Inclusive Screenwriting

While there are many ideas of what inclusion means in film and television, one thing is clear--the urgency for diverse voices and stories are on the forefront of entertainment. With hits like Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians in theaters and shows like Master of None, Black-ish, Orange is the New Black, and Transparent on television, the appetite for multi-ethnic casting and stories are in rising demand by studios. This workshop focuses on assigning your characters based on age, gender, race, sexual orientation, and physical disabilities and how that diversity adds dimension and drama to your story. The course also covers showing diversity through dialogue, the importance of research, and most importantly, how to stand your ground when stakeholders of your project may not understand your original vision. Toward the end of the course, special attention is paid to the problem of underrepresented writers in Hollywood and strategies of how you should navigate the tricky efforts of greater inclusion.