Year One Alumni
Our Inaugural 2023/2024 Cohort
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Akil Rashad Anderson is a Haitian-American screenwriter from Miami, Florida. Raised in separate households by his immigrant mother and American father, he often writes about Black characters who drag themselves raw up the jagged road toward the American dream. He loves hip-hop, arthouse cinema, and watching—but not playing—American football, which is why he chose to preserve his brain cells by reneging on a Division II scholarship. Akil most recently worked as a Staff Writer on AMC’s BEACON 23 starring Lena Headey & Stephan James. Akil received his MFA in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California, where he received the George Lucas Family Foundation Fellowship.
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Biniam Bizune is a writer and comedian based in Los Angeles. Biniam has served as a staff writer for JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE and performed stand-up on Comedy Central's STAND UP FEATURING and Viceland’s FLOPHOUSE. He was selected as a fellow of both the 2019 Sundance New Voices Lab and the 2019 Sundance Episodic Lab. He's also written for the A24/Netflix series, THE G WORD, seasons 2 and 3 of DAVE for FX, and the SYFY series, RESIDENT ALIEN. He also created the web series HOW TO BE BROKE for Comedy Central. Most recently Biniam co-created and starred in BAMMAS for Hulu with executive producers Danny Chun and Ramy Youssef. As an actor, Bizuneh starred in the Lee Daniels pilot CULTURE CLASH for Fox in 2019.
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Crystal Ferreiro is a Miami-bred, Cuban-Guatemalan writer who is fluent in Spanglish, feminism, and OFFICE quotes (deep cuts only). Being the first college graduate in her family with a very practical degree in Acting and Screenwriting from Syracuse University, it was only natural for her to move to LA. Crystal has written for Netflix's TRINKETS and DIARY OF A FUTURE PRESIDENT on Disney+, where she served as an on-set producer for both shows. Crystal sold her original one-hour pilot HERMANAS to The CW with Jerry Bruckheimer TV & CBSTV. On the feature side, she co-wrote DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, a rom-com for Creator+, currently streaming on Peacock. She most recently sold a musical biopic to TriStar with Arcus Studios producing. Crystal’s writing is genre agnostic but always leads with humor, heart, and messy heroines you can’t help but root for—because although Taylor says it’s exhausting rooting for the anti-hero, she finds it invigorating.
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Eric I. Lu is a writer and director, known for the Fox medical drama THE RESIDENT. Previously, Eric directed award-winning, impactful documentary and narrative films, as well as viral digital shorts with over 800 million views. One of his films, LOOKING FOR LUKE, has sparked and shaped the landscape around mental health on college campuses and the Asian American community.
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Gabriela Garcia Medina is a Cuban-American filmmaker. Her short film LITTLE CON LILI (2019) won Best of Fest at HBO Women in Comedy Festival (2019), Best Short Contest NBC (2019), winner of LALIFF Best Short Film (2019), nominated for Best Short Comedy at Palm Springs ShortFest (2020), and was distributed by HBOMax. Gabriela’s short film THE 90 DAY PLAN (2019), won Best of Fest at HBO Women in Comedy Festival (2020), Best Short Film – Powderkeg/Feigco Entertainment (2020), official selection at LAAPFF (2020), acquired by WarnerMedia OneFifty (2020), and was distributed by HBOMax. Gabriela's musical comedy BERTIE THE BRILLIANT (2022) was made in collaboration with WarnerMedia OneFifty and Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB). BERTIE premiered at the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences as part of the NFMLA IN FOCUS: LatinX & Hispanic Cinema (2023), it was an official selection to PBS Short Film Festival (2023), PRIDE LA, Outfest Family Fusion (2023), the Oscar-qualifying Chicago International Children's Film Festival (2023) and Hollyshorts Film Festival (2023) among others, and it is available on PBS. Gabriela’s feature film LITTLE CON LILI was selected as one of the five screenplays on the LatinX List (The Black List, 2023), and is in development with Mandalay Pictures. Her romantic musical comedy MEDIO SUMMER is in development with MACRO. Gabriela is a Rideback RISE (2023/2024) fellow, NFMLA Filmmaker of the Year (2023), Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts & Sciences Film Accelerator fellow (2022), a Film Independent Directing Lab fellow (2020), and a Hedgebrook Screenwriting Lab fellow (2016). Gabriela received her BFA from UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television, with a major in Theater, and a double minor in Chicano/a Studies and African American Studies. She holds two MFA degrees from California Institute of the Arts. Prior to being a filmmaker, Gabriela was a spoken word poet. She has performed at over 1000 colleges/universities and has opened the stage for artists including Pitbull, Mos Def, and the Black-Eyed Peas, as well as for political figures including Kamala Harris, Maxine Waters.
