President’s Lecture Series Goes Behind the Scenes with Writer, Director and Emmy Award-Winning Producer John Wells

The President’s Lecture Series(opens in new window) at Carnegie Mellon University welcomed writer, director and Emmy Award-winning producer John Wells on April 9 for its final event of the 2024-25 academic year. In his powerful, and at times emotional, talk, Wells shared his masterful take on how narrative storytelling can help bridge divides in today’s polarized society. 

Known for his impressive work on such critically acclaimed television shows as “The West Wing,” “Shameless,” “Maid,” “ER,” “Third Watch” and “Animal Kingdom,” Wells is a 1979 graduate of CMU’s School of Drama(opens in new window) and the founder of John Wells Productions, a Los Angeles-based television production company. 

Wells has seen tremendous success throughout his career, including the period when  he was executive producer for three primetime hit series simultaneously.

”But I have to tell you, John is very humble. He is quick to point out that each production, whether on the big screen or a small screen, is a team effort, and he's known for generously putting the spotlight on his crew, all the time, every time,” Carnegie Mellon President Farnam Jahanian(opens in new window) said. “(He) is in high demand in Hollywood these days, but he still makes trips back to Pittsburgh. In fact, we were talking about it a little bit earlier today, to give our students the gift of his time, attention and expertise.”

Since 2010, Wells has funded the John Wells Directing Fellowship(opens in new window), which is awarded to CMU students pursuing a three-year Master of Fine Arts degree in directing and covers all tuition costs for their time in the program.

“Those of us who have the privilege of telling stories to audiences have an even greater responsibility to find the common strands in our humanity to amplify our stories, to normalize the others among us, to introduce our audiences to other points of view — not through diatribes or haranguing, pointing out it's wrong with other points of view, but through emphasizing subtly what binds us together,” Wells said.

In his talk, Wells also discussed the ethical responsibilities of storytellers, highlighting the importance of authenticity and sensitivity in crafting narratives. He argued that well-told stories can challenge biases, illuminate shared human experiences and inspire positive change. 

“In divisive times like these, when sides have been chosen and anyone who doesn't agree with you is seen to be your enemy, what is the best way to make sure your stories can be heard? I would argue it's by showing, not telling,” he said.

The lecture was just one of the highlights from Wells’ week-long visit to campus, which included meeting one-on-one with students and teaching alongside faculty. 

Today, Wells will host a screening of the season one finale of his latest production, “The Pitt,” a medical drama that follows the daily lives of health care professionals in a Pittsburgh hospital as they navigate personal crises, workplace politics and the emotional toll of treating critically ill patients.

“The Pitt,” which has already been renewed for a second season, involved students and alumni in its creation.

“We are truly grateful for John’s deep and meaningful investment in our programs and our students, and we’re thrilled that his newest show, ‘The Pitt,’ which is based right here in Pittsburgh, is a critical and commercial success,” Jahanian said.

Following the lecture Jahanian engaged Wells in a thoughtful Q&A. Among the many topics they discussed were Wells’ inspiration for creating the John Wells Directing Program, AI in the entertainment industry, his influences, approach to storytelling and creative process. At the close of the event, students from Wells’ directing program presented him with a personalized director’s chair.