September 2024 - The CRAFT Institute is proud to announce the selected cohort for our inaugural Writers Retreat, taking place at Black Ivy Cottage in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard. This retreat will offer a supportive environment to four exceptionally talented Black screenwriters to workshop their Feature Script or TV Pilot, fostering skill and community care under the guidance of industry professionals.
After a highly competitive selection process, during which nearly 200 submissions were reviewed, we are excited to introduce the following four screenwriters who will be joining the retreat this September:
Meet the 2024 Cohort
Drew Allyn (Feature Film) – Alexa & The Light 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.
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.
Charlene Little (TV Pilot) – Unabridged 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.
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 (TV Pilot) – Square One 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.
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.
Shanice Williamson (Feature Film) – Wanderer 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.
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.
Meet the 2024 Mentors
Erica Shelton Kodish is a television writer-producer in Los Angeles currently serving as Executive Producer on the new CBS drama ELSBETH starring Carrie Preston and Wendell Pierce. Previously, Kodish was writer and Consulting Producer on THE EQUALIZER starring Queen Latifah. She has also served as Executive Producer and showrunner of the revamped fourth and fifth seasons of the BET drama series, BEING MARY JANE, starring Gabrielle Union. Kodish’s other television writing credits include the critically acclaimed CBS series, THE GOOD WIFE, starring Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies, COLD CASE, CSi:NEW YORK, COVERT AFFAIRS, and FBI. Kodish has received various accolades for her work, including being named Variety’s “Ten Writers to Watch.”
Christine Swanson A visionary storyteller from Detroit, multiple award-winning director, earned her MFA in Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, one of the nation’s top-ranked graduate film programs.
Recognized early as a talented filmmaker, Christine was selected by NYU faculty as the Willard T.C. Johnson Fellow, the most prestigious fellowship given to the student who has achieved high standards in his or her work. CNN identified Christine as one of the most promising filmmakers to emerge from NYU’s graduate film program since Martin Scorsese, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone and Spike Lee (Christine’s NYU directing teacher).
Christine earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, double majoring in Film Theory and Japanese. She was chosen by the Notre Dame Alumni Association as The Rev. Arthur S. Harvey Award recipient, acknowledging her achievements in the arts.
Christine has developed, written and/or directed entertainment projects for HBO Films, Lionsgate, Universal Television, Warner Bros. Television, CBS Television Studios, TV One, A&E Networks, BET Films, Starz and Faith Filmworks.
Christine’s movie directing credits include the network and cable television records breaking The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel, starring Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis. The film won “Best TV Movie” from the African American Film Critics Association and the Satellite TV Award for “Best Television Movie.” The film was nominated for five NAACP Image Awards including “Outstanding Directing in a Television Motion Picture” for Christine and a Critics’ Choice Awards Nomination for “Best Television Movie.”
Christine also directed Aunjanue Ellis in the powerful short film, Fannie, about the ground-breaking testimony of human, voting and civil rights icon, Fannie Lou Hamer, in front of the Democratic National Convention’s Credentials Committee in 1964. Fannie earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Short Form Film.”
Christine has also directed All About You, All About Us, To Hell and Back, Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story (which broke network ratings as the most watched original movie in the network’s history) and For the Love of Ruth, for which Christine earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Directing in a Television Motion Picture.” In addition to writing the above movies, Christine was a screenwriter for Woman Thou Art Loosed.
Some of Christine’s television directing credits include episodes of Chicago P.D., P-Valley, FBI, Found, Sweet Magnolias, All American, All American: Homecoming, MacGyver, Roswell, New Mexico and Bel Air. Her memorable episode of Chicago P.D., entitled “Black and Blue,” was rated “Best Episode” of Season 6 by Fansided.
Christine serves on the board of trustees for Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana; is an advisor to the Film and Television department at the University of Notre Dame and has served as a professor in the University of Georgia’s MFA Screenwriting Program. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband, studio executive and producer Michael Swanson, and their four children.
Jeff Rivera is an American writer/producer and owns a media company with 22+ TV development deals. His co-productions are with some of the leading scripted and unscripted television companies in the industry. These include documentary, docu-series, dating, science, true crime, paranormal, and various scripted genres including kids & family. He also represents and develops projects for select talent.
Rivera began his career as a child actor which led to his becoming an assistant casting director for a C.S.A. member. Together, they cast bit parts, extras and principle roles for television, music videos, national commercials, video games, and feature films.
Eager to expand on his talent and interest in storytelling, Rivera turned his attention to writing. His first book was published by Warner Books (Grand Central Publishing). He later became a bestselling author, co-author and ghostwriter of nearly 100 books.
Rivera has appeared on national television, radio and print in such outlets as Forbes.com, The Boston Globe, Publishers Weekly, The Observer, Rotarian Magazine, TMZ, WABC, WNBC, WCBS, SITV, and NPR. Rivera has also written for Entertainment Weekly, Mediabistro/Adweek, TheGrio, School Library Journal and the Huffington Post where he interviewed nearly 200 high profile subjects.
Rivera is an internationally sought after speaker who gives inspirational talks on his life journey overcoming poverty and homelessness to pursuing his career heights.
Rivera has produced social media campaigns, Skype/Google Hangout tours and web content for many high profile influencers, including Mark Cuban, Mark Victor Hansen, Jeff Kinney, Elmore Leonard, Mitch Albom, Stan Lee, Seth Godin, Nicholas Sparks, James Van Praagh, and cast members from from the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. He is the founder of the One Hour Mentorship Program which connects some of the most influential people in Hollywood with emerging and mid-career BIPOC creatives.
About the Writers Retreat
The CRAFT Institute Writers Retreat is designed to provide a nurturing space for Black screenwriters to refine their work and connect with fellow writers and industry leaders. With a focus on community care, the retreat offers an opportunity for participants to engage deeply with their craft and build lasting relationships. We have 2 in-person mentors and a series of virtual workshops to support different aspects of the film industry. In addition, all expenses are covered by The CRAFT Institute.
We are excited to see the growth and creativity that will emerge from this intimate and supportive environment. Congratulations to Drew, Charlene, Christian, and Shanice – we believe your stories will continue to inspire and impact the world.
For more information about The CRAFT Institute and the Writers Retreat, please visit www.thecraftinstitute.org and follow us on social media at @thecraftinstitute. To learn more about CreateEnsemble, visit www.createensemble.com and follow us at @createensemble.
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