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Julia Prescott is a writer and comedian from North Hollywood, California, whose work has appeared on FOX, Disney, Amazon, Paramount+, Cartoon Network, Netflix and more. She's the creator of the hit Blackpills series TOWNIES lovingly described as "The OC in the Old West,'' starring Natalie Palamides and Mr Show's John Ennis. As a stand-up, she's been featured in various comedy festivals including CROM Fest in Omaha ('15); Hell Yes Fest in New Orleans ('15 and '16); Cape Fear Comedy Fest in Wilmington, SC ('16) and the Alaska B4 U Die Fest in Anchorage ('19). As an on-camera host and panelist, she's become a fixture for shows like Screen Junkies' Movie Fights, College Humor's Um, Actually, as well as writing and performing in the popular SJ Roasts series. Her clip as "Carol" for SJ Roasts: The Walking Dead became a featured spotlight on The Daily Dot. In 2019, she was named a "must-know comedian" by Elizabeth Banks's WhoHaHa. In 2020, she got to live a lifelong dream of writing for The Simpsons. Her episode, "Treehouse of Horror XXXI" has since been named by Variety as one of "The Top 30 Episodes" of the show in its decades-long run. Her book Basic Algebra for Basic Bitches has been featured in a special "humor writing spotlight" at the Bergen Art Book Fair in Norway. You can see her starring as herself in the upcoming ad campaign, "This is Universal" for Universal Studios Hollywood.
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Marissa Díaz is a Tejana writer, director, and producer. She works across mediums including scripted and unscripted film, television, and interactive media. Most recently, Marissa wrote and produced ORGASM INC: THE STORY OF ONETASTE, a feature documentary for Netflix. She worked on HBO’s hit series GIRLS, produced queer teen series GENERATION for HBOMax, and wrote WELCOME TO THE BLUMHOUSE LIVE, an interactive film event, for Blumhouse and Amazon Studios. Previously, she worked at Lena Dunham’s Good Thing Going, Fox Searchlight, MGM Studios, Bravo TV, Martin Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions, and The Weinstein Company. Marissa is a McDonald’s Spotlight Dorado finalist and received a $75,000 grant to write and direct FANCY FLOREZ’S SUMMER STAYCATION. Her half-hour comedy COCHINAS was selected for The Black List + Netflix’s Latinx List, an industry-curated list that highlights 10 exemplary film and television screenplays from talented Latinx storytellers. Her work has been supported by a number of industry fellowships including the Sundance Episodic Lab, the Film Independent Episodic Lab, the Film Independent + CNN Original Series Docuseries Intensive, and the Producers Guild of America Create Lab. Marissa holds a BFA in Film & TV Production from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and an MFA from the Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California, where she was awarded the Stark Special Production Grant for writing and directing and the Robert S. Ferguson Marketing Award in Television.
