Title: Matthew Weiner Collection

Dates: 1997-2007

Collection Number: WGF-MS-001

Creator/Collector: Weiner, Matthew, 1965-

Extent: 1.2 linear feet

Repository: Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Abstract: The Matthew Weiner Collection, 1997-2015 covers Weiner’s involvement as a writer and producer with the television show The Sopranos, seasons 4, 5 and 6, and scripts from Andy Richter Controls the Universe, The Naked Truth, and Mad Men. The collection primarily consists of scripts and handwritten episode notes from The Sopranos as well as every single episode of Mad Men in As Broadcast drafts.

Language of Material: English

Available by appointment only.

The responsibility to secure copyright and publication permission rests with the researcher.

Matthew Weiner Collection. Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Gift of Matthew Weiner, 2011 and 2015.

Matthew Weiner is the series creator and executive producer of the critically acclaimed award-winning drama Mad Men. Since the series premiere in 2007, Mad Men has become one of television’s most honored shows, joining an elite group in 2011 when it became only the fourth drama to be awarded four consecutive Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. Additional honors for the series include: three Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Drama Series; a Peabody Award; three Producers Guild Awards; four Writers Guild Awards; two BAFTA Awards; five Television Critics Association Awards, including Program of the Year; and being named six years running to AFI’s Top 10 Outstanding Television Programs. Weiner has been nominated for a total of 11 Emmy’s for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. He won the award for the series pilot, as well as for the second season episode, “Meditations in an Emergency,” with Kater Gordon, and for the third season episode, “Shut the Door. Have a Seat.” with Erin Levy. Most recently, Weiner won the WGA award for Best Episodic for the season five episode, “The Other Woman,” with Semi Chellas. Weiner has also received Directors Guild nominations for his efforts behind the camera on “Meditations in an Emergency” in season two and the season three finale, “Shut the Door. Have a Seat.” In 2012, Weiner was awarded the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, which is given annually to television professionals who exhibit extraordinary passion, leadership, independence and vision in the process of creating television programming. Weiner’s additional credits include serving as an Executive Producer and writer on “The Sopranos,” and writer on various television comedy series including “The Naked Truth,” “Becker,” and “Andy Richter Controls the Universe.” In addition to his television credits, Weiner wrote and directed the feature film, “Are You Here,” featuring complex performances from iconic comedic actors Owen Wilson, Zack Galifinakis and Amy Poehler. “Are You Here” is an unexpected story about family, friendship and the people who keep us afloat while facing the compromises of life. Born in Los Angeles, Weiner studied Philosophy, Literature, and History at Wesleyan University. He also earned his MFA from the University of Southern California School of Cinema and Television. Weiner currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, architect Linda Brettler, and their four sons. —(MW, August 2015)

The collection materials are arranged in two series with items dating from 1997-2007. Series I contains television scripts dating from 1997-2015 and is divided into Subseries A-The Sopranos, 2002-2007; Subseries B-Andy Richter Controls the Universe, 2002-2003 (all Andy Richter scripts are available in the WGF Library); Subseries C-The Naked Truth, 1997-1998; Subseries D-Mad Men, 2007-2015. The scripts in Series I are in various draft stages, and many include hand-written annotations from Matthew Weiner, with the exception of the Mad Men scripts which are As Broadcast drafts from every episode of the series. Highlights of the series include several pages of hand-written legal-pad notes with insights into the development of the storylines and characters, a production draft of The Sopranos series finale “Made in America,” and two unaired episodes of Andy Richter Controls the Universe. As noted in the inventory, several materials were received at a later donation date, including the majority of the drafts for The Sopranos episodes “Cold Stones” and “Kaisha” located in Subseries A. Series II contains production materials, research materials, and correspondence. Subseries A consists of research materials from The Sopranos, 2002-2006. Highlights of this series include conversation transcripts with Sopranos research consultants, former Manhattan District Attorney Dan Castleman and FBI spokesperson Bill Evanina, and research notes on the psychological influences of series protagonist, Tony Soprano. The production materials include character arcs and story ideas for the final eight episodes of the series.