Although it was Varsity Badminton at Pennsylvania’s Bryn Mawr College that initially brought writers Bo Yeon ‘Boey’ Kim and Erika Lippoldt together, it was the doubles partners’ shared love for sci-fi that allowed their friendship to endure off the court. “We figured out that we both had very similar interests, we’re both sci-fi nerds, we loved ‘Battlestar Galactica’; [that] was the show that made us realize that we wanted to be writers,” explained Lippoldt in a video interview in 2016.
Rather than attempt striking out on their own, they decided then in those early days that it might be easier to form a writing partnership. Subsequently, they began writing their own TV pilot scripts, honing their craft. They were accepted to the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, run by Carole Kirschner, who trained them to prepare what she called “blazing hot material” in time for staffing season. “For us that was the biggest challenge,” says Kim, who admitted they “were a little late on the timeline,” for which they “got a bit of scolding.”
Nonetheless, the two have clearly proved themselves ever since. Their first writing credits were on The CW’s “Reign,” which they joined for the show’s third season in 2015, and remained with until its cancellation in 2017. That job was quickly followed by what is surely the dream gig for self-described “sci-fi nerd” TV writers: “Star Trek: Discovery,” the first in a new line of series within the beloved franchise, headlined by actress Sonequa Martin-Green. Besides scripting occasional episodes, the pair serve as executive story editors on the series, and were co-producers for the second season.
Their work has earned them fans not only among the audience that streams the show, but also with their co-workers. Actress Mary Chieffo, who plays a supporting role, singled them out in an early interview, saying: “My favorite writer duo is Erika and Bo Yeon. They’re these two young women who are PhDs, brilliant, love sci-fi, and they are writing incredible material for all of us.”
Perhaps the highest praise of all, however, is the vote of confidence from higher-ups: early this year, Deadline reported that the rumored Michelle Yeoh-led spinoff — focusing on the exploits of her “Discovery” character Philippa Georgiou — was indeed going ahead, and would be co-executive produced by Lippoldt and Kim, who are also set to showrun. “Erika and Boey are remarkable, exciting writers who bring a fresh perspective to the world of ‘Star Trek,’ and we’re all thrilled to explore the next wild chapter in the life of Captain Philippa Georgiou,” was the official statement from “Discovery” EP Alex Kurtzman.
The two have clearly perfected their recipe for success, and have explained how they work as a pair, beginning with a detailed outline, and then splitting the duties according to strength. “Erika’s really good at writing action, and I go a little crazy at describing things,” explained Kim. Providing further insight to fans, Kim frequently shares behind-the-scenes insight, and answers questions on her Twitter account. Illustrating how what she details in the script can sometimes be changed due to practicalities while filming, she shared the example of an alien seaweed dish that she had described “as being something similar to the traditional Korean seaweed soup 미역국 (Miyeok-guk). Ultimately, the soup became more stew-like [because] it was easier for our dear actors to eat.”
On “Reign” — which was based on the life of Mary Queen of Scots — the historical nature of the show provided structure; the writers would derive drama from the key events throughout the monarch’s timeline. On “Star Trek,” set in a world filled with space and time travel, the writing possibilities are seemingly endless — and occasionally surreal — from establishing social hierarchies across different alien cultures, to debating how many penises a Klingon has.
When working on “Reign,” Lippoldt explained that their job as part of the writers’ room was to execute the showrunner’s voice and vision, noting that they were fortunate in joining the show with two seasons’ worth of material to use as a template. Now with their own show, they will be establishing their own voice and vision, with the added challenge of shaping the series while ensuring it still feels recognizably part of the “Star Trek” franchise.
“Star Trek: Discovery” airs on CBS All Access in the U.S., and on Netflix internationally. It is expected to return for Season 3 in early 2020. The premiere date for the Yeoh-led series is TBA.
Previously on Writer to Watch…
“Derry Girls” Creator Lisa McGee
Sofia Alvarez of the “To All the Boys” Films
Grace Nkenge Edwards of “Insecure” and MTV’s New “Daria” Spinoff
Katie Silberman of “Booksmart” and “Set It Up”
“Insecure” Scribe Amy Aniobi
Marquita Robinson of “GLOW” and “You’re the Worst”
“The Little Drummer Girl’s” Claire Wilson
“Speechless” and “Friends from College” Scribe Broti Gupta
Sierra Teller Ornelas of “Superstore”
“Sierra Burgess Is a Loser” Scribe Lindsay Beer
“Atlanta” Emmy Nominee Stefani Robinson
