Who is Julie Benson ?

Hello!

I'm an Emmy-winning TV writer and producer (live-action, animation, comics) and like everyone in Hollywood right now, I'm figuring out what's next as the entertainment industry changes.

I'm sharing behind-the-scenes insights and screenwriting tips while also sharpening my project management skills, mastering mixology, obsessing over theme parks, and discovering forgotten women in history… hence, the whatnot.

Whether you're breaking into the biz, a fellow creative in the trenches, or just love Hollywood deep-dives… welcome.

I'm also posting the tools I’ve used in my 20+ year career here on my Amazon Storefront. (Affiliate link gives me a tiny commission at no cost to you.)

Check out my IMDb credits here.

The Benson Sisters

My sister Shawna Benson and I moved from the cornfields of Illinois to sunny Los Angeles with the dream to write for Film and Television.

We worked our way up from the trenches as showrunner assistants, writers' assistants, script coordinators, you name it… learning everything we could about how shows actually get made. We got our first big break and an Emmy Award for the web series “Emma Approved.” From there, we landed our first staff writing job on The CW's “The 100.”

After three seasons penning the critically-acclaimed post-apocalyptic series, we jumped to Netflix's action packed “Wu Assassins” as Co-Producers. Then we boldly ventured into animation, writing for “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” and serving as Co-Producers on Nickelodeon's Emmy nominated “Star Trek: Prodigy”

COMIC BOOKS

While writing for TV, we also dove into the DC Comics universe during their 2016 Rebirth launch. We wrote “Batgirl and the Birds of Prey” (2016-2018) and followed it up with a 7-issue run on “Green Arrow” and “Green Arrow Annual (Volume 6).” We returned to comics in 2023 with “Batgirl and the Birds of Prey - Baewatch” for “G'nort's Swimsuit Edition #1.”

PAYING MY DUES

I cut my teeth in Hollywood working as Dustin Hoffman's personal assistant (yes, that Dustin Hoffman). Blink and you’ll miss my name racing by in the credits of “Meet the Fockers”.

I've worked for countless producers and showrunners as an assistant but I’ve also been a Writers’ Assistant, and a Script Coordinator — so I’ve learned the business from every angle. That’s why I’m confident in passing along not just how to write for TV, but how the entire machine actually works.

Oh, I was Executive Producer on the incredible documentary film “Stuntman” for Disney+ but it’s been unceremoniously removed from streaming. (Boo)

WHATNOT

When I’m not sharing the tools, templates, and strategies I've used throughout my Hollywood career (so you don't have to figure it all out from scratch like I did) I’m documenting my journey here on Writing & Whatnot. I have an insatiable curiosity and am currently exploring:

  • Project management (turns out producing TV is basically advanced PM)

  • Mixology (I love learning the origin stories behind liquor brands and craft cocktails.)

  • Theme park design (immersive experiences are the future of narrative and something I’m excited to try my hand someday.)

  • Forgotten women in history (because their stories deserve to be told)

Thank you for visiting the site and if you read this far, you’re my kind of people, so please check out the contact page and let’s keep in touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I totally did! It was for the webseries “Emma Approved” and the exact award was "Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media - Original Interactive Program". In 2022, “Star Trek: Prodigy” was nominated for an “Outstanding Animated Series” award at the first ever Children’s & Family Emmy Awards

  • I was fortunate to work on Season One of “Star Trek: Prodigy” and penned an episode of “He Man - Masters of the Universe” (no, not the Kevin Smith one) for Netflix. Shawna and I were honored to be writers for Season Two of Bruce Timm’s “Batman: The Caped Crusader.”

  • I worked on: “Zero Hour” for ABC, the Josh Friedman “Locke & Key” pilot, and “The Asset” pilot, “The Finder” for FOX, “Mistresses” for ABC, and was in a mini writers’ room for “Lore” S3. I wrote for: CW’s “The 100”, Netflix’s “Wu Assassins”, and “Emma Approved” which aired on YouTube.

  • Knee-deep, duh.

  • I’m working on it as we speak! Give me your email and I’ll send you the latest and greatest Writing and Whatnot as it drops, oh and I promise not to spam you.

  • You’d have to ask Shawna Benson, my writing partner and sister but I’m sure she’d say I’m full of ideas, great at writing dialogue, and striving to always learn and fine-tune my craft. OK, I lied, she’d probably say I’m little sister bossy or something, but we’ll forgive her.