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< Back Ben Rosen benjamin.rosen@gmail.com Coverfly Ever since Ben was forced to write the scripts for his middle school’s public access cable TV show, he's dreamed of disappointing his parents and becoming a professional comedy writer. He’s pitched jokes and story ideas to various TV shows and has been a semi-finalist or higher in the DISNEY WRITING PROGRAM, AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL, SCRIPTAPALOOZA, and FINAL DRAFT BIG BREAK. When he’s not performing stand-up comedy or writing about himself in the third person, Ben enjoys playing indie video games, hanging out with his family (the one he created, not the one he escaped from), and telling everyone about the rabbi from his hometown who murdered his wife. Honors & Awards Semi-finalist, Disney Writing Program – “The Office – The Bathroom” – 2007 Semi-finalist, Austin Film Festival – “Pen15 – Hot Date” – 2022 Quarter-finalist, Final Draft Big Break – “The Fruit Store” – 2013 non-WGA Male, Over 40 THE FRUIT STORE Half-hour TV comedy pilot After his startup fails, a humbled millennial is forced to swallow his pride and work at America’s favorite tech store/cult: The Apple Store. PEN15 – HOT DATE Half-hour TV comedy spec When her mom forbids her from dating the only guy in school who likes her, Maya tries to secretly go out with him without getting caught. Meanwhile, Anna tries to get a boyfriend of her own by becoming a guys’ girl. Character-driven, Female-centric, Coming-of-Age, Animation, Dark, Silly, Snarky, Naturalistic Male, Over 40 unrepped

< Back Sarah de Leon sarahdeleon1616@gmail.com Sarah de Leon is a San Diego based writer, producer, and performer with a passion for character-driven storytelling that shines a light on marginalized voices. Her original TV pilot, ""Another High School Sitcom"" ,earned Best Teleplay at the Oregon Short Film Festival and placed as a quarterfinalist at the Filmmatic TV Pilot Awards. Sarah has also written three award-winning short films, produced two independent feature films, and developed three limited web series. Each reflects her talent and passion for crafting sharp narratives that highlight diverse stories. With the goal of becoming a showrunner, Sarah is driven by a love for stories that blend humor with humanity by celebrating resilience, challenging stereotypes, and giving underrepresented perspectives the space to thrive. When she isn't behind the scenes as a writer or producer, Sarah brings her storytelling to the stage as the burlesque performer Sweet Serendipity. Through everything she does, she hopes to bring more joy to the entertainment industry. Honors & Awards Best Teleplay Comedy, Oregon Short Film Festival - ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL SITCOM - 2021 Quarterfinalist, Filmmatic TV Pilot Awards - ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL SITCOM - 2021 Best Dramedy, Mindfield Film Festival - BRUTAL AFFAIRS - 2017 non-WGA Female, BIPOC, Southeast Asian/Pacific Islander ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL SITCOM Musical - Comedy - Coming of Age - TV Pilot An aspiring pop star with extreme stage fright joins her high school choir run by the queen-bee president. Character-driven, Female-centric, BIPOC-centric, Romantic, Fantasy, Historical/Alternative History, Coming-of-Age, Silly Female, BIPOC, Southeast Asian/Pacific Islander unrepped

