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Mission Statement The goal of this non-profit organization is to develop great writers. We desire to empower our members with intense training, hands-on experience, expansive resources and extensive industry exposure. We encourage freedom of expression via quality writing and filmmaking, without compromising the image of people of color. |
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Officers |
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| Jennifer Williams, President Jennifer Williams is an editor, screenwriter, and novelist with several works in progress. Her screenplay, “Their Time Came” won a screenwriter’s award. Jennifer is the author of the book "Coach Carter - The Real-Life Coach Ken Carter Story", as well as one of the script editors for the movie, "Coach Carter" which starred Samuel L. Jackson and was produced by Paramount Studios/MTV Films. Before screenwriting, she was a freelance journalist for local community newspapers in Los Angeles – she’s served as Editor & Chief and Head Writer for the Coach Ken Carter Foundation Newsletter and Director of the Mentoring Program. She is currently in development of an original pilot, as well as, a new screenplay based on the account of the first African-American child born to a brain-dead mother in the California bay area. |
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| Kim Allen, Vice President Kimberly Allen, relocated from Detroit, Michigan in 1998 and became an active member of OBS the following year. Acknowledgement for her writing includes being named semi-finalist in 2002 for the Fox Diversity Writing Program and finalist for the Disney/ABC Screenwriting Fellowship in 2005. Kimberly and her writing partner Zelie-Dember Slack were semi-finalists in the Scriptapalooza International TV Writing Competition and were finalist for the 2007 OBS TV Pilot Competition. In 2008 she was accepted into the Guy Hanks and Marvin Miller Screenwriting Fellowship Program, sponsored by Drs. Bill and Camille Cosby. |
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| Toya Ayala, Treasurer
After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987 with her Bachelors Degree in Radio, TV and FIlm, Toya Blackshear Ayala made her way back to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of writing and producing dramas and music variety shows in Hollywood. Although the doors didn't open up in the producing area, Ayala has been representing A-list writers, directors, actors and musicians for the last 18 years as their Business Manager. Married with three children, Toya still finds time to write and plans to complete her first romantic novel, hopefully in 2008. |
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| Jasheika James, Secretary JaSheika James attended the University of Florida, pursuing and obtaining a Bachelors of Science degree in Telecommunications with an emphasis in Television Production. Upon graduating from college, JaSheika was accepted into the ABC Talent Development Production Associate program in Burbank, California. In the year-long position, she was exposed to all aspects of production (Management, Finance, Creative Development, Casting, Business Affairs, etc) working for Production Executives and assisting on various TV series and pilots. When the program concluded, upon recommendation from an ABC Executive, JaSheika went on to work on the hit series Desperate Housewives. She followed that experience working on another critically acclaimed hit, Showtime’s Dexter. Currently, JaSheika works as a Coordinator in Post Production for ABC Studios. She aspires to write for television, hoping to create and develop shows that inspire, motivate, enlighten and entertain. |
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| Raenell Jones, Membership
Coordinator |
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| Emill Shavoz, Financial Secretary | ||
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