhouse | Yes | Yes | Episodes written: "Haunted" "Briar Rose" 8 episodes as consulting producer |
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan | Yes | Yes | TV movie | |
Warehouse 13 | Yes | Creator Episode written: "Pilot" | ||
2010 | Caprica
|
Yes | Yes | Episodes written: " Apotheosis " 17 episodes produced |
2011 | Game of Thrones | Yes | Episode written: "A Golden Crown" | |
Torchwood: Miracle Day | Yes | Yes | Episodes written: "Dead of Night" "The Categories of Life" "Immortal Sins" "End of the Road" "The Blood Line" 10 episodes as co-executive producer | |
2011–2018 | Once Upon a Time | Yes | Yes | 31 episodes written 68 episodes as consulting producer |
2013 | Once Upon a Time in Wonderland | Yes | Yes | Episodes written: "Down the Rabbit Hole" "Bad Blood" |
2019 | Jessica Jones | Yes | Yes | Episode written: " A.K.A Hellcat "
|
2021 | The Nevers | Yes | Yes | Episodes written: "Exposure" "True" 6 episodes as executive producer |
Fantasy Island | Yes | Episodes written: "His and Hers" / "The Heartbreak Hotel" 1 episode as teleplay writer | ||
2023 | Foundation | Yes | Yes | 5 episodes written, 1 episode as teleplay writer, 11 episodes co-executive producer |
Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Screenwriter | Producer | |||
2009 | Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy | Yes | Webisodes | |
2011 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight | Yes | Motion comic | |
Torchwood: Web of Lies | Yes | Episode written: "Missing Day: Part 1" | ||
2011–2014 | Husbands | Yes | Yes | Co-creator, 20 episodes as writer and executive producer |
Accolades
Year | Award | Award category | Title of work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | Hugo Award | Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form | " Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode)
|
Won |
2009 | Streamy Awards | Best Writing for a Dramatic Web Series | Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy | Won |
Emmy Award
|
Short-format Live-action Entertainment Program (shared with Ronald D. Moore, David Eick, and Harvey Frand) | Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy | Nominated | |
2012 | Writers Guild of America Award
|
Drama Series (shared with D. B. Weiss, George R. R. Martin, David Benioff and Bryan Cogman) | Game of Thrones | Nominated |
New Series (shared with D. B. Weiss, Bryan Cogman, David Benioff and George R. R. Martin) | Nominated | |||
Indie Soap Awards
|
Best Writing (Comedy) (shared with Brad Bell) | Husbands | Nominated | |
Hugo Award | Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form (shared with David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, Bryan Cogman, George R. R. Martin, Tim Van Patten, Brian Kirk, Daniel Minahan and Alan Taylor) | Game of Thrones, Season One | Won | |
2013 | International Academy of Web Television[31] | Best Writing (Comedy) (shared with Brad Bell) | Husbands | Nominated |
Indie Soap Awards[32] | Won | |||
2014 | Writers Guild of America Awards[33] | Short Form New Media – Original (shared with Brad Bell) | Husbands episodes " I Do Over Part 1–2 "
|
Nominated |
International Academy of Web Television[34] | Best Writing (Comedy) (shared with Brad Bell) | Husbands | Won | |
Indie Series Awards[35] | Nominated | |||
Streamy Awards[36] | Writing (shared with Brad Bell) | Nominated | ||
Inkpot Award[37] | Won | |||
2015 | Etheria Film Night[38] | Inspiration Award | Won |
References
- ^ a b c d Kelly, Suzanne. "Jane Espenson: Writer, sci-fi thriller, one nerdy lady". CNN. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
- ^ a b c Biography of Espenson from her website
- University of Illinois at Chicagowebsite
- ISBN 0-521-40547-5)
- ^ Jane Espenson, an April 2007 episode (in MP3 format) of the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series
- ^ The Hugo Awards By Year Archived 2011-01-23 at the Wayback Machine from the Worldcon website
- ^ 05/29/2008: Link Letters, an entry from Esperson's writer's blog
- ^ Edward James Olmos will direct Cylon-centric special feature from the Show Tracker blog of the Los Angeles Times
- ^ 08/22/2008: Intestinal Fortitude, an entry from Esperson's writer's blog
- ^ Maureen Ryan (2009-01-23). "'Battlestar Galactica' veterans move on to 'Caprica'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2018-07-20. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
- ^ Conversations with Ross: Featuring Jane Espenson http://www.rosscarey.com/2012/04/24/episode-63-featuring-jane-espenson/
- TV Squad. Retrieved 2010-08-06.
- ^ Espenson, Jane [@JaneEspenson] (January 20, 2011). "I'm writing 3 5 7 and splitting the writing on 8" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 June 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Jane Espenson on Twitter". April 19, 2011.
- ^ Jensen, Michael (20 January 2011). "'Caprica's' Jane Espenson: 'It's Time for Sexuality to Be Incidental'". AfterElton. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ Jefferey, Morgan (3 June 2011). "Eliza Dushku confirmed for 'Torchwood' spinoff". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ Espenson, Jane (2011-07-11). "Exclusive! 'Jane's Take' Episode One 'Torchwood: Miracle Day'". After Elton. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
- ^ "BIOS—Husbands". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ "Jane Espenson, Liz Tigelaar Join ABC's 'Once Upon a Time'". Accessed 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland". Accessed 9 October 2013.
- ^ "Turns Out, Only Four Episodes of Game of Thrones Have Been Written by Women". Accessed 3 August 2017.
- ^ "Joss Whedon's HBO Sci-Fi Drama Series Adds 6 to Cast". Accessed 15 April 2019.
- ^ Hibberd, James (February 10, 2021). "HBO boss breaks silence on Game of Thrones plans, Joss Whedon controversy, more". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- ^ 'Battlestar Galactica' countdown: Jane Espenson and the 'Buffy' connection Los Angeles Times, Jan 6 2009
- ^ "Issue 12, Sep 2021". Future Science Fiction Digest. No. 12. September 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ^ https://www.comicsblend.com/20th-anniversary-science-fiction-fantasy-hall-of-fame-inductees-are/ Archived 2019-12-14 at the Wayback Machine[bare URL]
- ^ "101 Best Written TV Series".
- ^ Julia Smith (19 February 2014). "Judge John Hodgman Episode 148: Science Friction". Maximum Fun. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
- ^ Jennifer Marmor (22 July 2020). "Judge John Hodgman Episode 476: Vampirical Evidence". Maximum Fun. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
- ^ https://maximumfun.org/episodes/bullseye-with-jesse-thorn/jane-espenson-caprica-executive-producer-interview-sound-young-america/ The Sound of Young America: Jane Espenson
- ^ "International Academy of Web Television Announces Nominees for the 2nd Annual IAWTV Awards". IAWTVAwards.org. Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
- We Love Soaps. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (December 5, 2013). "Writers Guild Awards: 'Breaking Bad,' 'Orange is the New Black' Among TV Nominations". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- ^ "IAWTV ANNOUNCES 2014 AWARDS NOMINATIONS". iawtv.org. December 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ "5th Annual Indie Series Awards Nominees". indieseriesawards.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- ^ "4th Annual Streamy Awards Nominees". streamys.org. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- ^ Inkpot Award
- ^ "Jane Espenson to Receive the 2015 Etheria Film Night Inspiration Award". dreadcentral.org. Retrieved November 13, 2012.