The Independent Writers' Caucus is guided in its efforts to lead its membership into eligibility with the Writers Guild of America by its leadership - which includes the guidance of the Board. The Board is comprised of Howard A. Rodman, Meg LeFauve, Lorien McKenna, Nitza Wilon, Elizabeth Kaiden (of The Writers Lab), Garrick Dion and AJ Feuerman. Independent Writers' Caucus Chairs and Board Members IWC Chairs - 2025 Our Chairs are members of the IWC whose leadership helps elevate all of our members and bring opportunity to the organization James Moorer James, one of the newest co-chairs to serve with the IWC brings the same passion for helping he created while working for Roadmap Writers. James proudly serves on several committes including Diversity and New Membership. James is also a champion for writers with disabilities and helping writers understand the business of screenwriting. Kimberley Sparks Kim has been a member of the IWC since the organization’s inception, and she became a Chair in 2023. She is happy to serve on the Script Challenge, Meet and Greet, and New Members committees. She is dedicated to helping writers of film, television, and video games develop and further their careers Kim Turner Kim has been a Chair since the IWC's inception in 2021. She is proud to serve in Leadership as well as a member of the Marketing/PR/Merchandise; Finance; Best of the IWC; and New Membership committees. She is an engaged advocate for emerging writers and enjoys building relationships that help to bring opportunity to the group. Rich Orstad Rich joined IWC in 2024, volunteered for Finance Committee, and became Treasurer later that year as IWC pursues 501c6 non-profit status. Passionate about storytelling and helping others to do so, Rich brings this same passion to the future of IWC’s growth, outreach, and stability as Chair. IWC Board of Directors - 2025 Carolyn Kras is a Co-founding Member of the IWC and former Co-chair. She has developed projects for 20th TV Studio, Escape Artists, Welle, and more. Her awards include the Alfred P. Sloan First Place Screenwriting Award, Hamptons International Film Festival Screenwriters Lab, Visionary Playwright Award, New York Television Festival Official Selection, Plume & Pellicule Screenwriting Award, Middlebury Script Lab Selection, Hearst Creative Artist Fellowship, and a Fulbright to the United Kingdom. Carolyn Kras AJ Feuerman AJ FEUERMAN is a PR and social media executive representing a diverse client roster across the entertainment industry. AJ founded @ajfeuerman Communications in January 2018; clients have included agencies (i.e., Rogers & Cowan PMK), indie studios and distributors (Gravitas, Freestyle, VMI), podcasts and individual talent, among others. As Valhalla Entertainment’s VP of Publicity and Marketing, she directed all publicity, social media and marketing efforts for the industry stalwart, best known for titles like The Terminator, The Abyss and “The Walking Dead.” AJ was previously VP of Communications at influencer marketing agency QYOU and was the Director of PR and Social Media for global film distributor, Gravitas Ventures. Elizabeth co-founded The Writers Lab with Nitza Wilon in 2015, and they co-produce the flagship international lab based in New York, plus labs in the UK, Europe, Canada, in addition to global virtual programming for audiences in Africa, Australia and more. Elizabeth is also a founding Partner, with Nitza, of Women in the Script Trade (WIST), where she works individually with exceptional women screenwriters. WIST developed and ran the Athena Screenwriting Labs alongside the Athena FIlm Festival from 2016 to 2019. Elizabeth previously served as Head of Development at Tangerine Entertainment, an independent production company that produces films directed by women, and has mentored at Stowe Story Labs. A former theater and film critic and graduate of Princeton and the Yale School of Drama, she lives in New York with her family. Elizabeth Kaiden Nitza Wilon Nitza co-founded The Writers Lab with Elizabeth Kaiden in 2015, and they co-produce the flagship international lab based in New York, plus labs in the UK, Europe, Canada, in addition to global virtual programming for audiences in Africa, Australia and more. Nitza is also a founding Partner, with Elizabeth, of Women in the Script Trade (WIST), where she works individually with exceptional women screenwriters. WIST developed and ran the Athena Screenwriting Labs alongside the Athena FIlm Festival from 2016 to 2019. Prior to committing to script development for women, Nitza was an actor, journalist, and magazine and book editor. She earned her BA from the Annenberg School of Communications at UPenn. In addition to her work advocating for women in film, Nitza is a writer and voice actor. She lives in New York City with her family. Lorien McKenna Lorien McKenna is an Emmy-nominated and NAACP Image Award-winning writer. As a Story Manager at Pixar Animation Studios, Lorien worked on UP, BRAVE, INSIDE OUT, and THE GOOD DINOSAUR . She was the Development Producer on several animated features at Paramount Animation and was the Co-Executive Producer for CURIOUS GEORGE for the TV series and animated feature films. She has written and developed for platforms including NBC, Hulu, Comedy Central, and Netflix. Lorien has also worked on multiple projects for the CGI media based attraction studio Red Raion, and as a script editor for Screen Australia, Screen Queensland, and Screen Ireland. Recently, she was the Showrunner for the Emmy-winning YouTube/Kids at Play preschool show TAB TIME . A mentor for the Cinestory Foundation and the Nostos Screenwriting Retreats, Lorien also served as an adjunct professor for St. Mary’s College of California, where she received her BA and MFA. Meg LeFauve An Oscar Nominated writer, Meg LeFauve won an Annie Award for writing Pixar’s blockbuster Inside Out and its sequel, Inside Out 2 . She also wrote Pixar’s Golden Globe nominated film “The Good Dinosaur” and was a writer on Marvel’s “Captain Marvel.” She adapted the classic book “My Father’s Dragon” for Netflix and Cartoon Saloon in 2022. She began her career running Jodie Foster’s Egg Pictures , developing and producing films nominated for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Spirit Award and she won a Peabody Award. A world wide consultant, she has taught at AFI and UCLA Graduate Film School, and is a returning mentor at The Writer’s Lab (sponsored by Meryl Streep), the Sundance Creative Labs and is a mentor and Board Member of the CineStory Script Sessions . Garrick Dion is a former VP of Development at Brön, following an 8-year run in a similar role with Bold Films. At Bold, Garrick was involved with such acclaimed projects as Damien Chazelle's Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning drama Whiplash; Nicholas Winding Refn's Drive; the coming-of-age drama Middle of Nowhere starring Anton Yelchin and Susan Sarandon; Sony Pictures' sci-fi sequel Starship Troopers: Marauder , and Lost River , the forthcoming directorial debut of actor Ryan Gosling. He has overseen a slate of projects that includes Robert Rodriguez's live-action remake of Ralph Bakshi & Frank Frazetta's Fire and Ice; and screenwriter Dan Gilroy's directorial debut Nightcrawler starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Prior to joining Bold, he worked in feature development for producers Joel Silver (The Matrix ) and Denise DiNovi (Batman). Garrick Dion Howard A. Rodman Howard A. Rodman is a screenwriter, author and educator. He is the former President of the Writers Guild of America, West; professor and former chair of the writing division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts; and an artistic director of the Sundance Institute Screenwriting Labs. Rodman is a Governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is a member of the National Film Preservation Board, which advises Librarian of Congress on the annual selection of films to the National Film Registry, and on national film preservation planning policy. He also serves on the Brown University President’s Advisory Council on the Arts. AJ Feuerman Elizabeth Kaiden Nitza Wilon

