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The Independent Writers' Caucus (IWC) connects industry professionals with emerging, vetted screenwriters. Discover exceptional talent for your projects. Your Next Great Project Begins with an IWC Writer Welcome to the home of the Independent Writers' Caucus. We are a diverse association of emerging, industry-vetted writers - many with produced credits, optioned properties, experience in writers' rooms, advanced degrees in screenwriting and filmmaking - and all with a love for bringing story to life in a thousand different new and evolving ways. Whatever your professional or narrative need, find your next film, pilot, staffer, or client within... The IWC Welcomes You

< Back April Sanchez amsanchez.screenwriter@gmail.com Manager: James Smith with Aaron Kogan Management April M. Sánchez was born and raised on the US/Mexico border in El Paso, TX. Growing up in a bicultural city has inspired her stories, which often reflect the beauty, wonder, and traditional elements of border town culture. In 2022, a company that has an overall deal at Netflix worked with April to develop her whimsical television pilot inspired by her childhood as an American born Latina growing up on the border. April holds a bachelor's degree in Screenwriting and a Latino Media Studies certification from UT Austin. Her scripts have made their way to the finalist round in the Sundance Screenwriters and Episodic Labs and as a Semi-Finalist in The Academy Nicholl Fellowship and the Universal Writers Lab, amongst others. She was a 2021 fellow for the NHMC TV Series Writers Lab. April currently has a feature film in Stowe Story Lab's LAUNCH, a feature development program. As a writer, April is drawn to exploring themes of family, belonging, alienation and identity. Magical realism and border town Latinidad are often featured in her stories. non-WGA Female, BIPOC, Latinx DAUGHTERS LOST TO THE DESERT (Feature- Drama/Thriller) A temperamental mother seeks justice for her daughter’s murder amidst systemic corruption and accusations of being a murderous vigilante herself, causing tension in the relationship with her surviving daughter with a dark secret of her own. BALLAD OF THE COCONUT (Half-hour TV pilot- coming-of-age dramedy) A socially awkward teenager becomes her own worst enemy when she sets out to stifle her overactive imagination in order to fit in, make friends at school and participate in a quinceañera. THE TRICKSTER AND THE DEMON (Feature- Horror) A con artist must exorcise a demon from her brother’s body, despite not believing in the existence of the supernatural, before the demon kills her brother and unleashes the dark forces of hell. Female-centric, BIPOC-centric, Thriller, Horror, Coming-of-Age, Dark, Silly, Magical Realism Female, BIPOC, Latinx repped

< Back Stephanie Bast Steamylomein@gmail.com http://www.stephaniebast.com Stephanie Bast was abandoned in Korea, adopted by Italians and raised in a town so small and white, someone asked: “How are you gonna understand her when she starts speaking?” Fiercely loved and protected, she was taught to fear “the other” while knowing “the other” was herself. She started to write comedy to heal a wound. Now she writes to heal others, creating characters who think they’re not enough, desperate to prove they’re worthy of being saved. Stephanie lives in Los Angeles and is named one of the Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2025 by ISA, Roadmap’s Diversity Fellow, studied at UCLA extension and placed as a Finalist for Austin Film Festival, Final Draft’s Big Break, CineStory, PAGE and The Writers Lab winner. A Broadway and TV/Film actress in the time when presenting as Asian was a detriment, she has turned the pain of her race into a super power. Stephanie writes for everyone who’s adopted. She writes for everyone who hates looking in the mirror. She writes for her children, so they may always love their eyes. In a pinch, Stephanie can perform a reverse vasectomy. Honors & Awards IWC Best Of Selection - AS I AM - 2026 ISA Top 25 Writers to Watch in 2025 - AS I AM - 2025 AFF Finalist - AS I AM - 2023 Final Draft Big Break Top 10 , WASH YOUR BIRDIE: 101 THINGS THAT CAN CRAWL UP YOUR VAGINA AND KILL YOU - 2022 WGA Female, BIPOC, Asian, Southeast Asian/Pacific Islander, Multi-Ethnic, 40+ AS I AM Asian FLEABAG stuck in THE SOPRANOS family A Korean adoptee raised by an Italian family dreams of becoming the next Carmela Soprano. But when her obsession fails, she must open the eyes she hates, to love the Asian she's refused to be. WASH YOUR BIRDIE: 101 THINGS THAT CAN CRAWL UP YOUR VAGINA AND KILL YOU PEN15 with a spurt of BIG MOUTH A Catholic school virgin promises to please her mother and God, but when she leaves home for college she's taunted into her long-overdue sexual awakening by her own vagina - a cartoon bird named Birdie, who wants to please herself. ME LOVE YOU LONG TIME 10 Things I Hate About You meets Crazy Rich Asians A Korean adoptee with more white energy than the cast of Friends, is forced to partner with the Korean-American man she bullied in grade school who must transform her into a ""real Asian” in order to land the K-Beauty account that can save her father’s company. Character-driven, Female-centric, BIPOC-centric, Coming-of-Age, Snarky Female, BIPOC, Asian, Southeast Asian/Pacific Islander, Multi-Ethnic, 40+ unrepped

