Alumni Feature: Javier Grillo-Marxuach Celebrates Thirty Years in Screenwriting
By Maria Ferrato
Alumnus Javier Grillo-Marxuach, who earned his BA from Carnegie Mellon University in 1991, is currently the Executive Producer for Netflix’s show The Witcher.
This is Grillo-Marxuach’s second season working on the show. Grillo-Marxuach expressed that he deeply enjoys this current role, saying that it’s fun to write — especially alongside some of the best and most talented people he’s worked with.
“It's wonderful to learn something new every day I spend in the writers' room,” he shared.
While he’s still learning in his role, Grillo-Marxuach already has a wealth of experience and notable achievements under his belt. From writing on shows like Lost and Charmed to producing shows like The 100 and The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance, Grillo-Marxuach has a long list of accomplishments to celebrate.
Considering all of these opportunities together, Grillo-Marxuach identifies his collective career longevity as his biggest accomplishment.
“This is a difficult and demanding business in which there is no such thing as job security,” Grillo-Marxuach shared. “Being paid to write and produce on this level — and to have done it consistently for thirty years — is something I am both proud of and grateful for.”
Indeed, Grillo-Marxuach has been in the industry for nearly thirty years. He commenced his career after graduating from CMU in 1991. During his time at CMU, he double majored in creative writing and cultural studies with a minor in playwriting.
His time at CMU helped prepare him for the entertainment industry and has continued to undergird his time producing and writing shows.
“There isn't a single day that I don't apply the lessons I learned at CMU. They are in everything: from how to build a story to understanding the very complicated politics at play in our popular culture,” said Grillo-Marxuach.
These are lessons he believes every student should learn, emphasizing the importance of studying the humanities. Grillo-Marxuach highlighted the fact that the education the humanities offer — like communication skills and a deep understanding of the human condition — can be woven into any discipline, industry and career.
“Even in the sphere of popular culture and entertainment,” Grillo-Marxuach stated, “our work is to express emotion, elucidate the inner workings of the human soul, and generate empathy through drama. The value of that is self-evident to me.”