The Independent Writers' Caucus is a collaborative group of emerging, professional screenwriters - working together to create an infrastructure of opportunity for each other. Your Next Great Project Begins with an IWC Writer About Us The Independent Writers' Caucus was founded in January of 2022 following the dissolution of the Writers Guild of America (West) Caucuses. The program was a way to integrate writers into the Guild and help prepare them for full membership. Over 150 vetted, professional writers found each other and fashioned its own powerful infrastructure to create opportunities for their collective membership. From those passionate beginnings, the Independent Writers' Caucus was born. Our membership is notably diverse - with over half of the Caucus identifying as female, a quarter as LGBTQ+, some as veterans, neurodiverse, disabled, First People, Middle Eastern, Latinx, AAPI, African-American, immigrant, multi-ethnic and more. Our diversity serves the mandates of ever-expanding, modern writers' rooms. We are professional, motivated, inspired storytellers with a cache of materials - ready to help bring story to life in the world. Members Only Access

The annual list of the best 20 scripts by IWC writers. 2026 Best of the IWC This Year's Top Scripts by Independent Writers' Caucus Members Previous Best of the IWC Lists 2025 2024

The 2025 list of the best 20 scripts by IWC writers. 2025 Best of the IWC 2025's Top 20 Scripts by Independent Writers' Caucus Members Other Years' Best of the IWC Lists 2026 2024

The Independent Writers' Caucus is a collaborative group of emerging, professional screenwriters - working together to create an infrastructure of opportunity for each other. Your Next Great Project Begins with an IWC Writer Contact Us First Name Last Name Email Address Message Submit Thanks for your message! Thank you for your interest in the Independent Writers' Caucus. Please provide your contact information above and we will notify you as soon as our membership portal reopens. We have great things to do. Let's do them together. Members Only Access

The 2024 list of the best 20 scripts by IWC writers. 2024 Best of the IWC 2024's Top 20 Scripts by Independent Writers' Caucus Members Other Years' Best of the IWC Lists 2026 2025

