Black, Indigenous, POC Sci-Fi Screenwriting Lab

To the donors of the BIPOC Sci-Fi Lab,

My name is Espiritu and I am beyond excited to support the growth of Justice for My Sister (JFMS) in my new role on the Youth Council. Members of the Youth Council are able to be involved in a variety of aspects of JFMS programming, such as the youth presence in the hiring process, make sure programs are relevant and accessible to youth, read cohort applications, and review outcomes of programs and their impact. I am honored to be a part of these opportunities to support JFMS and add in whatever ways I can to the already excellent work that they do.  

I find it imperative to give back through my role because I want other artists and writers to have the opportunity to experience the supportive community and creative free space that I experienced when I participated in the BIPOC Sci-Fi Lab cohort. I cherish the cohort members I connected with and the speakers I learned from because that community is something I had not had in a long time due to the isolating nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. Creatively, I question myself a lot and find it difficult to let myself fully engage with the art fighting to be born inside myself. My time in the BIPOC Sci-Fi Lab helped me begin to chisel my stories out of the stone that is my stubborn fear. My cohort members’ feedback and encouragement truly did wonders in that respect. And I return to the hope that more artists and writers nurture their creations with the support of an artistic community such as can be found in JFMS.

I recently participated in the BIPOC Sci-Fi Lab application review process and was able to give my feedback and input regarding the potential participants of the lab. Reading the applications was both a little surreal and a huge privilege. I was thrilled to be on the other side of the application process and did not take for granted the responsibility of reading through potential participants’ creative work. I met with JFMS leadership and other Youth Council reviewers to discuss our feedback about the applications we read and our recommendations regarding potential full/partial scholarships. Discussing with fellow reviewers the strengths and weaknesses of applications was enlightening as we compared notes. It was gratifying to be able to voice questions and get discussion going around the applications, knowing that our meeting was going to help shape the new cohort. Many of the applications I read made me excited about the new cohort and made me wish I could fast forward time and see the end results at the lab’s conclusion.

Hello dear donors! We're pleased to share with you a report from our 2021-22 graduate Sabaa: 

Being a developing writer, joining Justice for My Sister's BIPOC Sci-Fi Screenwriters Lab made complete sense. Despite my own insecurities and with the encouragement of friends, I decided to apply and hoped for the best. Nothing could have prepared me for the amount of ongoing care, kindness, and intention I experienced throughout the sessions. It was clear to me that the team at JFMS was and still is dedicated to making space for BIPOC writers by giving them the tools needed to generate powerful storytelling and encouraging them to believe in the power of their stories.

I’ve gained many gifts from JFMS and as a recent graduate of their latest BIPOC Sci-Fi Screenwriters Lab, I can confidently say every gift I’ve gained will last a lifetime. 

One major aspect of JFMS was the team. A combo of staff members and lab alum stewarded my cohort through the ins and outs of topics such as film writing, storytelling, and world-building. Each facilitator made an effort to remind us that our stories matter because we’re the ones telling them, our visions are what leads the craft forward and our voices need to be heard. 

Another potent aspect of the lab series were the visiting artists. Being able to learn from a variety of POC and queer industry professionals was such an incredible privilege. Each visiting artist offered incredible insights and advice and I always left with a new tool to translate to my work. 

In addition to the weekly guests, we offered and received peer feedback. In many dynamics, peer feedback can be incredibly intimidating but the JFMS team crafted the experience to be thoughtful and insightful. Lastly and most importantly, we were offered weekly tasks in an effort to strengthen our skills and better integrate that week's lessons into our project in development. 

I can’t reiterate enough how I constantly felt a great deal of care and intention every step of the way. From the opening session soundtrack to the after lab follow-up emails checking in about my mentor sessions or the progress of my script.  

Applying to the JFMS writers lab was one of the best decisions I’ve made and I truly hope future writers are able to experience the JFMS BIPOC Sci-Fi Screenwriters Lab for years to come.

Sabaa Zareena 

‘21-’22 Alumni