CSU’s Temesgen Earns Screenplay Credit for HBO Max’s Julia

April 5, 2022

Columbus State University’s Natalia Temesgen, a creative writing professor in the Department of English, adds another television writing credit to her resume with an upcoming episode of Julia. The HBO Max series, which premiered on March 31, focuses on the life and career of Julia Child, the first major television chef and pioneer for women in media.

Temesgen is part of the writing staff for the show and wrote the upcoming fourth episode titled “Petit Fours.” The episode premieres on HBO Max on April 7.

Temesgen has been teaching at CSU since 2013 while also working with the CSU Theatre Department on several projects. She has utilized her master of fine arts in dramatic writing from New York University to teach CSU students playwriting and screenwriting for live and filmed productions. While teaching, Temesgen was commissioned by local productions at the local Springer Opera House while continuing to write scripts for pilot series, in hopes for the big breakout to boost her professional writing to the next level.

Temesgen isn’t new to the teleplay world. In 2019, she was hired as a writer for Season 4 of Netflix’s “Dear White People,” released in September 2021.

As for her work with Julia, Temesgen said the COVID-19 pandemic forced a change in the industry and allowed writers to work remotely instead of relocating to New York, Los Angeles or Atlanta. She was able to be a part of the writer’s room for “Julia” remotely. The work-from-home push nationally, and specifically within the industry, has led to production companies being more open to the idea of remote work and virtual collaboration on script, with writers working coast to coast and all points in between. 

“It’s allowed shows to employ people they might not have access to employ,” Temesgen said of the in-person to remote shift that the industry is slowly taking. “I always see my students as potential colleagues or collaborators. This is a moment of time in the industry when my students can jump in and be a part of this shift.” 

Temesgen will share her experience as one the speakers for CSU’s Tower Day event on April 22 held at CSU’s Whitley Clock Tower.