Mara Brock Akil expands artist residency for budding filmmakers

Showrunner Mara Brock Akil launched The Writers Colony artist residency several years ago and is now expanding her efforts by launching a new program on the set of her upcoming Netflix series. Forever.

Akil has launched the Shadow program which will see alumni of The Writers Colony join her on the set of the Judy Blume adaptation. Forever hoping to provide hands-on experience and insight into television productions. In addition to on-set experiences, participants will benefit from mentoring and networking opportunities.

Forever is an adaptation of the Blume novel of the same name and will star Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. as two teenagers who are each other’s first loves.

“With the launch of The Writers’ Colony Shadow program, we are strengthening our commitment to our writers by moving them from creating stories on the page to intentionally and collaboratively building worlds on the set. Our program provides our alumni with concrete tools to continue their path to creative success,” Akil said in a statement.

The latest effort is an extension of the residency Akil founded in 2021 as a three-month screenwriting residency that takes place in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, adjacent to the offices of Akil’s Story 27 banner.

Participants in the recently launched Shadow program include Aquilla Mikel, an English teacher turned screenwriter who worked as a showrunner’s assistant on Bragging And Genius: MLK/X; Aissa Rose Gueye, a Senegalese-American writer whose previous work includes articles on Damn rap! And Random acts of theft; Latasha Mercer, who recently served as an editor on The psychological evolution of Fckboys for Keke Palmer’s KeyTV network; and Luis Santos, a Bronx native who began his career in advertising at places like McCaan before moving into film and television, where he directed shows such as the MTV VMAs and for artists like Victoria Monet.

“I am proud to be in community with Luis, Aquillia, Aissa and Latasha, all of whom are excellent examples of writers who have the prowess to be powerful showrunners, directors and leaders in the next iteration of our evolving industry fast,” Akil continued.