More Events

Second PencilPALS event in Corona, Queens
WGAE Members attend FBI 103 Seminar
Ninth Screenplay Reading at the JCC
Free Speech Leadership Committee meets again

Past Events

Screening of Joe Berlingers's CRUDE
First PencilPALS event in Corona, Queens
Godfather IV Benefit
Talk Animation with Bill Plympton
TV and Film Writers Become ‘PencilPALS’
M*A*S*H Benefit

TV AND FILM WRITERS BECOME ‘PENCIL PALS’ WITH NEW YORK CITY FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS

Professional writers from the Writer’s Guild of America, East (WGAE) Foundation and fifth grade students at P.S. 16 in Corona, Queens are starting friendships, even though they have never met. But unlike digital-age pen pals exchanging instant messages, short emails and texts filled with emocons, shorthand, and terse thoughts, the students and writers are exchanging ‘old-fashioned,’ handwritten letters - multi-page letters filled with information that forms the foundation of long, substantial inter-generational relationships. The students and writers are PencilPals. They are taking part in the PencilPals program of the WGAE Foundation. The program is an extension of the BookPals program founded by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.

PencilPals is a letter exchange program between creative people and students geared towards inspiring a love of reading and writing. PencilPals makes reading and writing a first person experience for the students. Thirty 5th graders from P.S.16 are paired with 30 professional writers of film, primetime, late night and daytime television, theater and novels as PencilPals. They will correspond monthly throughout the school year and meet face-to-face at the end of the term.

“It’s a joy to write to students and help nurture their love of words,” said Gina Gionfriddo, co-chair of the PencilPals program and award-winning writer whose credits include television’s Law & Order and theater’s Becky Shaw. “We hope being our PencilPals helps the students enjoy writing and learn the value of their own stories. I know we’ll enjoy learning about them through their letters.”

“Letter writing helps students learn the value of reading, writing, and spelling, as well as encourages them to develop their imagination,” said (teacher.) “Being a PencilPal also will expose them to people and interests beyond their neighborhood, which can help motivate them to dream big things for themselves.”

PencilPals include professional writers from film, primetime, daytime and late night television, stage and publishing: Nora Ephron, James Schamus, Bill Scheft, Susanna Styron, Elisa Zuritsky, Gina Gionfriddo, Tom Kelly, Neena Beber, Peter Grosz, David Handelman, Betsy Aidem, Jan Albert, Shelly Altman, David Auburn, Rodrigo Dorfman, Brant Engelstein, Barbara Garshman, AM Homes, Craig Lucas, George Malko, John Marshall, Julie Martin, Leslie Nipkow, Michael Rauch, Jackie Reingold, Robert Schwartz,, Michael Slade, Mark St. Germain, Anastasia Traina, Nancy William Watt, and Bradford Winters.

“PencilPals encourages the art of writing, the spirit of creativity, and the importance of sharing stories, which writers are passionate about and are fortunate enough to do for a living. We are thrilled to share our time and passion for writing with the students and are excited that the students are eager to share themselves and their thoughts. We hope the exchange helps develop their writing and story telling skills,” said Tom Fontana, president of the Writers Guild of America, East Foundation, and Emmy-Award writer of shows including Oz, Homicide: Life on the Streets, and St. Elsewhere. “Stories and lives will be shared through these letters, and friendships will be formed. The program will enrich everyone’s lives.”