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Miguel Ortega a native of Bogota, Colombia, started his career in the Animation and VFX industry, contributing to films such as AVATAR, 300, THOR, THE MIST, KRAMPUS, and DRAG ME TO HELL. Shifting to writing and directing, he has collaborated with Tran Ma on "The Voice in the Hollow," a film acclaimed at festivals like Siggraph 2023, where it won the Jury Award, as well as the Florida Film Festival, SIFF, Filmquest, and Cartagena's FICCI. Recognized by Animation Magazine as a rising star in animation, Miguel's innovative approach to filmmaking has been aptly described by Scott Beggs of Vanity Fair: “Ortega and Ma are part of a movement that is changing the way we think of homemade CGI." Beyond his creative pursuits, Miguel also teaches at the Gnomon School of VFX, where he graduated, mentoring the upcoming generation of filmmakers and VFX artists.
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Min-Woo Park grew up in Southern California as a restaurant kid before heading off to Harvard University, where he majored in English and rowed on the varsity crew team. He has mixed feelings about one of those decisions. After college he rose from copywriter intern to creative director while working at top advertising agencies, writing humorous viral commercials for Foot Locker, AT&T, and Snickers. Min-Woo writes subversive, fish-out-of-water comedies and dramedies that have led to his participation in the 2019 CAPE New Writers Fellowship and NBC’s 2019-2020 Writers on the Verge program. Most recently he was a staff writer on an unannounced Netflix series and sold a TV comedy pitch alongside Josh Gad to ABC Network through ABC Signature. Min-Woo is represented by UTA and Good Fear Content.
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Nate Burke is a Bostonian (reluctantly) and Storyteller (enthusiastically). With Cape Verdean, Bajan, and Jewish roots, he’s channeled his mixed heritage into unique narratives that spotlight the fringes of society. A Brown University alum with a diverse career trajectory—from documentary shoots to post-production rooms—he found his true calling in the "Riverdale" writers' room, via the WB TV Writers' Workshop. By drawing from both his brilliant shower thoughts, and his incredibly deep well of niche racial traumas, Nate’s tales blur distinctions, welcoming readers into realms that are at once alien and profoundly personal.
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Omar S. Kamara is a first-generation Sierra Leonean American, Virginia native, and graduate of the College of William and Mary and the American Film Institute. His debut feature film, AFRICAN GIANTS, which he independently wrote, directed, and produced, won the Audience Award at the 2024 Slamdance Film Festival and was picked up for worldwide distribution by Juno Films, which is planning a theatrical release this summer and a mult-platform digital release this coming winter. His previous short film, MASS AVE, won the Grand Prize at the Director’s Guild of America Student Film Awards, was named a Finalist in HBO's Short Film Competition at ABFF, and was nominated for the Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival. The film was licensed by HBO and is currently streaming on HBO Max. In addition to winning the Silver Screen at the Cannes Lions Young Director Award and the Franklin J. Schaffner Fellow Award at AFI, Kamara’s films have played at numerous Oscar-qualifying film festivals, including Rhode Island, HollyShorts, and the Pan African Film Festival. Kamara’s films touch on his first-generation experiences and strive to highlight and honor the African Diaspora.
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Ran Ran Wang (She/Her) is a Chinese American screenwriter and IP scout. She started her career as a theater director, and most notably, co-directed a four-week run of THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA by Edward Albee and directed the worldwide premiere of RATSKIN by Brian Dang. By the huge rallying support of the Asian American community in South Seattle, RATSKIN sold out its entire six-show run. Since then, she’s grown a career as an IP/book scout where she helps her creative development colleagues identify and acquire IP for adaptation. She is currently the Director of Development of Literary Affairs at Paramount Pictures and was previously at Netflix. Ask her for book recommendations. She’s read a lot of books. In her evening screenwriting hours, Ran Ran focuses on telling stories about the complicated power of friendship and found family. Her work is grounded in a recognizable world but is complicated by some kind of genre element, whether that be crime, supernatural, speculative, or other. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her at the DnD table with friends or waking up at 6am to watch Formula 1
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Raven Jackson is an award-winning filmmaker, poet, and photographer from Tennessee. Her work often explores landscapes of indefinable experiences and emotions, as well as the body’s relationship to nature. Raven’s debut narrative feature, ALL DIRT ROADS TASTE OF SALT, made in partnership with Maria Altamirano, PASTEL (Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak), and A24, world-premiered in the US Dramatic Competition at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for a 2024 Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. The film has received support from Cinereach, SFFILM, the Gotham, Film Independent, Tribeca Film Institute, New Orleans Film Society, Ikusmira Berriak, Indie Memphis, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, and Westridge Foundation. Raven was a Story Editor on SURFACE for APPLE TV+. Raven’s short films NETTLES and A GUIDE TO BREATHING UNDERWATER are currently streaming on the Criterion Channel. She is a Cave Canem fellow and holds MFAs from New York University's Graduate Film Program and the New School's Writing Program. Her chapbook of poetry, LITTLE VIOLENCES, is available from Cutbank Literary Magazine.