< Back Mere Walton mwaltonwrites@gmail.com http://merewalton.com The Black List Mere Walton’s brand revolves around found families, in the mediums of drama, comedy, or thriller features. She's also an Amazon bestselling author who adapts her own novels to screenplays. Mere has placed on the Coverfly Red List , T he Naughty List , and programs including Stowe Story Labs , PAGE Awards , and Austin Film Festival . Mere has lived in ten diverse cities and discovered art/film/theatre in all of them. As a finalist for casting on The Real World London, (1995) Mere would have been the roommate who attended a lot of West End theatre. Awards and Honors Semifinalist, PAGE Awards - OFF COURSE - 2023/24 Semifinalist PAGE Awards - THE RUNNYMEDE PLAYHOUSE - 2025 The Naughty List 2024 - EBBIE SCROOGE non-WGA Female, 40+ OFF COURSE Two diverse families unexpectedly crash into an island and must survive with each other while braving the elements to return home. " THE RUNNYMEDE PLAYHOUSE When a retired chemical engineer is visited in his nursing home by the FBI, he recounts his years spent working on a top-secret government project at The Runnymede Playhouse and how his time there affected everyone in his life. GOTTA DANCE When a writer realizes her roommate is a ghost, she helps the former dancer fulfill her last wish so she can jitterbug into the afterlife. Character-driven, Female-centric, Bittersweet, Naturalistic Female, 40+ unrepped

< Back Mage Lanz lanz.mage@gmail.com Mage Lanz is screenwriter and story editor currently working in feature development as a story editor at Inzide Media in Los Angeles. She’s written twenty screenplays and has one produced feature, with producing credits on upcoming projects. She was on last year’s Grey List and has placed highly in programs including the WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Lab, Nicholl, the Disney/ABC Writing Program, and the Austin Film Festival, where she also worked as a paid reader. She’s also the author of an unpublished nonfiction book, “The Monist Mindset,” which explores the concept of oneness across philosophy, science, and religion, and an upmarket fiction novel “Inferno”, based on a screenplay of the same name. Honors & Awards The Grey List 2025 - Horror/Fantasy Feature - Oona in Halloweenland Second Round - Austin Film Festival 2024 - Drama Features Coventry; Oona in Halloweenland; One-Hour Pilot - Anne Bonny Second Round - Austin Film Festival 2023 - Comedy Features - Worst Date Ever; Valium Times Day; Half-Hour Teleplay Pilot - Bye Bye Body Non-WGA/Caucus-only Member Non-binary, LGBTQ+, Disabled, 40+ INFERNO Feature - Psychological Drama/Romance - Phantom Thread, Marriage Story, Blue Valentine, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, In the Mood for Love A newly divorced woman takes a job in a high-end restaurant where she ignites an affair with a brilliant but emotionally repressed chef whose need for control masks a lifetime of buried trauma. BYE BYE BODY Half-hour Pilot - Dramedy - Dead Like Me, My Name is Earl, The Good Place, Broad City, Barry A young, naive ex-con decides to open her own sea burial business as a way to make quick cash, but soon finds out it’s much more complicated than she thought. WORST DATE EVER Feature - Romcom - Date Night, Before Sunrise, Walk of Shame, Before We Go After being robbed of their phones and money on their first date, two middle-aged strangers must work together to get home on one crazy, awful night in Los Angeles. Character-driven, Female-centric, Science, Romantic, Sci-Fi, Psychological, Horror, Dark Non-binary, LGBTQ+, Disabled, 40+ unrepped