Stay up-to-date with the latest screenwriting news, industry insights, and Independent Writers' Caucus member achievements. Exclusive updates for our screenwriting community. Member News DEADLINE EXCLUSIVE : The Independent Writers’ Caucus has added seven new members to its board of directors. Meg LeFauve, Howard A. Rodman, Lorien Mckenna, Garrick Dion, Nitza Wilon, Elizabeth Kaiden and AJ Feuerman will all join long-standing organization chairs James Moorer, Kimberly Sparks, Kim Turner and Rich Orstad. Read the full article here . FYC: Congratulations to Joey Clift , whose short film POW! has qualified for the Oscars in the Best Animated Short category! POW! is an animated comedy short about a young Native kid trying to find a place to charge his video game console at a powwow. It marks one of the first times powwows and ledger art have been featured in animation. DIRTY WATER DOGS, a new feature written by Terri Coduri Viani , is gearing up for production in New York City . Produced by Wilkidoos Productions in partnership with Cardinal Flix, this heartfelt drama explores the unbreakable bonds that define diverse, working-class family life in New York City. Announced at AFM : Megan J. Wilson 's survival thriller AVALANCHE EXPRESS is set to shoot in the Alps in spring 2026! Produced by Prestige International Pictures and directed by J.P. Watts, the story follows a train conductor who leads her passengers to safety after an avalanche buries their commuter train. Rebekah Mueller was chosen as one of five writers, out of 2000 applicants, for the Paramount Writers Mentoring program . The program offers emerging TV writers mentorship and career development with showrunners and EPs. Each writer is paired with two executives from CBS network and CBS Studios. Elise Salomon has been named as one of the Austin Film Festival's 25 Screenwriters to Watch . She writes present-day folk horror. Her feature climate drama THE 53RD is a semifinalist at AFF, and her horror pilot THE RESTLESS placed as a Second Rounder. In addition, her project CAOINEADH -- one of three horror finalists at AFF 2023 -- is now being packaged with Black Mansion Films. Stacey Russell 's feature coming-of-age dramedy THE OPEN AIR was selected out of over 11,000 submissions to be one of six drama feature finalists for the Austin Film Festival 's screenplay competition this year. Danielle Weinberg ’s directorial debut, INVASION ’53 , screened at San Diego Comic-Con. Well-known sci-fi actor Jeffrey Combs stars in this sendup of 1950s sci-fi movies. On its festival run now, the short film premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Cinequest Film Festival, has been selected by more than thirty-five festivals, and won the top juried prize at three festivals and two audience awards. Ellen Ancui 's directorial debut short film, SAVERIO , is rounding the festival circuit, both nationally and internationally. The film has won numerous awards, including the Grand Prize at the Jeonju International Short Film Festival in Korea, the New York Women in Film & Television Award for Excellence in Directing, and four Audience Awards for Best Short. The feature version of SAVERIO is currently in development. In February, Ellen will shoot her next short film, which will have an A-list cast. THE FARM — a serialized mystery-thriller podcast created and produced by Melody Herr — premiered its first two episodes on September 1, with new episodes dropping each Monday for nine weeks on all major platforms. Sponsored by Little Fish Entertainment, the audio drama follows an architect whose carefully built New York life unravels when family secrets resurface on her childhood farm. The series also showcases IWC members Leah Simmons as a staff writer and James Moorer performing three roles. Gina DeAngelis ’s short film adaptation DOORS premiered at the Indie Short Film Festival in Charlottesville, Virginia, and was named to Roadmap Writers' Top 25 Short Films of 2025. It won Best Short Story Adaptation at the Highlands Horror Film Fest. In addition, Gina’s feature script THE KNOCKING AT THE MARSH won Best Regional Horror Feature Screenplay at GenreBlast Film Festival. As Director of Events for the LA Children's Media Association, IWC member Sabrina Mansfield leads monthly Q&As with notable children's media leaders. She recently interviewed Trisha Tamashiro Gray, Director of Current Series at Disney Jr. In October, Timothy Mallon 's independent TV pilot POUR DECISIONS screened in New York City and Los Angeles , following two sold-out shows in Seattle. POUR DECISIONS is a single-camera mockumentary set in a last-chance Seattle café. A festival run is planned. Candace Egan 's horror screenplay HARDWARE HELL, co-written with Ellie Wallace, is a Second Rounder at Austin Film Festival . Additionally, Candace's screenplay SECOND SET, inspired by her time playing community college tennis in her 50's, won Best Dramedy Screenplay at the Atlanta Women's Film Festival. Reenita M. Hora won this year's CineStory Asian & South Asian Writers Scholarship . The award is awarded to an outstanding Asian or South Asian writer whose screenplay reached the quarterfinalist level or higher in this year’s Feature Retreat & Fellowship Contest. Kathryn Orwig placed as a Silver Winner in the 2025 Page Awards with her feature screenplay PIRATE QUEEN OF THE RED FLAG FLEET. The script is inspired by the true story of ruthless Pirate Queen Ching Shih who led 40,000 pirates into a brutal clash with the Portuguese Navy and the Chinese Empire—risking everything to save her loyal crew & proving women warriors are just as brave (& successful!) as men. Suzanne Griffin was invited to attend Stowe Story Labs Fall 2025 Writers Retreat in Stowe, Vermont, with her Blacklist Recommended feature drama screenplay THE LANGUAGE OF THE SLEEPING HOUSE. The script was also a Stowe Story Labs Accelerator Fellowship Semifinalist. Nick Perlman screened his short film LOVING SILENCE – a proof of concept for his feature script – at the DC Shorts International Film Festival. Metro Weekly raved that Nick's short was the best of the Queer Shorts Showcase.

