If you're going to become outraged on this post, please skip. I also do not allow cursing, talking down, or any other forms of disrespect.
I'm a black screenwriter, and I want MORE stories out there where I see me! Clarifying, I'm not from the hood, I wasn't cool, nor am I the most alpha of males. Instead I'm just a guy who's a little odd, and I love it. And when I see black shows it usually falls into stereotypes. Now I love some of these shows: Power, Empire, GreenLeaf, etc. but I don't want to create more. I want to make things that are different and eye opening.
I look at the Big Bang Theory, one person of color! The show is good, but just one. I'm thinking I don't see any black people. Is that because we're not known to be scientist.
Also there aren't enough Scandals and How to Get Away with Murders, but it doesn't have anything on the The Good Wife, Downton Abbey (I want a diverse version), Madam Secretary. They're all good, but after awhile it's like-it's time for the show to end. Ex. The Good Wife had a lot of growth, both for the good and the bad.
What are your thoughts?
And what does it actually take to get in the room to pitch or write. Because I don't think it's a lack of stories, I just think it's who you know not what you know. Because getting in isn't as easy as someone told me, go for a fellowship or become a writer's PA. Mind you they didn't do either. And they're aren't enough diverse writers in the room, because I use ABC's "The Mayor" as an example, it was horrible, and then I saw who was writing it. You can't talk about black issues, and have no black writers in the room. The dialogue and mannerisms were off and an abomination.
So is it get into the room to change the game, or just makeup your own game?
I would love to write, but it just feels like I'm going to have to take jobs I might not love. And these aren't jobs like Writer's PA, but writing jobs where I feel the message isn't doing the best job for displaying my people in a positive light.
I use Blackish as an example. It's a hit, but black people are not it's biggest market. It's a Hit, but it doesn't speak for a majority, but instead a minority. Even the spinoff Grownish is nothing like "A Different World," which made a difference. It encouraged a lot of black people to go to college. But then you have the OWN Network, white people don't watch it. And it's odd, because it's an extension of Oprah. And a lot of those shows tackle problems in the black communities.
But back on topic, do you A.) Fight to get into the doors, and hopefully get the opportunity to write , fight, and then maybe produce/create a show.
or
B.) Make your own, grow it, and then sale it like Issa Rae. I think television is changing, and what held many back is fading away, but not fast enough, because there's still not enough diversity.
What am I missing here?
And if you want to hear from another prospective please watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LhITlgOvXY (And this is the UK, but it relates and makes senses)
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Here you go. Advice from a POC Showrunner,
https://twitter.com/everythingloria/status/1101548031244042241
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Alex:
I couldn't agree with you more. I want to see more stories about all cultures. For Example, I'd like to see more films with Asian actors. Crazy Rich Asians proved their is a tremendous market and hunger to see films about a group of people that make up thirteen percent of the world's population.
Though I've written a lot more scripts than the average writer, I've written five scripts where people of color are the protagonists and am finishing my sixth script this month that has an African American female lead.
I agree that more diversity should be in the television writer's room. However, I write mostly feature scripts and don't try to create bad dialect or hip speech representing the pop culture of the moment. I endeavor to create compelling characters.
I've purposely competed in diverse film festivals and competitions and have been a finalist at Harlem International Film Festival, Black Screenplays Matter, Houston Black Film Festival and Fort Worth Indie Film Festival, which is a wonderful festival run by people of color. So, my assumption is I'm on the right track when it comes to creating stories and characters that resonate with all of my readers.
Finally, it's very difficult to get up to bat for major league films or television shows because you do need representation and its hard to get repped if you haven't had anything substantial produced.
PS, I worked with one of the stars of Blackish this past summer, in an attempt to write a feature script based on their treatment. It's a long story on how that happened but the connection wasn't made through the usual channels.
I wish you the best of luck getting your work noticed and having your career flourish.
Hi Alex,
I saw you used "The Mayor" as an example to make your point. I never watched it myself; the trailers looked terrible. Anyway, you wrote: "...because I use ABC's "The Mayor" as an example, it was horrible, and then I saw who was writing it. You can't talk about black issues, and have no black writers in the room."
So I checked IMDB and found that the main writer, the one who wrote more episodes than anyone, was Mnelik Belilgne. I'm pretty sure he's black.
Tom Batha I may be wrong there, but I don't think he's the main writer. The creator is Jeremy Bronson, and he's made two bad black shows. Well maybe the second was based on acting by Rev Run and his wife, but then no storylines really stood out. I think Bronson was show runner, and I don't know why he continues to try to make the black voice.
Hey Alex. I don't know tried to make the "black voice". All I know is that IMDB shows Mnelik Belilgne with 12 episodes written, and Jeremy Bronson with 6.