< Back Tony Ferrendelli ajferrendelli@gmail.com Legal Representation: Jay Shanker, jay@jayaramlaw.com IMDb The Black List Tony, a Colorado native, occasionally relocates to Southern California based on weather patterns and tax incentives. Tony’s career in comedy began ignominiously with improv comedy. Flash forward 30+ years, he’s still waiting for audience suggestions that aren’t a Starbucks or a dildo. While spinning gold from this comedic straw, he pulled off an MBA and moved in to the hilarity of tech marketing. However, trying to convert nerd-speak to a soundbite led Tony to rip out his hair. Older and bald, Tony returned to his comedy roots and crafted a screenplay. And, OUTSOURCED was born. A feature comedy about a man who accidentally sells his girlfriend’s soul to Satan and must retrieve it. He freely admits that he’s sold his own soul a time or two in the course of his career and remains open to offers. His Venmo is available on request. Following that was his opus, 2ND RATE FAIRY - an Austin Film Fest finalist, because, well, who wouldn’t want to write about a drunk cartoon fairy that grants wishes? Wisely, he teamed with the funnier, Kim Turner to co-write CHASING SHADOWS. It’s a coming of middle-age comedy that won at the ‘24 Austin Film Fest so there’s that. But sometimes the inspiration to make himself cry hits and voila a drama script is born. Such is the case with SAIGON DOLL. It was a Top 50 in the ‘23 Nicholl Fellowship so something worked in it. His most current project is exploring the dark sometimes comedic depths of medically-assisted suicide. Honors & Awards Winner, Austin Film Festival – CHASING SHADOWS (w/Kim Turner) – 2024 Finalist, Austin Film Festival – 2ND RATE FAIRY – 2023 Top 50, Academy Nicholl Fellowship – SAIGON DOLL – 2023 non-WGA Male, 55+ SAIGON DOLL (Feature/Drama, Historical Fiction) In the final chaotic hours of the US exodus from Saigon, a grieving Marine struggles against enemy soldiers — some of whom share his uniform — in order to shepherd an orphaned 8-year-old Vietnamese girl to the American embassy. CHASING SHADOWS Feature/Comedy When the relationship of a long-time married couple suffers from benign neglect, they must decide if it is better to face life on their own or with each other. All while guided by their own wits and the hallucinations of each other. Co-written with Kim Turner. NIGHT ANGELS 1-HR Pilot/Drama When a disgraced doctor and a guilt-ridden veterinarian team up to provide mobile euthanasia services in rural Georgia, they must dodge the law and their own consciences to help others in their darkest moments. Co-written with Kim Turner. Character-driven, Dark, Bittersweet Male, 55+ unrepped

