Next Event Announced | TV Writer's Workshop March 15

We’re excited to announce the lineup for our next event. TV writers of varied levels and backgrounds will share their experiences. Learn about networking and creating relationships, environmental and financial differences between network, cable, and streaming platforms, developing projects, and how writers can market and define themselves in the current climate.

After the overwhelmingly positive response to our first event, we secured a larger location to accommodate more attendees. We’re proud to partner with Blackbird House to host our next workshop. Networking mixer to follow event.

Speakers
1. Safia Dirie, Producer (Power)
SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS: Network TV vs. cable, Sustaining plot lines on popular show over many seasons

2. Raamla Mohamed, Producer (Scandal)
SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS: Developing projects on an overall deal, network TV, sustaining plot lines on a popular show over many seasons, working for the same studio throughout your career

3. Daniel Willis, Story Editor (Twenties, Boomerang) Director (Grey's Anatomy, The Blacklist)
SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS: Balancing directing and writing, how to market yourself and succeed as a multi-disciplined creative

4. Jeanine C. Daniels, Staff Writer (Snowfall) Co-Creator/Partner (Black & Sexy TV)
SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS: Independent content creation, how to transition from online content to TV, balancing entrepreneurship with writing

5. Selwyn Hinds, Writer (The Twilight Zone, Washington Black - In Development, Prince of Cats - Feature)
SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS: Balancing feature and TV writing, working in a mini-writer’s room vs. traditional room, producing live TV, documentaries, adapting pre-existing materials, development

6. Lucien C. Adderly and Robert Byrd; Writing Team (David Makes Man)
SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS: How to create and market yourself as a writing team, cable shows, balancing acting with writing, how to market yourself as a multi-disciplined creative

7. Racquel Baker, Staff Writer (Good Trouble)
SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS: Freelancing episodes, advancing from support staff to staff writer

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to meet and network with writers from hit TV shows and meet other like-minded creatives.

There is No Come Up : Network Across like Issa Rae

At In the Cut, we admire the brilliant multi-hyphenate creative Issa Rae, not only for her undeniable talent, but for her commitment to increasing representation behind the screen. When I was still a graphic designer, stuck at an unfulfilling corporate 9-5, I slipped on my headphones and listened to any and all Issa Rae interviews while I worked. One of my favorite gems from Rae is her advice to network across.

Many people, especially those new to the industry, make the mistake of looking for a quick “come up.” We hear outlier stories of people being plucked from obscurity on Twitter and falsely believe that if we can get just one celebrity to look at our work, we’re in. We waste time trying to contact the current Issa Rae’s of the world instead of building with the future leaders of the industry. Rae build her web series by collaborating with like-minded individuals at her level. Now with Insecure on it’s 4th season at HBO, Rae still works with those same people and they are all reaching new heights with their careers—together.

Networking across is simultaneously simpler and more difficult than the come up model. It’s easy to meet people who are at your level. But it’s also hard to put in the time and energy to build together. It takes hustle and ingenuity. You might have to your savings, or stay up late into the we hours of the AM working on your side project after your day job ends. Networking across requires sacrifice and sweat, but the come up is out of your control. The come up will probably not happen. But you can learn, connect, and hustle with other like minded creatives at In the Cut.

At a typical industry event, the panelists sit on a stage and the audience is kept at arms length. There is a short Q&A session where the vast majority of people will not get their questions answered. Audience members are expect to be quiet and listen while the panelists speak, with no time allowed for attendees to meet and learn from each other. In the Cut is different. Our workshops are organized in a round-table format. Each panelist sits in conversation with a small group of attendees. Panelists rotate between groups, allowing everyone to meet face-to-face and get their questions answered. Every workshop ends with a mixer event, where attendees are encouraged to network and interact with one another. Our events are designed to help you learn from industry professional, and create with the people around you. Network across at In the Cut.