On August 1st, Lower Boom launched a Diversity and Inclusion Initiative to create opportunities for Television and Film Writers.
We asked writers to submit samples throughout the month of August with special consideration being given to writers of color, LGBTQ, women writers, and candidates from socio-economically diverse backgrounds.
The response was overwhelming! We received 86 fantastic applications.
From those 86 applicants, we selected 6 talented writers to work with us on an 8 episode series Lower Boom is producing entitled Portland Dark.
Starting Friday, September 21st, we will be holding a weekly Writer’s Room with the selected writers. In addition, at each meeting an industry expert or mentor will give short presentations or Q+A sessions to further enhance the education of our selected writers. We have a stellar group of mentors for the writers: Producers Janice Williams (Queen America, The Magicians), Alice Mathias (Portlandia, Documentary Now!) and David Cress (Portlandia, Paranoid Park), writer Jon Raymond (Old Joy, Meek’s Crossing, Mildred Pierce), and producer Lizzy Harris (Iconoclasts) with more in the pipeline.
The project will culminate with the writers attending the American Film Market in Los Angeles in November with Lower Boom, taking meetings to pitch the series.
Sponsors include Comcast / NBC Universal and The Oregon Made Creative Foundation. WeWork has generously donated space for our writer’s meetings.
We will be posting regular updates from the writer’s room so you can follow along with our progress as we start this experiment!
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Meet our writers:
Jon Ayon Alonso – Jon is a Film Editor and Instructor from Los Angeles, currently based out of Portland, OR. As a filmmaker, his work has earned him awards and recognition from organizations like The Annenberg Foundation, The SF Emmys, and American Zoetrope. Most of Ayon’s films investigate issues of race, class, sex, immigration, Indigeneity, and generational trauma.
Annika Donaldson – Annika is a Portland native and a Sociology graduate from Portland State University. She has two children and raises them as a single mother. She has written a feature film titled Nostalgia and works as an actress, model and photographer among other things.
Malcolm Shabazz Hoover – Malcolm is an Afro Surrealist and Futurist, poet, storyteller and activist. He is the author of “144 Poems and Essays for God, Love, Truth, Justice, Peace and Hip Hop”. He enjoys growing plants.
Matthew Miller – Matthew is a screenwriter/playwright. He lives in Southwest Portland with his partner, Chris, their dog, Paca, and their cat, Mashed Potatoes.
Anya Pearson – Anya Pearson is an award-winning actress, playwright, poet, producer, and activist. The World Premiere of her play, Made to Dance in Burning Buildings, will open in February 2019 at Shaking the Tree Theatre in Portland, Oregon.
Titania Tran – Titania is a creative at Wieden + Kennedy, writing for brands like Coca-Cola and Samsung. Before this, she was—and in some ways will always be — an elementary school teacher, a Life Coach, and an elephant poop scooper.
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OVERVIEW
Lower Boom is launching, today, August 1st, a diversity and inclusion initiative to create opportunities for Television and Film writers.
Lower Boom will be doing outreach and accepting writing samples throughout the month of August to select 4-6 writers who will then participate in a weekly writer’s room during September and October. Special consideration will be given to writers of color, LGBTQ, women writers, and candidates from socio-economically diverse backgrounds.
THE PROJECT
The project they will be working on is an 8 episode series that Lower Boom is producing entitled Portland Dark.
Industry supporters include the Portland Film Office and The Oregon Film Office.
In addition, at each weekly meeting, a different industry expert or mentor will give short presentations or Q+A sessions to further enhance the education of the selected writers. Mentors include Producers Janice Williams (Queen America, The Magicians), Alice Mathias (Portlandia, Documentary Now!) and David Cress (Portlandia, Paranoid Park), and writer Jon Raymond (Old Joy, Meek’s Crossing, Mildred Pierce)
The participating writers will receive a stipend for the months of September and October.
The project will culminate with the writers attending the American Film Market in Los Angeles in November with Lower Boom, taking meetings to pitch the series.
Applicants can be from anywhere, but must attend, in person, the weekly writer’s room meetings.
Applicants can be at any stage of their career.
Applicants must either submit a link to a writing sample, or upload one. Screenplays or teleplays are preferred, but any writing sample in any format will be considered.
For more information, contact Lower Boom CEO Matt Schulte
matt@lowerboom.com