< Back Jori Lynn Felker joriwritestv@gmail.com Agent: Michael Chung (Verve) Coverfly Hailing from the harsh winds of Chicago, Jori once earned a Neuroscience degree just to spite a misogynistic ex. But when GREY’S ANATOMY failed to align with the realities of medical school, she disappointed her conservative Jewish family, pivoting to entertainment… With over a decade in the support staff trenches, Jori's eclectic journey spans from Disney kids’ comedies (GABBY DURAN) to erotic thrillers (THE IDOL). Blending sharp wit and emotional depth, her writing transforms high concepts into intimate explorations. Her frozen-time coming-of-age feature BETWEEN THE RAINDROPS sold on spec in 2020, marking Jori as a writer to watch. Previously, she worked on the alt-history FOR ALL MANKIND spin-off and S2 of Colin Farrell’s SUGAR for Apple TV. Her horror short story, TOO CUTE, exploring the neurological phenomenon of ‘cute aggression,’ was published in Dark Matter’s anthology, ‘Haunted Reels.’ Jori is also a recipient of the prestigious USC Renaissance Scholarship, noted for her exemplary work across diverse disciplines. Most recently, Jori wrapped a Stephen King adaptation for MGM+ and is currently penning the feature adaptation of the indie darling game THE UNFINISHED SWAN for PlayStation with Hisko Hulsing (UNDONE) attached to direct. Between projects, Jori works her way through her self-imposed 'alphabet hobbies,' which have included everything from Blacksmithing to Exotic Dancing. She is currently on the letter ‘H’ and learning ‘computer hacking’ – because why not? Honors & Awards ● Writer – Writer’s Lab 2020: Bonfire (Baobab) ● Top 10% Nicholl’s Fellowship 2020 – The First Year ● Finalist Unique Voices 2020 – The First Year ● Finalist Unique Voices 2020 – Between the Raindrops ● Semifinalist ScriptShadow 2020 – Between the Raindrops ● Quarterfinalist Emerging Screenwriters 2020 – Between the Raindrops ● Quarterfinalist Screencraft 2020 – Between the Raindrops ● USC Renaissance Scholar - 2015 current member Female, disabled, 40+ THE UNFINISHED SWAN (Feature -Magical Realism - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND meets GROUNDHOG DAY ) Struggling with a tough decision, a teenage boy accidentally stops time, but can’t figure out how to restart it. Based on the video game. PlayStation producing. GLITCHIKER (Pilot - Sci-fi/Drama - THE DROPOUT meets MR. ROBOT ) A disgraced tech CEO must decide how far she’ll go to redeem her legacy when she stumbles upon technology so earth-shattering, the world might not be ready for it — teleportation. THE FIRST YEAR (Feature - Drama/Coming of Age - AN EDUCATION meets TULLY ) An introverted freshman is taken under the wing of her peculiar RA and finds herself forced to grow up in ways she never expected. Character-driven, Female-centric, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, YA, Children's, Satire Female, disabled, 40+ repped

< Back Dave Kagno dave@interlakenmedia.com Coverfly Dave Kagno grew up in a suburb of Boston and quickly learned that being pragmatic and logical was a good way to avoid facing his feelings. Since then, he’s found a way to emote vicariously through the characters he creates on the page. Still inspired by the 80s films of his youth, like Stand by Me, he writes coming-of-age dramas and fantasies that thematically focus on finding strength through family and friends. He’s written a number of screenplays, short stories, a pilot, and recently finished his first novel. He’s also co-produced two short films: Bitsy Bites Back (2022) and How to Survive Your Parents: Where do you want to Eat? (2019). While Dave has found a home in the more temperate weather of the SF Bay Area, he does on occasion long to hear the word “wicked” used indiscriminately by someone who is incapable of pronouncing “ER” sounds. Awards & Honors PAGE Awards - Semifinalist - EHLO - 2024 CineStory Foundation - Semifinalist - WE'RE All F@&K!NG MORONS - 2024 Final Draft Big Break - Top 5 - The Legend of The Hope - 2022 non-WGA Male, 40+ EHLO Feature: Drama/Fantasy/Family - A Monster Calls Struggling with his parent’s divorce, a young boy uses a magic blanket to travel into other people's dreams, only to find the truth about himself, the rift between his parents and the healing power of imagination. THE LEGEND OF HOPE Feature: Action Adventure/Drama/Family - The Goonies meets The Deadliest Catch When the headstrong daughter of a fisherman steals her father's crab boat to chase a 150-year-old, cursed treasure, she finds she may have to let go of the thing she cares about most in order to save her town and family. WE'RE ALL F@&K!NG MORONS Pilot: Drama - Mr. Robot/The Wire Tired of watching his loved ones getting sucked into the vacant world of compulsive shopping, a reclusive anarchist, dedicated to destroying the titans of e-commerce, recruits an army of marginalized gig-workers into his revolution using a mobile app. Character-driven, Fantasy, Coming-of-Age, YA, Children's, Animation, Limited Series, Bittersweet Male, 40+ unrepped