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Tasha Henderson was Born in Dallas Texas, the land of vicious smiles and back-handed compliments. Fittingly, her writing is a unity of opposites. Although Henderson never won a title, she did pick up a second language: “Texas Bitch.” Henderson has an appreciation for the dark, comedic, and the darkly comedic. Her style is life lessons with a body count. Henderson graduated from Loyola Marymount University with an MFA in Screenwriting and a desire to create the characters she has always wanted to see. After co-writing and producing COMPLEX[ION] WOMAN, a play that explores the intricacies of Black womanhood, which won the Encore Producer’s Award at the 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival, Tasha then went on to write and produce the web series, DATING NOW, a romantic comedy about the racial politics of dating— which was named an Official Selection of the Hollywood Comedy Shorts Film Festival and Bronzelens Film Festival. Henderson was a 2018 LMU Incubator Lab Fellow, a 2018 Project Involve Fellow, and a 2020 Walt Disney Television Program Writer. Henderson wrote on all three seasons of ABC’s HOME ECONOMICS where she got to incorporate her love of astrology and all things “woo-woo” into the character of Denise—a Black lesbian. Most recently, Henderson served as co-producer on BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED, for Amazon Freevee. Henderson is repped by Industry Entertainment and CAA.
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Tran Ma is a writer and production designer with a strong foundation in VFX. She co-created and served as the production designer for "The Voice in the Hollow," a project awarded the Jury Prize at Siggraph 2023 and recognized at the Florida Film Festival, SIFF, Filmquest, and Cartagena's FICCI. While contributing to projects like ENDER’S GAME, GODZILLA 2, TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, THOR, and KRAMPUS with her VFX expertise, Tran's true passion is storytelling through writing and enhancing productions through her production design work. She is a former student and professor at the Gnomon School of VFX, where she continues to inspire the next generation of filmmakers and VFX artists.
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Working as a licensed marriage/family therapist while living in Compton CA, Victor Gabriel broke into the scene with his short 'traumedy', HALLELUJAH, which premiered at Sundance 2022. His authentic voice and tender approach garnered the attention of Spike Lee, who executive produced the short film which follows two brothers who are stuck with the guardianship of their annoying, bookworm nephew as they have to decide if they are willing to take on the responsibility of being caretakers. Victor is currently developing the feature, THE INCREDIBLE HEIST OF HALLELUJAH JONES, with Spike Lee's 40 Acres and a Mule and Netflix.
