5 BLACK SCREENWRITING COACHES TO HIRE IN 2024
Unlock your storytelling potential with guidance from the best in the industry! Our latest blog, highlights top coaches who are not only masters of the craft but also dedicated coaches. These coaches bring a wealth of experience, innovative techniques, and a deep understanding of narrative intricacies. Whether you're an aspiring screenwriter or a seasoned professional looking to refine your skills, discover the experts who can elevate your work to new heights.
Curated by Antoinette Wade & Reggie Williams.
SPADE ROBINSON
Spade Robinson is an award-winning screenwriter and film director, with experience that spans feature film, documentary, television, commercial and theater. Robinson is a master’s alumnus of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, where she emphasized writing and directing. Since then, she’s been commissioned to direct and produce commercial content for clients such as Time Warner and Sundance Institute.
Her original works include award-winning films such as Seen Also In Men, The Wedding and The Love Life of A Black Girl. She’s directed both contemporary and classical stage plays including Starting Monday, A Mid Summer’s Night Dream and A Lesson Before Dying.
Spade was a Women’s Weekend Film Challenge Fellow, Sundance Episodic Lab and Film Independent Finalist, American Film DWW Finalist and a Screencrafting Finalist.
SHANNAN E. JOHNSON
Los Angeles, California
Shannan is the founder of The Professional Pen (TPP), the first black-owned script consultancy in Hollywood. TPP offers three tiers of services that help writers beef up their writing portfolio and level up their screenwriting career.
The Professional Pen offers…
Development Notes: For writers of all levels who have tried script coverage but still feel stuck in their writing, TPP’s Story Experts provide detailed, page-by-page, objective feedback with actionable notes for an efficient revisions process.
Membership: For Newbie writers in this screenwriting game, TPP offers a membership community with access to a safe space for learning, growth, valuable feedback, and a supportive environment to thrive in their writing journey through courses, workshops, Q&A’s, industry guest speakers, a library of screenwriting resources, and more.
Mentorship: For Emerging writers ready to push out several writing samples a year, nab their next professional gig, and are in need of an accountability partner, TPP offers 1:1 mentorship from idea to pitch with a Story Expert.
CHARLA LAURISTON
Vancouver, BC
Charla is a screenwriter turned coach who helps creatives and solopreneurs stop procrastinating, create routines they love, and reach their goals.
As a coach, she mainly helps smart, ambitious creatives and solopreneurs end the negative internal dialogue that keeps them stuck, get organized, and create a productivity system that compliments their authentic selves so they can finish their work and reach their goals with ease.
Charla can help you;
→Create a routine you can finally stick to so you can write the book or start the business
→ End the negative dialogue in your head that keeps you feeling lost, stuck, and overwhelmed so you can have the mental space and clarity to do and create
→Learn how to stop procrastinating and get in flow so you can reach your goals
→ Develop a positive relationship with yourself so that you can have self-love and self-trust, and make meaningful and authentic connections with others
→ Navigate and reparent childhood trauma that is keeping you stuck in adulthood
JESSICA TANNER
Silver Spring, Maryland
Through her business, The Write Script, Jessica helps dedicated and committed screenwriters craft sellable scripts that command industry attention by focusing on developing their unique voices and writing styles. Her main package for Development Notes focuses on analyzing the script, identifying the areas of opportunity for change, and creating a customized strategy for each client's specific needs.
Haj
Atlanta, Georgia
Haj is an Award-winning Writer and Emmy-nominated Producer, Director, Performer, and Consultant with over two decades of creative direction, business development, and growth experience. She has written, produced, performed, directed, licensed, and sold projects to networks and studios including ABC, Disney, CBS, BET, Apple TV, and FOX.