Independent Writers' Caucus
Ari Donnelly
Ari is a versatile comedy writer, a salty east coast expat, and a saltier chef. Originally hailing from Boston, he cheated it by schooling at NYU, then made amends by moving to Los Angeles. He can still speak in a Boston accent if you ask nicely.
After climbing the ranks in the studio world, working for the likes of Starz and Disney, Ari was on his way to being a creative executive. But something was missing. He was supporting great films and series, but none of them offered the raw emotion, high-flying thrills, and shameless puns that the medium is truly capable of. So he made the brave decision to return to writing. He makes far less money now, but he has won a spree of screenplay awards at HollyShorts, Filmmatic and more.
Ari is a 2025 Mentee in the Shore Scripts Writer Development Program. His scripts recently advanced in Austin Film Festival, FilmQuest, and the WGA Support Staff Training Program. His work has been featured on industry lists such as Get Repped Now and The Originals Bureau. When he isn’t practicing yoga, curating movie marathons or walking dogs, Ari loves to write intersectional stories with punchy act breaks, relatable characters and ridiculous worlds.
Honors & Awards
Mentee, Shore Scripts Writer Development Program - POWER COUPLE - 2025
https://www.shorescripts.com/2025-tv-mentorship-program-results/
Semifinalist, Austin Film Festival - KRAPOPOLIS: TYSISTRATA - 2025
https://austinfilmfestival.com/blog/screenplay/2025-semifinalists-second-rounders/
Top 3 Pilot, FilmQuest Film Festival - POWER COUPLE - 2025
POWER COUPLE
Half-hour Rom-Com Pilot - You’re The Worst meets Harley Quinn
A supervillain and superhero have been happily fighting since high school. But when their devotion starts damaging their careers, they are forced to start fighting other people.
THE NON-PROPHET
Half-hour Horror-Comedy Pilot - Severance meets Treehouse of Horror
At a “nonprofit” data collection agency, a new hire is tasked with collecting visions of the future, each more hilariously horrifying than the last.
WITCH SLAP
Half-hour Fantasy Comedy Pilot - Abbott Elementary meets Harry Potter
After missing a student loan payment, a powerful sorceress must take a teaching gig at her dubious alma mater.