Tom Batha It's Jeremy Bronson's creation, and his second show was the same. So I put it all on the creator when you have an overall deal with ABC. I see what he tried too do, but he came up with the concept, built it out. So I say it's your show and you just hired writers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5IEPVJog_M
Tom Batha I just looked up all the writers, and only two appeared to be black. And the second one only did 1 episode, and she had more experience from the past on shows like Girlfriends. So it's odd that jus tone black person was there to write.
Alex, I hear you!
I'm a bit off the beaten path, too, and I've tried to reflect that in the scripts I've written thus far.
Back in high school, my best friend was a White student, and in college, all the roommates I had were White.
I'd rather write my own world view...one based on my own experiences. With that in mind, two of the scripts I've posted here on Stage 32 ("Really Old School" and "Gayle Strawberry and Her Soda Pop Music Makers") feature a Black-White friendship. So do the two screenplays I'm working on right now: "Jingle Belles" and "Pixie Dust."
Great question, Alex! Thanks for posting!
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UK productions also have White stereotypes. Geezer, Geezer Bird, etc etc. There is a plethora of commonly used scenarios and stereotypes for all colour denominations. Character should out!
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Where are the Native American stories? You can count them on one hand. Jews created their own stereotypes because you just can't shut them up....which is another stereotype. OY!
Whitney: I was not being dismissive. I was really asking. Being Jewish, I have encountered many disheartening stereotypes and sometimes hateful depictions of my race both in literature and other mediums. I remember throwing a book of Gogol stories (one of my favorite authors} out of the window in a hurtful rage after reading a paragraph describing my race. I know and am sure blacks and others feel the same. But one should never lose a sense of humor or all is lost.
Jewish stereotypes are problematic in life and so are reflective in films. But I have witnessed that both Blacks and Jews do have an edge which is that they know how to laugh at themselves. Try living in a small bible belt town with only one synagogue. My son's head was harshly forced down by a teacher when they were praying to the Lord Jesus in the cafeteria. Again.....OY! As to the Rabbis. Well, what people usually don't understand is that if you don't like one Rabbis answer you can simply go to a different one. I guess that's why we make such good doctors........stereotypically speaking.
Being elected President might be construed as success. If you mean after election, that's a different story.
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Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Be the change you want to see in the world". If you want to see different renditions of the black community in film and television, I strongly suggest writing those different renditions and putting them out their. Spike Lee started off doing his own thing in that sort of sense, and he recently won an Oscar for "BlackkKlansman". As for the other part of your question, I'm not sure. You could try to get into a room first and change the game later, or you could try to change the perspective first. Either way, I wish you all the luck in the world friend.
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Hi Alex,
Please see the following disclaimer “The following opinion is from a screenwriter who has never, sold or optioned squat and as such the reader should assume that maybe there is a reason his advice is free.”
I believe you nailed it when you said it is “Who you know not what you know.” I have been told by several optioned screenwriters on this site that most often a producer will approach a screenwriter they like or know with an idea, they then, contract that screenwriter to write a script for them.
If you have a vision of a show and how those characters are portrayed which is different than the normal narrative i.e. black scientist etc. perhaps you could write a short script, film it, and present it at festivals. If it is good, it will get Alex Washington’s name known to some decision makers. It looks like you’re in L.A so you are in the right area to make connections. In a nutshell I guess if I lived in L.A I would network, network, network.
All the best!
Whitney Larkins No, I havne't done that yet. Have you?
Whitney Larkins How did it go? Can you break down what happens during it?
Whitney Larkins Time for a news post!
Whitney Larkins I wish! That's the goal! But no, just asking for people's knowledge of pitching! Just posted it! I wrote a original pilot, and in this climate it would work. It's something that hasn't really be tried yet, but it's familiar. It's not just black, but a mix. There's a character for everyone's personality.
Whitney Larkins done.
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Yes, youre going to have to take jobs you wont like. You're gonna have to write things you may not agree with. As a new writer, you bring your voice and POV but you write whats gonna get you in the room and keep you there until you're able to create your own room. Issa Rae had an undeniable voice. if you do too, then make your own shorts, web series, produce your own pilot. Otherwise, be willing to put your pride and ego aside a bit and change the system from the inside.
The prospectives of Main Stream “Character Analysis”. Whether it be ANY culture denomination is usually Puerile . I apologise if you take my answer any other way.
I agree with you. But we need to get the message across, via Film.
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Save the political chatter for where it belongs.... Twitter.
