All Student Success Letters

Michele Giannusa

Dear Gotham, 

In 2007, I graduated from The New School with a B.S. degree, concentration in Screenwriting. After the graduation ceremony, one of my writing instructors approached me: “You’re not great yet, Michele. But I think you can be great.” With that inspiring, backhanded compliment, I decided to keep going—though I had no idea where to go. That’s when I found Gotham. More than that, that’s when I found Jason Greiff.

It was Fall 2008. With one feature script under my belt, I felt ready to introduce myself to the writing world. What you learn years later, of course, is that your very first script is likely terrible. I was also naïve. I believed features were my only lane. I loved film—how could I pursue anything else? Then one day, Jason pulled me aside, “Have you ever tried writing a TV spec?” I hadn’t. I didn’t want to. But I trusted him. So, I gave it a shot. To say that moment changed my life is an understatement.

My first TV spec was for the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters. By then, I’d been writing for five years, yet I had never felt so deeply connected to the process itself. TV was it. If Jason hadn’t nudged me, I might never have discovered that. What followed were five more specs, six pilots, competition wins—and, in 2014, a move to Los Angeles.

On December 3, 2025, my original drama series Ripple premiered on Netflix.

Gotham was the perfect fit for me. And finding Jason reshaped the trajectory of my writing career. All these years later, I’m grateful to have him in my corner. Both a mentor and a friend—relationships that are rare in this industry. Every writer needs someone who sees their potential before they see it themselves. For me, that someone was Jason.

Michele Giannusa