< Back Diana Romero dianaromerowriter@gmail.com One Moorer Productions - James Moorer http://www.dianaromero.net After initially supporting at-risk youth in Hollywood as a social worker, Diana embarked on a journey of writing and producing film and television. Her firsthand encounters with incarcerated, runaway, and homeless adolescents fueled her passion for social justice. This commitment, coupled with her expertise in writing and production, led her to create the award-winning film Niña Quebrada, which dives into the realities of sex trafficking. Despite finding herself reliant on a wheelchair in 2018, Diana remained committed to her pursuit of creative expression. Transitioning into TV writing, she contributed to projects like CW’s 4400 and Freeform’s Good Trouble. She also wrote episodes of the web series, My Life is Worth Living. With a BA in social work from Whittier College and an MFA from the American Film Institute, Diana's approach is evident in her work. She has garnered acclaim through various fellowships, including the PGA's Power of Diversity Master Workshop and as a semi-finalist in the highly competitive Disney Writing Program, demonstrating her commitment to inclusivity and empowerment. Currently, Diana has written a solo show based on her experiences as a 1st generation American born in Kansas. The show will debut in 2025. Beyond her career, Diana finds joy in swimming, comedy, and playing with her dogs. Honors & Awards Best Theatrical Short nominee, Imagen Awards 2008 - Niña Quebrada Special Mention, Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival 2009 - Niña Quebrada Graduate/Fellow, PGA Power of Diversity Master Workshop 2019 non-WGA Female, Latinx, Disabled, 40+ BLOOD TIES (Detective Procedural) A wheelchair using detective and her charismatic detective step-brother with a turbulent past, tackle an international manhunt, pursuing an elusive murder suspect with no name. As they unravel complex cases, personal demons surface, testing bonds and redemption in the heart of a gripping, far-reaching investigation BEHIND THE HALO: TRAFFICKED (Detective Procedural) An LAPD detective in the Human Trafficking Unit solves cases by day and goes rogue at night where she stops at nothing to serve justice, while keeping another secret: she herself is a former victim of sex trafficking. IT'S THE SMALL BIG THINGS (Family Drama: This Is Us meets Firefly Lane) A misfit struggles to fit in during three pivotal stages of her life—as a misunderstood child, as a newly hired social worker, and as a determined wheelchair. Character-driven, Female-centric, Crime, Procedural, Coming-of-Age, Limited Series Female, Latinx, Disabled, 40+ Repped

< Back Lisa Lutes lmluey@gmail.com Lisa Lutes is a screenwriter from Ottawa, Canada. Lisa graduated from university with a degree in marine and freshwater biology and worked as a fisheries biologist on ships and islands in the Alaskan fishing industry. Eventually, she went back to university in Australia to train as a primary school teacher to settle down and raise her two daughters. After writing a novel and memoir about Alaska, as well as several picture books, she decided to give screenwriting a turn and fell in love. Lisa uses her strange mix of world travel, teaching and parenting experience to write comedy and family, with a love of all things time travel, looping and bending. Lisa is currently developing a series of middle grade graphic novels with her illustrator husband, Jay Lutes. Honors & Awards Semifinalist, PAGE awards - PRESENT 2024 Second Round, Sundance development track - OSTARBEITER 2025 non-WGA Female, Disabled, 40+ PRESENT Family feature Trapped in the photos of her social media account, a girl must find a way out to return to her real life. OSTARBEITER Drama feature Three mothers in different times and places deal with the generational consequences of a Nazi work camp that imprisoned Eastern European women in WW2. SHOWROOM Comedy feature Trapped in an IKEA showroom of their past, a couple must navigate years of built up resentment to survive the adjustment of an empty nest. Female-centric, Sci-Fi, Children's, Magical Realism Female, Disabled, 40+ unrepped