Hi @Whitney Yes you are right, the subject should not be lightly dismissed by merely brushing over with the fact that we ALL suffer negative stereotyping in film. I first gave input after 14 hours solid writing, so answered Alex's question with minimum expletives. Lucky you got what I meant though, as you answered mentioning the one sided ageism in female stereotypes, particularly in States and Europe. Reading further down, you touched on another stereotype I detest, the way females of a certain age are depicted as desperate, pathetic and tragic. Hey, why don't they just put in the script we get a state induced lobotomy at forty? Mining further into the topic, I agree with @Alex That world cinema does lack and definitely needs fresh blood, with much less over used/negative stereotypes for black characters in film. @Alex You mention "Odd Ball" beginning your thread and interestingly the only odd ball male characters I instantly remember are in Woody Allen's films. He changed the game by turning the nerdy intellectual guy who wore glasses, into the sexy hero in film and some say the real world. Screenplays offering similar radical achievements, in blowing black stereotypes out of the water are needed, true. Yet still, there are many out of the box legends. Samuel L Jackson, Jules, in Pulp Fiction who played the typical hood until he saw the light, via imagining he was in a miracle. He became his polar opposite. Archetype v Antitype. Red in Shawshank Redemption played by Morgan Freeman, not oddball but complex, and different in a different sort of way. Eddy Murphy another actor given diverse, out of the box dialogue. Complaints regarding stale stereotyping are now discussed at the biggest screenwriter's festivals. Never before has there been a more demographic time for "Unique" voices in screenwriting. New writers do spin pearls, yet time again Hollywood turns out the same poxy stereotypes. Big studios will make money on what sells, not on untested stones, albeit they admit character counts. I do respect and admire Hollywood but consider challenging factors. Epoch amounts of money available, superb, world class performers/technicians, and apocalyptic locations yet they often shell out predictable negative blueprints. (stereotypes) LOL Disclaimer. The following statement not mine, but from Regents Park seminar. "Hollywood shows the same over again because it can, the same way a dog can lick its genitals." I dig the way the Indie sector makes giant strides in reshaping perceptions, the characters representing real voices. @Bill and @ Whitney I fully understand the depth of feeling surrounding the historical/political aspect you both touch on, albeit I don't know much about black American culture. Visual film and how people are depicted has a political message, the same as ANY communication. The stories we tell and the way we visualise them, has an impact and influence that will resound no matter how small. In some cases the resound is not that small, where mass generated negativity causes inauthentic disunity amongst groups. But where do we go from here? The seeds of change lie within. We are human beings aswell as writers, and must accept the call via executing our craft. Like any protagonist in any story, we need to take action and write, becoming change agents to cause a switch. The pen is mightier than the sword, the journey begins on fingertips. @Alex @Whitney on the subject of where to pitch. I strongly recommend screenwriter's festivals, most include free pitch sessions with high calibre producers and agents. Warning, these places fill fast, so all itinerary needs completing way ahead of time. I'm sad to learn London Screenwriters Festival has been cancelled for 2019, as most flew in from over the pond, and it was a kind of international hook up. However, there should be some festivals more local to yourselves. Check out the website scriptrevolution.com a cool screenwriter's platform from member here CJ Whaley. It's free, cutting edge and going places. @All Hit the keys! If we don't want the way we are portrayed on screen, to remain in the same state, we need to get the sophisticated understanding of who we really are...…...out there on screen!
I agree with @Erik about instead of disliking the media, become the media. People tune into what's out there, "THEY" say this or that, as though some mystical and powerful force has spoken. Who are they? They are folks who made time to get their point across.
Personally Im only early doors with a web series, but I was not talking about executing any film project, I was referring to the gutter press and negative stereotypes in main stream. I don’t like bullfights so I joined protests, but didn’t expect personal gain.
We meant be a VOICE in media. Media just a conglomerate of platforms designed to influence the masses, mainly web based.
Wow, well said Alex! This is a topic dear to my heart. I couldn't agree more!
Alex, so much to say... but your success is not relative to the success of others. The past is not a precedent limiting you. In all the universe, across this planet there is only one you. ONLY YOU and you alone can tell the stories that you were born to tell, that give you joy. The key to content development is knowing your self... (and to clarify not your demographic, category or hook - your soul!).
You mission is not to re-accomplish what others did, or did not do, before you. You mission is to create and design the content that only you could bring into this world, in any viable context. Your expectations are a noise in your head making you dissatisfied. And telling yourself, if I'm really super dissatisfied with how things are - they will be forced to improve... is not how improvement happens.
You will definitely have to take work you do not love in order to get by. The world is not waiting to recognize your genius. They have hungry kids too. You may not get to direct a Marvel film - (or whatever commercial success means to you).
You may change tens of lives, instead of millions of lives... but they key is to commit to those tens of lives. Work, create and make art not in a desperate search for validation. Create art, because life is short, over all too quick, and we have such a short time to fulfill our potential. If you know yourself, your art, and your audience.... that will be a magic that can carry you onward to the extremes of commercial success. Don't wait for it to be easy. No one is coming to save you. Take yourself to your dream right now. It's not about your expectations of the world - its about your deep understanding of yourself.
Carpe' that diem.