Meet Susan Hurwitz Arneson | Television Writer & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susan Hurwitz Arneson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan, why did you pursue a creative career?
I always wanted to be a writer. Books and TV were my escape as a kid. And I just fell in love with stories of all kind. I eventually got my BA in Journalism and then right out of undergrad I worked in news radio, PR and corporate communications for a while. I guess I bought into the old school idea that to write you needed a “real profession.” You know the kind with set hours, benefits, sick leave, offices. But once I was there I hated it. So many boundaries and rules and hours sitting at a desk even if there was nothing to really do. And I never got to use my voice, my passions, my true creativity. When I first moved to LA I chucked writing and went to Culinary School, another creative passion, only to realize I missed writing. I’ve always loved old movies, TV, cartoons all of it. And here I was in LA home to Hollywood and looking to write again. So I signed up for an extension class in Screenwriting at UCLA. Suddenly everything started making sense and I found what I had been craving. I was hooked. I went on to get my MFA from UCLA and I’ve never looked back. Realizing I didn’t fit into the “normal” business structure and that I could create a different path for myself was definitely worth the journey.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think the thing I’m proudest of is that I’ve actually been able to do this for a living. I’ve been lucky enough to work on pretty much every kind of show there is: cartoon, sitcom, drama, dramedy, genre, superhero and that makes me a bit of a oddball in this business. But it has allowed me to learn so much and to really hone in on what I love most. Stories with heart, humor and big dollops of weirdness.

Being a writer in Hollywood is not an easy path. Not only do you have to be able to write, you also have to be able to pitch, hustle, produce and a million other skills. But the thing you have to do more than anything is get up and keep fighting after you’ve been knocked down. And you have to do that over-and-over again. Always. But the beauty of this career is that as a writer you have the ability to create something from nothing. And that means you can create your own future. Every script, idea, pitch has the potential to change the course of your career and life. What other profession has that beautiful power? It almost feels like magic sometimes.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oof. This is hard for a homebody. But I’m a huge foodie. Not in a snotty way, but in a yes… give me all the yummy food way. I’m a westsider, so one of the things I love to do is bike down the Ballona Creek path to the beach and then tool around there. Grab lunch/brunch at Playa Provisions and maybe a drink in the Marina or Venice. I’m also a nerd so sign me up for escape rooms or anything Hollywood history.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shout out to two people. My husband Marc who was the first person to challenge me to find my voice as a writer and who continues to be my creative north star. And the producer Kevin Messick who believed in me while I was still in film school and helped me launch my career.

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