This year, The CRAFT Institute is offering its inaugural “Writers Retreat” for 4 Black screenwriters to workshop their Feature Script or TV Pilot in a safe, supportive environment. Dedicated to curating culturally inclusive ecosystems throughout the world of arts and entertainment by transforming formal training and industry practices while promoting equitable access, CRAFT aims to do just that during the Writers Retreat with the leadership of Craig T. Williams and the CreateEnsemble platform.
Listed below are the finalists of 2024 Writers Retreat, which will be taking place at Black Ivy Cottage in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard. Selected from nearly 200 submissions, congratulations and thank you to all those who have submitted.
Alexa & The Light by Drew Allyn (Feature Film)
A young boy's struggle to fit into a new community after his parents divorce intertwines with a Kendo master's fight to reclaim her sense of purpose, as their shared journey challenges them to confront their fears and rebuild from loss.
Shemar Holmes: A Case of the Killer Groove by Jalen Anderson (Feature Film)
After discovering a dead body on set, the insecure star of Sherlock Holmes blaxploitation parodies must solve the real-world mystery to prove his worth as an actor, a detective, and a black man.
Want You Back by Mercedes Brazier-Thurman (Feature Film)
When a lonely bartender transports back to her marriage proposal, she becomes stuck in recursive memory time-loops until she can stop her opinionated former self from losing her man and re-creating their future.
Lady of the Lake by Randall Dottin (Feature Film)
When her beloved son is brutally murdered, a stubborn activist who vowed to leave her causes in the Sudan must finally confront her trauma as she battles the police and her own community in pursuit of justice.
Possessed or Whatever by Royce Dunmore (TV Pilot)
In this horror fantasy pilot, teen theme park employees must uncover historical secrets when demon possessions plague Maryland and D.C.
Rubaiyat by Kimba Henderson (TV Pilot)
Once an antebellum sugar plantation, Rubaiyat is now a thriving, black-owned crawfish farm filled with secrets, treacheries, and spirits of the past. When the current owner is forced to pass the reins to his defiant daughter, the resurgence of an age-old betrayal brings her into contention with supernatural enemies and an embittered white family with claims to the land.
Unabridged by Charlene Little (TV Pilot)
An international rap star—years past his prime—sobers up for a comeback only to be confronted by his long-ignored spirit guide and his true calling as a demon hunter.
Square One by Christian Streaty (TV Pilot)
After learning that she can't have kids, Alix Brentley enlists an unlikely ally to embark on a journey of foster parenting and starting anew.
Wanderer by Shanice Williamson (Feature Film)
After being rejected from her sovereign position in the afterlife, a proud, self-reliant woman is sent back to replay her last earthly mission—a dangerous relationship—to right her wrongs before she can take her take her seat as a reincarnation Judge, in this story about what we owe to each other—and to ourselves.
About the Finalists:
Originally hailing from Southfield, Michigan, Drew Allyn writes stories deeply rooted in the experiences of Black characters, full of authenticity and introspection. Drew's work has been recognized at the Atlanta Film Festival and Tribeca Film Institute, and he is a four-time recipient of Michigan's Hopwood Award. Under the guidance of showrunner Ian Goldberg, Drew honed his skills in the Mentorship Matters Program. His debut short film, "The Moon Bird," has been warmly received at various film festivals, including the Culver City Film Festival and the Golden State Film Festival and he's currently working on his next -- "Penny in the Sky." Instagram. Twitter.
I’m Jalen Anderson, a writer/actor/comedian from Nashville, TN. I came to Chicago to pursue a degree in Comedy Filmmaking from DePaul University, where I fell in love with screenwriting, and honed my improv skills through classes at Second City. In 2021 I began performing stand-up comedy, and in 2022 I began creating sketch comedy content with some friends, later starting our production company under the same name - Sketchy As Hell. Instagram.
Mercedes Brazier-Thurman is a screenwriter, abolitionist educator, and Vernor's ginger ale enthusiast. Her writing explores the comedic curiosity and complex vulnerability of relationships. Her romantic comedies are donned in Blackness, quirkiness, and charm. Her writing has been seen on Black & Sexy TV.
