Marsha Greene
Writer | Producer
““When we see reflections of ourselves in the media we consume, it has a way of validating our existence and empowering us to stand tall, stand up, speak out, and do amazing things.””
The Bell Media/WGC Diverse Screenwriters Program* was was effective for so many reasons. First, the program gave its participants access to showrunners, senior writers, producers, agents, and other industry decision-makers. Networking is often the first step to employment opportunities, so that kind of exposure is incredibly valuable. The program also awarded one of the participants an internship in a writers room. In my experience, no amount of reading or training can teach you as much as being in the room and seeing how television is actually made. And to my knowledge, there is no other program for diverse screenwriters that includes an internship opportunity.
““Finally, the world is saying: your story has value. It matters.”
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It is important to create a specific space where diverse writers are invited to share their stories. I meet a lot of writers of colour who mimic the patterns we see on screen right now – writing stories with white lead characters, relegating people of colour to supporting characters – because they believe it will appeal to the gatekeepers of the industry. So having a program that targets diverse writers says to them, “We want to hear your voice.”
In 2018, Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for his album “DAMN.” Black men and women have been rapping – telling their stories – for over fifty years. And now, finally, the world is saying, your story has value. It matters. Think about this – in your lifetime, have you ever heard, “He is the first white man to do…” anything?
We often grow up seeing either negative depictions of ourselves or no depiction at all - that is what makes it so special to see ourselves onscreen. If we don’t see ourselves being the hero of the story, how are we supposed to dream of what we can be, or what we can achieve?
*The Bell Media/WGC Diverse Screenwriters Program was a program supported by the CTV-CHUM tangible benefits which ended after its sixth year. Beyond the workshop, they worked to promote emerging and mid-career Canadian screenwriting talent to connect them with the broader industry. (WCG.ca, 2016)