Writers Boot Camp Founder, Jeffrey Gordon (JG), during a 2025 Alumni Speaker Event, spoke with Alfredo Barrios Jr., who was a Writers Boot Camp Professional Member in (YEAR) and went on to be a showrunner, Executive Producer, and Filmmaker. Alfredo’s credits include Burn Notice, Law & Order, and BULL RUN.

Early in the conversation, Alfredo mentioned using his “Jr.” more as an homage to his family and lineage. 

Given the relationship between writers and telling personal stories, circling back JG asked “Has your Mexican-American heritage influenced your choices and your voice at all?”

AB: “I would say early on in my career not to emphasize that part of me, I didn’t want to be put inside of that box.  But currently, that part of my background and my personality has taken on prominence in the stories I write and the way I want to write them. Having to be able to write those stories with my background pronounced to me is important now. More important than it was when I began.”

In regards to how Alfredo would showcase these stories, JG followed up “Will you do more movies?”

AB: “I’m writing more movies for sure, I would love to shoot more movies.  As my producer said, you put enough of them under your belt and you will end up directing them.” He continued,  “I think my process is largely a part of the Writers Boot Camp philosophy: write fast and rewrite often.”

Writers Boot Camp proudly supports diversity— Historically, we supported Fox Diversity for nine years where they sponsored writers through Basic Training, 50% of the writers attracted staff television jobs, including top showrunners today. Through our 36 year history, women represent a higher percentage of our overall alumni success stories—and through the years we’ve awarded nearly half a million dollars in fellowship awards to writers and filmmakers of diverse heritage, highlighting opportunities for women of color.