< Back Helena Zhen helenazhen1@gmail.com 917-270-5806 Coverfly Helena Zhen an actor/writer/director whose short films have played worldwide. She's been nominated for a DGA student filmmaking award, won one of the top writer/director awards given at NYU, and garnered a chance to work with the late, great Wes Craven as an up-and-coming director. Her scripts have won the Disney Writing Fellowship and the NexTV Grand Prize while other screenplays have been finalists at top-tier contests, such as Sundance, Tracking Board Launchpad, and Austin. She has just completed an Acting program at UCLA. Her brand of writing tends towards high-concept, commercial fare with an edge of indie. While her writing is fairly diverse, she is drawn to grounded sci-fi and elevated genre material. non-WGA Female, BIPOC, Asian, Southeast Asian/Pacific Islander EX HUMANA (Sci-Fi TV Drama - WESTWORLD meets ALTERED CARBON) In the near future, a government health agent learns that the nanobots that everyone now uses to monitor their health has become self-aware and is editing out human traits to create the next stage of human evolution. COLONY 14 (TV Crime Drama – YELLOWSTONE meets SONS OF ANARCHY) An undercover FBI agent infiltrates a secretive group of off-the-grid survivalists intent on overthrowing the government and starting the next Civil War. THE STORY OF YOU (Feature Drama – PACHINKO meets BACK TO THE FUTURE) After the death of her father, a woman gets spirited back in time and must make the right choices in a choose-your-own-adventure style quest in order to return to her life as well as those of her parents. Character-driven, Female-centric, BIPOC-centric, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Horror Female, BIPOC, Asian, Southeast Asian/Pacific Islander unrepped

< Back Thales Corrêa thales@mondepar.com https://thalescorrea.com/ Thales Corrêa is a Brazilian-American writer and director whose work champions Latinx narratives through a blend of drama and comedy. His storytelling often explores social issues, identity, and belonging, while grounding universal themes in deeply personal and culturally specific experiences. Thales made history with his dark-comedy series Doggy Bank, the first Brazilian comedy to premiere on an American streaming service, Amazon Prime. The project received support from Warner Bros. Discovery OneFifty’s New Narratives program. His work has been recognized internationally, with the acclaimed comedy series Poly People considered for an Emmy nomination in the Best Short-Form Series category. His feature film Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots earned critical praise and became a standout hit at festivals including qFlix Philadelphia, alongside a wide run at LGBTQ+ festivals worldwide. His short films Parents and Milvio screened at numerous international festivals, including the prestigious Cannes Short Film Showcase. Thales is also the founder of We The Latin, a nonprofit dedicated to uniting and amplifying Latin voices in film and television. He continues to develop character-driven stories that spotlight underrepresented perspectives while resonating with global audiences. Honors & Awards Winner Warner Bros. Discovery OneFifty New Narratives Grant Recipient – Doggy Bank – 2023 Considered for Emmy Nomination, Best Short-Form Series, Television Academy – Poly People – 2022 Winner Audience Award, qFlix Philadelphia Film Festival – Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots – 2019 non-WGA Male, BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQ+ AMERICANO Drama Minari meets The Rider As ICE raids sweep through California, a soft-handed prodigal son must reconcile with his resentful brother to save their family coffee farm. FURTHER NOTICE Comedy The Proposal meets Annie Hall A neurotic misanthrope’s carefully ordered life spirals into chaos when his Brazilian Airbnb guest refuses to leave, forcing him to find her a husband to solve both their problems. SMELL OF SOUR Drama/Thriller Prisoners meets Winter’s Bone A devoted son’s search for his missing sister unravels a family’s darkest secrets, forcing him to confront a truth his loved ones tried to bury." Character-driven, BIPOC-centric, Queer, Romantic, Psychological, Bittersweet, Naturalistic, International Male, BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQ+ unrepped