RespectAbility Entertainment Professionals Lab, Summer 2022
John McDonough
John McDonough was born in Chicago. His parents divorced, remarried, had a bunch of kids, and moved to Alabama. McDonough became a giant nerd, developed severe arthritis, and started making out with boys. He writes about that stuff – the South, families, queerness, disability, and nerdery. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 2013 and moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California, where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing for Screen and Television. After two years at Elizabeth Banks’s Brownstone Productions, he began working on television writers’ room support staff roles for AMC and FX.
Most recently, he was the showrunner’s assistant on “Y: THE LAST MAN” where he was an active part of the room discussion and story-breaking process, as well as a go-to source for problem-solving ideas. He’s done writing work for video games and nonfiction podcasts. He also hosts a podcast of his own, “TEACH ME SENTAI,” covering the adaptation of the Japanese franchise “Super Sentai” into the hit American franchise Power Rangers. He’s incredibly pedantic, but it’s mostly charming.
Learn More
After an extensive search and interview process, 20 individuals were invited to participate in the Los Angeles Cohort of RespectAbility’s 2022 Entertainment Lab taking place June 7 – July 14, 2022. This 6-week, 18-session Lab aims to further develop and elevate the talent pipeline of diverse professionals with disabilities working behind-the-scenes in television, film, and streaming. Participants include people with physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health, and other disabilities ranging in age from people in their 20’s through their 50’s. The Lab is a recipient of The Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award.
The Los Angeles Cohort of the 2022 Entertainment Lab is made possible with support by:
- Platinum Sponsors: Murray/Reese Foundation and Netflix
- Gold Sponsors: The Harnisch Foundation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and The Walt Disney Company
- Silver Sponsors: Hollywood Foreign Press Association Charitable Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts, and NBCUniversal
- Location Sponsors: Bunim-Murray Productions, DreamWorks Animation, Endeavor, Lionsgate, Nielsen, and ROSIES Foundation
