November Again...

What's up, guys? Well, here it is November again and yet, I've been looking for writing jobs since last November. And that shit has me irate. I was still attending Full Sail within my grueling accelerated program while also making time to research companies, to send emails, and make phone calls. Not to mention complete my feature screenplay (which is done now after 14 revisions). So, last November, all the way up to this November, the latter has been on repeat. We're talking close to about 300 companies (US and UK) that I've reached out to that consists of commercial production companies, marketing firms, film production companies (you know how shit goes with that, smh). 

And recently (more like 8-10 weeks ago) I found two great job opportunities, two great starts, two jobs where I'd be able to utilize my strength as a writer.  One was a script writer position where I'd write scripts to various video content for other businesses, once you apply, your application is placed on file and it's a four-stage phase (new, in review, interview, offer) that you wait on. You also get an email that tells you that you'll be contacted within 1-2 weeks, Okay? Okay, it’s going on four weeks now and my application is hasn't been read by these guys. The second "great" job opportunity was a creative writer position for a Christian production company. They were developing a film teaching series about Christian women being betrayed. Well, you guys, not only am I a passionate Christian (no I won't judge you if you're not), my mother was betrayed in her marriage by my father. Being that I witnessed everything (on both sides) and watched my mother go through the lemonade stages (thank God I missed the bat part), I felt very confident about bringing an authentic perspective to that project. It's going on nearly seven weeks, I've even checked in a few times, but nothing. I even managed to get the hiring managers email, still nothing.

Despite dedicating seven years to my craft, despite achieving a Bachelor’s degree for creative writing, despite researching and contacting nearly 300 companies, despite presenting myself and my material as professional as possible, I remain jobless. There's only one conclusion to this dilemma, I'm not being fairly considered. And it has me so frustrated, so angry, so stifled. And what's terrifying is, I don't know why I'm not being fairly considered. Unfortunately, I have a good idea why. Allow me to reiterate the near 300 companies I researched and emailed. Along with looking at the companies work and about section, I look up the staff as well. And I lie to you not, out of all those companies I've researched, two of those companies (three at best) had at least one black person working for them. We're not being considered very much at all, and it's not like I need to tell you guys that. This is why we lack diversity so much in content. It’s like once they see that we're black, it’s like an automatic pass. This pisses me off because I know I'm qualified to take on these writer positions, just as I know that I'm ready to be taken seriously as a screenwriter (but they don't know because they only accept known names). I'm just so tired of reaching so high, straining myself when no one wants to grab my hand because of its skin color.

I come from a small town (Salisbury, remember?) where the young people are unmotivated, where the crimes and gang violence spawn from people I grew up with, where I was supposed to be another statistic. But no, I was highly motivated, I wanted to be somebody. So, I sacrificed all my time of youth in exchange for creating a better life for myself and my family. I put in all this work for my craft in exchange for achieving happiness in my life. I take so much offense to this situation because I know there's so many other young black writers/creatives who're enduring the same road block. And this goes beyond our field. It's one thing to be rejected, I accept that and have accepted that. It's another thing to not even consider or review my material when you're "looking" for a writer. I refuse to accept that and you guys shouldn't either. Otherwise, you're handing your narrative, your perspective to self-indulgent vultures.