Year One Circle Alumni
Chris Erric Maddox
Christina Licud
Christina Pamies
Christina Walker
Chuck Lightning
Claudia Restrepo
Claytia Gonsalves
Connor Austin Jones
Corey Dashaun
Courtney Miller
Dani Fernandez
Daniela Bailes
David Aguilar
David L. Williams
Davis Kop
Dennis Liu
Devanshi Patel
Dominique Nieves
Dui Jarrod
Ekwa Msangi
Elaine Del Valle
Eliana Pipes
Elisha Miranda-Ramirez
Elizabeth Choi Bubriski
Elliott Feliciano
Emily Teerasuphaset
Emma Ramos
Erica Mountain
Erika Wade
Lorena Russi
Lynn Chen
Mako Kamitsuna
Mallika Dhaliwal
Mallorie Ortega
Mariah Wilson
Marie Cheng
Marilyn Fu
Mas Moriya
Maura Milan
Maya Cozier
Maya Harris
Meghan Ross
Melissa Murray
Melissa Rundle
Michael Bhim
Michael Flores
Michael Moynihan
Michelle Hsu
Mika Frank
Mimi Davila
Minoti Vaishnav
Mohana Rajakumar
Moni Oyedepo
Morgan Collins
Musa Syeed
Nadria Tucker
Naomi Iwamoto
Naren Henry
Aaron Ho
Adaora Nwandu Earl
Aina Feng
Alejandra Lopez
Allyson Philobos
Alyssa Lerner
Ama Quao
Amarachi Nwosu
Ana Maria Defillo
Andrea Walter
Ariel Relaford
Armani Martin
Austin S. Harris
Barney Cheng
Benedict Chiu
Blaine Morris
Bomani Story
Bradford Bailey
Bradley Estrin-Barks
Brandt Hamilton Hernandez
Brian Shin
C. Quintana
Camille Corbett
Carlton Gillespie
Cedi Ali Rajah
Charity Miller
Chaz Hawkins
Choice Skinner
Jessica Sanders
Jessica Shields
Jianna Maarten Saada
Joe Ross
Joel Perez
Jorge Ramirez-Martinez
Joseph Mwamba
Josephine Green Zhang
Jovan James
JS Mayank
Junot Lee
Justin Calen-Chenn
Justin S. Lee
Kaelo Iyizoba
Kayla Galang
Kayreth Williams
Keisha Ansley
Kelly Edwards
Kelly Lynne D'Angelo
Kendra Cole
Kimberly-Rose Walters
Kimiko Matsuda-Lawrence
Kristina Woo
Krystle Drew
Kyle Lau
Lagueria Davis
Laura Di Lorenzo
Laurie Magers
Leon Lozano
Nathan Ramos-Park
Neil Creque Williams
Nickson Kamau
Niki Ang
Nneka Samuel
Norman Garcy Yap
Norman Parker
Olivia Harewood
Opeyemi Olagbaju
Ougie Pak
Paola Tapia-Limon
Paola Villegas Soruco
Paul Leach
Paul Puri
Phinneas Kiyomora
Rashaan Dozier-Escalante
Rasheda Crockett
Ray Smiling
Reenita Hora
Rippin Sindher
Robin Takao D'Oench
Rodrigo Varandas
Ryan Silva
Sade Sellers
Sara Zandieh
Sarai Smith
Sean Quetulio
Shadae Smith
Shamar Curry
Shamikah Christina Martinez
Shari Sharpe
Shea Mirzai
Shequeta Smith
Sherrman Li
Sidney Butler
Skander Halim
Skye Dennis
Sonejuhi Sinha
Stacey Rose
Stefan Dezil
Stephen Reyes
Steven Kung
Tai Leclaire
Tamara Shogaolu
Tamika Lamison
Thymaya Payne
Tian Jun Gu
Tony Koros
Tracy Held
Tricia Lee
Valerie Martinez
Vicki Syal
Vivian Payton
Xavier B.
Yumiko Fujiwara
Zavior Phillips
Erin Li
Eugene Ramos
Evan Iwata
Eve Crusto
Felicia Pride
Gabriela Ortega
Geno Brooks
Gia-Rayne Harris
Gloria Bigelow
Hamza Zaman
Hannah Peterson
Hari Ziyad
Henry Alexander Kelly
Hernan Barangan
Humberto Carlos Guida
Ijaaz Noohu
Jackie Decembly Penn
Jackie Li
Jacqueline Lyanga
Jade WuJames III
Jamie Burton-Oare
Janene Lin
Jasmine Chiong
Jason Cheny
JB Ballard
Jeane Wong
Jennifer Coates
Jerell Rosales
Jess dela Merced