Showrunner/Author/Producer
About
Rasheed Newson is a television drama writer, producer and showrunner. He co-developed and launched Bel-Air, which has won three NAACP Image Awards and earned numerous nominations, including three for Outstanding Drama Series. Rasheed has written and produced for The Chi, Narcos, Animal Kingdom, Shooter, The 100,and Lie to Me, among other drama series. Rasheed has also sold pitches to and developed drama series for several networks and streamers, including HBO, Amazon, and CBS. Outside of his screen work, Rasheed authored the novel My Government Means to Kill Me, a Lambda Literary Award finalist for Gay Fiction that was also named one of the the “100 Notable Books of 2022” by the New York Times. His forthcoming novel, There’s Only One Sin in Hollywood, is slated for publication by Flatiron Books in 2026. Rasheed was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a graduate of Georgetown University. He currently lives with his husband and their two children in Pasadena.Noteworthy
- 16-year TV industry veteran
- Written/sold pitches in many genres (e.g., crime procedurals, historical fiction, family drama, grounded sci-fi, action-thriller)
- Former screenwriter faculty for the Lambda Literary Writers' Retreat
- Neurodivergent & LGBTQ+ friendly
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HOOKS, SURPRISES & SUBTEXT: HOW TO FRAME & ELEVATE YOUR PILOT SCRIPTS | GROUP SESSION
With more than fifteen years of screenwriting experience, Rasheed Newson cowrote the pilot for the drama series Bel-Air, which has won three NAACP Image Awards and earned numerous nominations, including three for Outstanding Drama Series. He has also sold pilot scripts to HBO, Amazon, NBC, and CBS, among other networks/streamers. As a showrunner and executive producer, Rasheed has read dozens of pilot scripts as part of evaluating which writers to staff. In this interactive lecture, Rasheed will lead participants through different ways to create, implement and sharpen the premise, the story turns, and the underlying themes of their pilot scripts. Because clear and creative hooks, surprises and subtext are what will make a pilot script stand out from the pack, it is vital that writers know what showrunners and producers expect from these story elements.
- Develop a stronger, more compelling premise for your pilot script, ensuring it captures the essence of your story and resonates with audiences
- Learn how to craft surprising and impactful story turns that keep viewers engaged and invested in your narrative
- Understand how to effectively integrate meaningful themes and subtext into your script, adding depth and complexity to your storytelling
- Discover strategies for creating clear, creative hooks and surprises that differentiate your pilot from others and grab the attention of showrunners and producers
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You don't get a second chance to make a great first impression when it comes to buyers and reps. Next-Level Scribe mentors will share with you what they learned on their way to the top, which, in turn, can fast-track your success. In addition to setting goals for you and showing you how to achieve them, Next-Level Scribe mentors know the producers, agents, managers, studio and production executives you want to be in business with. If they determine your project is market ready, Next-Level Scribe mentors can introduce you to and/or set up meetings with buyers and reps, at no extra cost. One recent example: 1) After a writer booked a session with Next-Level Scribe mentor Pam Falk (The Wedding Planner), Falk set up meetings for her with managers and producers.
First, find the mentor you want to work with. Next, select one of their sessions that best describes what you’d like to work on (e.g., pitching, story development, rewriting, career counseling, etc.). Then find a date and time on their calendar that works with your schedule. Once booked, you will be sent a Zoom link to connect with your mentor on the chosen date. At the conclusion of your session, you will receive a written transcript.
Reviews are just one factor to consider when selecting a mentor. It's important to find a mentor who is a good fit for your individual needs and goals. Read each mentor's session descriptions, watch their videos if available and review their bios and notations before booking.
Yes. Even though mentors are busy with their own projects, email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to see if the mentor can accommodate you.
Next-Level Scribe sessions are catered to your specific project and/or situation. And because sessions are live (and not pre-recorded like a MasterClass or BBC Maestro) you are able to interact with your mentor one-on-one, ask questions and receive real-time feedback. You're also establishing a viable, Hollywood contact who has the ability to introduce you to others in the industry, when the time is right.
Come prepared to work; have a notepad and pens at the ready, silence your phone, and prepare a list of questions.
Recording/filming the mentor is strictly forbidden and against our Terms of Use. Note: Your session will be preserved (recorded) by your mentor via Zoom and kept on file in case of any needed follow-up clarifications. A transcript of your one-on-one session will be made available to you within approximately 48 hours.
Most mentors offer a 15-minute follow-up session as an option. If you just have a follow-up question regarding your session, you can email it to us and we will forward your email to your mentor for a response.
There is no extra charge if you want your writing partner to be on the Zoom call. Just be sure to let us know ahead of time so we can notify your mentor before your session.
We believe you should learn from the pros rather than screenwriting books and gurus. Not only can Next-Level Scribe mentors take you much further much faster, they also can give you tools beyond the basic principles you might find in a how-to book. You can learn how to outline a feature or pilot, write dynamic scenes, adapt a book and create a killer logline and/or compelling synopsis. If you already have a first draft, Next-Level Scribe mentors can read your script and show you what’s working and what’s not and how to fix it.
Oftentimes, Next-Level Scribe mentors will follow-up with their mentees via email with helpful tools they themselves use to write or even just words of encouragement. Several of our mentors also offer a secret menu (not available to the public) of exclusive sessions only current and previous mentees have access to. These secret sessions are more tailored and unique.
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