‘The Bear’ EP Joanna Calo Gives Writer Scott Frank a Shoutout While Accepting Nantucket Film Festival Award: ‘Smartest Writer That Ever Lived’

At the 2025 Nantucket Film Festival, Joanna Calo was one of the three writers honored during the event’s signature celebration, Screenwriters Tribute, hosted by Michael Ian Black.

Calo, a writer on “The Bear” and “Thunderbolts*,” received the Excellence in Television Writing award, presented by “The Bear” star Lionel Boyce; “Andor” creator Tony Gilroy was honored by the Visionary Storyteller Award, presented by writer/director Scott Frank; and award-winning documentary director Alex Gibney was given the Special Achievement in Documentary Stroytelling honor. Calo, whose award was presented by Variety, gave two-time Oscar nominee Frank, a shoutout during her speech.

“This is incredibly surreal,” she said after accepting her award from Boyce. “I was telling Scott that I saw him when I was in college, that he inspired me to come and take a job, and that’s when I became a PA. Now to be in the same room as him… I can’t even look at you. I think you’re the smartest writer that ever lived. So thank you for letting me be in the same row as you guys.”

She continued by thanking the festival and the audience for “loving movies and celebrating us.”

“We need you. I used to work at these festivals,” Calo shared. “I mean I’m incredibly, incredibly grateful. Some people know I’m writing something about the island now, and I’ve just become really obsessed with the history of this place, and there are so many fascinating women that come from this place, and I’m just very grateful to get to visit and learn more about it.”

During his presentation, Boyce revealed that he met her kids for the first time during their trip to the festival.

“It’s interesting because we’ve been friends for a while and she’s never brought them around me for some reason,” he joked. “But when I met her youngest son, it put a couple things into perspective for me. No. 1, we’ve been working on this show for four years and it’s just crazy how time passed. I remember when we did the pilot, she had just had him. And No. 2, just how remarkable her work ethic and talent level is — with a newborn and toddler, she co-wrote, co-showran and directed episodes of ‘The Bear,’ and I don’t know how she did that. It was both impressive and a harsh reminder of how lazy I am.”

In addition to writing and executive producing on “The Bear,” Calo also served as a writer on “Bojack Horseman,” “Girlboss,” “Undone,” “Hacks” and “Beef.”

Watch the video above.