I asked ChatGPT:

“Which screenwriters working in drama have also written documentaries?”

ChatGPT said:

Several screenwriters known for their work in TV dramas have also ventured into writing or producing documentaries. Here are a few notable examples:

1. Peter Morgan

• Known for TV dramas like The Crown and Frost/Nixon (originally a play and film but has a documentary-like approach), Morgan also wrote the documentary The Deal (2003), about Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s political relationship. His work frequently blends historical drama with a documentary sensibility, particularly in terms of accuracy and character-driven narratives.

2. Alex Gibney

• Although primarily known as a documentary filmmaker (Going Clear, The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley), Gibney has crossed over into TV drama writing and producing. His documentary work, which often feels narrative-driven, has influenced scripted projects, and he has been involved in drama-documentary hybrids, where his approach to storytelling in both genres blurs the lines between fact and fiction.

3. Aaron Sorkin

• Known for The West Wing and The Newsroom, Sorkin has written narratives based on real events (The Social Network, Steve Jobs). While Sorkin hasn’t written straight documentaries, he has produced documentary-style dramas that are heavily research-driven, like The Trial of the Chicago 7. His style is very much inspired by real-world events, often integrating the documentary ethos of factual storytelling within a dramatized framework.

4. Ava DuVernay

• Known for the TV drama Queen Sugar and the miniseries When They See Us, DuVernay also directed and produced the powerful documentary 13th, which explores racial issues and the prison system in the United States. Her work in both formats is thematically connected, often focusing on social justice and marginalized communities.

5. Tom Fontana

• A pioneer in TV dramas (Oz, Homicide: Life on the Street), Fontana has dabbled in documentary-style storytelling, particularly in his approach to depicting gritty realism in his dramas. While not a traditional documentary writer, his collaboration on The Blues, a documentary series produced by Martin Scorsese, reflects his interest in real-life stories and historical influences.

6. David Simon

• Known for The Wire and Treme, Simon’s work in TV dramas often feels documentary-like, due to his background as a journalist and his focus on realism. Although not a traditional documentary writer, he’s created documentary-influenced dramas that feature intense realism and social critique, closely mirroring his work’s documentary inspiration.

7. Ryan Murphy

• Creator of American Crime Story and Feud, Murphy’s work often blurs the lines between drama and documentary, as he tackles real-life stories with a documentary-like approach, even if not strictly factual. His meticulous research and adherence to real events lend his series a documentary-like structure, showing his interest in blending drama and nonfiction.

Each of these screenwriters brings a documentary sensibility to their TV dramas, whether by structuring narratives around real events, heavily researching their subjects, or creating works that capture the essence of true stories.