< Back Marty Lang Jason Bellitto and Mark Myers, Citizen Skull Management JasonB@citizenskull.com Coverfly Marty Lang is Director of the MFA in Film, Television & Digital Media at the University of Georgia. He has written and directed two feature films, STAY WITH ME, to be released internationally by Allen Media in 2025, and RISING STAR, released internationally by Content Film/FilmRISE. His web series writing credits include MAX AND FRIENDS!, Best Comedy and Best Ensemble Cast nominee at the 2022 International Academy of Web Television Awards, and THE DAILY, a SeriesFest 2020 world premiere. He is also a prolific indie producer, whose credits include the 2020 Sundance world premiere web series THE RIDE, the 2016 Indie Spirit Award nominee OUT OF MY HAND, and CHOMPY & THE GIRLS, featuring Udo Kier, released internationally in 2021 by Freestyle Digital Media. His book THE SELF-SUSTAINING FILMMAKER, about crowdfunding and community filmmaking, was the #1 Film/TV book on Amazon the week of its release in 2024. Honors & Awards Best Feature Film, South Georgia Film Festival - STAY WITH ME - 2023 Best Comedy Writing, International Academy of Web Television Awards - MAX AND FRIENDS - 2022 Jury Prize, Best Arkansas Film, Arkansas Shorts Film Festival - THE DAILY - 2022 non-WGA Male, Disabled, Over 40 TECHNOCRACY (One hour sci-fi drama) A skittish social media director uses deepfake audio and video to help her mother become Missouri's governor, which brings tragic results - and a new mission that will utilize her unique technology skills. THE DAILY (Half hour drama) An intrepid college journalist discovers a conspiracy at her university, but must navigate the politics of journalism to get the story out into the world. Based on Lang's award-winning webseries. Character-driven, Coming-of-Age, Satire, Bittersweet, Naturalistic Male, Disabled, Over 40 repped

< Back Luke Zwanziger LukeZwan@gmail.com http://www.LukeZwan.com LinkedIn The Black List After the recession of 2008, Luke sold his car, bought a cinema camera, pitched his first original script, & never looked back. Since then he has worked on projects for Adobe, Nike, Apple, and more. He writes stories that examine the absurdity and occasionally the horror of how people react when put in untenable situations. His scripts have won or placed at various competitions including PAGE, HorrOrigins, NYC Midnight, ISA Emerging Writers, FilmLabtv, and more. His most recent Short VINES, just finished a festival run at Overlook, Dances With Films: NY, with 42 official selections, 23 nominations, 14 wins (Best Horror Short 3x, Best FX, Best Actor, Audience Choice, and more). A feature version is currently being shopped for production. He has live directed video for over 700 multicam comedy shows including talent like Amber Ruffin, Jaime Moyer (AP BIO) and Stephnie Weir (MADtv). He has taught and performed around the globe, from NZ to the UK. When he isn't writing or filming, he is eating artisanal doughnuts and indulging in some ennui. Honors & Awards BEST HORROR SHORT, Seattle Film Festival - Vines (Short) - 2024 OFFICIAL SELECTION, Dances With Films: NY - Vines (Short) - 2024 - https://deadline.com/2024/11/2024-dances-with-films-new-york-lineup-announcement-1236177787/ BEST HORROR FEATURE, HorrOrigins Film Fest - BIOLOGICAL - 2021 Non-WGA/Caucus-only Member Male, 40+ VINES Feature - Eco Body Horror - THE THING Meets ANNIHILATION When a professor of botany is fired for radical beliefs, he continues his experiments in a small town in Oregon, where he finds a family whose genetics are receptive to his forced evolution, but their humanity is less willing to submit to his violent interference. BIOLOGICAL Feature - Horror Thriller - Mama + The Babadook While at a weekend getaway at a cabin that turns out to be a secret graveyard for dead foster children, a woman, and her husband are haunted by the child she secretly gave up for adoption a decade earlier. VAMP E.R. TV Pilot - Horror/Comedy- What We Do in the Shadows + Scrubs A socially-conscious ER doctor joins a mismanaged hospital for mythical creatures after she’s unwillingly turned into a vampire. Thriller, Sci-Fi, Psychological, Horror, Dark, Silly Male, 40+ unrepped