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“As a writer, I know it’s time to write when the story won’t let me go.”—Edwin Lee Gibson 

Many people rarely have the urge to create something brilliant, while those that do, follow that urge with action. It is those creative impulses that inspire someone to take a risk and generate and/or innovate. The rewards are a plethora of brilliant and sometimes, timeless commodities, materials and works of art that come into fruition and if the creatress or creator is accoladed, that is the sweet cherry on top. 

Hollywood’s beloved awards season is in full swing, and Sheen Magazine was on the scene for one of the most important awards ceremonies of them all—the 77th Annual Writers Guild Awards, set in the lush backdrop of Beverly Hills at the historic landmark of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Joel Kim Booster speaks onstage during the 2025 Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton on February 15, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America West)

Comedian, writer, producer and WGA member, Kim Joel Booster hosted the celebration attired in several looks designed by Maison Margiela, SAAF Garments, and Canali, with Gianvito Rossi, and Manolo Blahnik on the bottom. During his opening monologue, Joel boosted by saying, “One of my firmest beliefs is that a strong labor movement centered on collective action, is the only way we will see real change in this country.” 

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Diarra Kilpatrick speaks onstage during the 2025 Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton on February 15, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America West)

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Lisa Ann Walter speaks onstage during the 2025 Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton on February 15, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America West)

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Edwin Lee Gibson speaks onstage during the 2025 Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton on February 15, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America West)

Among the presenters, were incredibly gifted writers and actors, such as Diarra Kilpatrick, writer and star of the outstanding BET+ show, Diarra from Detroit. The legendary Ernie Hudson from the Ghostbusters franchise, Lisa Ann Walter of Abbot Elementary, and Edwin Lee Gibson from the FX comedy, The Bear presented awards to their peers, alongside Cedric Yarborough from the Clint Eastwood directed film, Juror #2. 

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Ernie Hudson speaks onstage during the 2025 Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton on February 15, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America West)

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: (L-R) RaMell Ross, winner of the Paul Selvin Award for “Nickel Boys”, and Franklin Leonard pose in the press room during the 2025 Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton on February 15, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America West)

Director and writing duo, RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes, won the Adapted Screenplay award for the 2024 film, Nickle Boys, a historical drama based on the novel The Nickle Boys, written by Colson Whitehead. Nickle Boys is a story filmed from the first-person point-of-view, set in Jim Crow-era Tallahassee, Florida in 1962, that depicts two young African American boys—one who is wrongly accused—who are brutalized while attending reform school. 

Ross and Barnes also received the WGA’s Paul Selvin Award for Nickle Boys, a special award given to members with outstanding screenplays that “best embodies the spirit of the constitutional and civil rights and liberties which are indispensable to the survival of free writers everywhere and to those whose defense Paul Selvin committed his professional life.” Nickle Boys has been nominated for two Oscars for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for the 97th Academy Awards. 

Writers Shannon Goss, Maegan Houang, Rachel Kondo, Matt Lambert, Justin Marks, Caillin Puente, Nigel Williams and Emily Yoshida of Shōgun—a new hit historical drama series based on the novel by James Clavell on FX and Hulu—were the biggest winners. The team of writers collected the best Drama Series and New Series awards. Additionally, Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks won the award for best Episodic Drama for Shōgun’s “Anjin” episode. Shōgun tells the tale of a marooned and mysterious European ship ascertained by Lord Yoshii Toranaga in 1600 Japan, that shifts his power dynamic against his enemies. 

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: (L-R) Matt Lambert, Maegan Houang, Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks, Emily Yoshida, Caillin Puente and Shannon Goss, winners of Outstanding Writing for an Episodic Drama, Outstanding Drama Series, and Outstanding New Series for “Shōgun”, pose in the press room during the 2025 Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton on February 15, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America West)

“As a writer, speaking to a room full of writers, I have a proposal—it certainly won’t fix everything, but maybe it’s a start,” declared screenwriter, Vince Gilligan, in an incredible speech after winning The Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement for his works on legendary shows such as, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. “I say we write more good guys. For decades, we’ve made the villains too sexy.” Vince feels like fictional bad guys are far too influential and have stopped being the cautionary tales that they were intended to be and have become aspirational. “Maybe what the world needs now are some good old fashioned, greatest generation types who give more than they take. Who thinks that kindness, tolerance, and sacrifice aren’t strictly for chumps.”

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Vince Gilligan accepts the Paddy Chayefsky TV Laurel Award onstage during the 2025 Writers Guild Awards Los Angeles Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton on February 15, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America West)

WGA Board Member, Adam Conover, had this to say in regards to unity, “What’s important about unions is, we are where people come together, make choices together, have solidarity and decide to work together. Building community, bonds of affinity and solidarity—that is the only thing that is going to save us.” 

The Writers Guild of America was founded by Allen Rivkin in 1933 as the Screen Writers Guild. and comprises two chapters—the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE). Overall, the WGA is a union that advocates for its members by enforcing creative and economic protections, including but not limited to, negotiating and administering contracts and maneuvering local and international legislative matters. Since 1948, the Writers Guild have recognized and honored writers and their outstanding works via their esteemed awards ceremony.  

Watch the entire 2025 Writers Guild Award ceremony here and for more information on the WGA, including how to become a member, visit WGAW.

Photo Credits: Alberto E. Rodriguez and Amy Sussman

Video Credit: Adrian Javon