In addition, she writes for children’s media. She is a 2023 Fred Rogers Writers Neighborhood Fellow and a GBH Kids Writing Fellow. Her writing has been seen on PBS KIDS.
Mercedes has a BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts for Film and Dramatic Writing and an MA in Educational Theatre from NYU Steinhardt’s School of Education. Linkedin. Instagram.
Randall Dottin directs fiction and non-fiction films that explore how history, resistance and memory shape Black identity. His MFA thesis film A-ALIKE aired on HBO and won a Student Academy Award. LIFTED, his short film, was sponsored by Fox Searchlight’s program for emerging directors – the Fox Searchlab. His documentary series THE HOUSE I NEVER KNEW explores housing segregation’s effect on American families and received a grant from the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund. Recently, Dottin co-wrote and co-directed MINE, an animated series whose pilot premiered at the Tribeca Festival and won Best Web Series at the 2022 American Black Film Festival. Instagram. Twitter. Facebook.
Royce Dunmore is a screenwriter, filmmaker, and journalist who creates stories that explore family drama, relationship scars, and coming-of-age humor with a splash of fantasy. He grew up in Suitland, Maryland, and graduated from New York University’s Film and Television program.
His short films Death, Daughters and Laugh Tracks and Noah Dreams of Origami Fortunes (starring Stranger Things actor Caleb McLaughlin) have screened at multiple festivals, including BlackStar Film Festival and Pan African Film & Arts Festival.
Dunmore’s commitment to Black storytelling and community building motivates his creative pursuits so he can share stories closest to him with the world. Instagram.
Kimba Henderson was born in Detroit and grew up in San Diego. She often listened to her court reporter mother dictating criminal cases and fascinated by these tales of "The Young and the About to be Incarcerated," Kimba knew writing was her future. After graduating from NYU, she began her career writing true crime shows. Kimba is also a playwright, winning awards for WOMEN ON THE VERGE and THE RECKONING. She recently completed a TV fellowship at Fox and her crime thriller, ANOTHER RIVER, was recently optioned. Currently, Kimba is part of The Blacklist + Women in Film Screenwriting Residency. Facebook. Instagram. Twitter.
Florida born and raised, Charlene Little is an alum of the FSU Film School, where she confirmed her passion for storytelling. After college, she took the scenic route to her writing career: raising and blending a beautiful family, navigating a rewarding career in property management, and honing her craft. Charlene writes Black-led stories that explore themes of morality and self-discovery with a dark, horror twist. Twitter. Instagram.
Christian Streaty grew up in the San Fernando Valley with dreams of storytelling and using her natural attention-seeking abilities for good. After graduating from Cal State Northridge with a degree in Cinema/TV Arts (and after a bout with a rare cancer), she found herself in the CBS Page Program. From there she flew to a galaxy far, far away where she landed a PA gig at Lucasfilm Animation, eventually working her way up to Staff Writer on Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. She loves to tell stories that are fun, impassioned, and directly reflective of her (sometimes preposterous) life experiences. Instagram. Linkedin.
After writing, directing, and producing an award-winning short film, Waiting Room (streaming on Amazon), and web series, All That Shabaz (streaming on SparkkTV), Shanice Williamson escaped the law (firm) and leaped into freelance production. She raised two amazing sons, then, with their blessings, moved cross-country with her husband from Atlanta to LA to pursue the dream of writing, directing and producing professionally. She quickly landed Producer’s and Director’s assistant gigs. Shanice’s scripts have placed in several writing competitions and fellowships, including the inaugural Circle of Confusion’s Writers Discovery Program in 2021. She currently works as a Writers’ Assistant and Script Coordinator. Website. Instagram. Threads.
You can learn more about The CRAFT Institute at https://www.thecraftinstitute.org/. Follow us at @thecraftinstitute. You can learn more about CreateEnsemble at https://www.createensemble.com/. Follow us at @createensemble.
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