(“A Guild Divided”) became so intrigued with the story behind the Guild’s attempt to oust president Joseph Mankiewicz in 1950 in the shadow of Hollywood’s red scare, that he handed in his story at twice its assigned length. “In that sense, it’s the only time I’ve happily failed my assignment.” Ulmer runs his own database company on actors and directors and is writing a documentary for British television.

Richard Schickel

(Steven Spielberg) has directed, written and produced 35 documentary films for television and has written, co-written or edited 33 books. He has reviewed movies for Time since 1972. Schickel says that in all the years he’s known Spielberg, he’s “never heard a note of cynicism in his voice.”

Libby Slate

(“Visually Speaking”) believes “the best part of the writing process is the interview.” So she was delighted to report on the DGA’s Visual History Program which, to date has interviewed some 80 members. Slate has written for Emmy and the Los Angeles Times.

Steve Pond

(“A Guild Is Born”) says it was fascinating to poke around and try to piece together what really happened at that famous 1935 meeting for his story about the founding of the Guild. Pond has been writing about popular culture and the entertainment industry for more than 25 years for such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, the Washington Post and Premiere.

Rob Feld

(Director’s Voice) recalls that after his interview with indie legend Jim Jarmusch, “when we stepped onto Ludlow Street after our conversation, he was immediately mobbed by some kids from a Canadian rock band. It was perfect.” Feld is a regular contributor to the Quarterly as well as Newmarket Press’ “Shooting Script” series.

Robert Abele

(“The Dawn of TV”) is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and critic who has written about television for the Los Angeles Times, the LA Weekly and Variety. “The pioneers of the early days of television are a joy to interview,” he says. “They can recall those times with such verve, color and intelligence. No wonder they succeeded.”

Amy Dawes

(On the Job With) is a freelance writer on film and television. She was formerly a senior editor and reporter at Variety and is the author of Sunset Boulevard: Cruising the Heart of Los Angeles.

Gary Giddins

(DVD Classics) won a National Book Critics Circle Award for Visions of Jazz and a Ralph J. Gleason Award for Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams. His essays on movies, music and books were recently collected in Natural Selection (Oxford University Press). On revisiting the films of Frank Capra for the column, he was “certain that I had them pegged, but was enchanted to find that they are far more knowing and intricate than I remembered.”