ABFF Masterclass: Write Here, Write Now! A Mock Writers’ Room

Write Here, Write Now! A Mock Writers’ Room with Mike Gauyo & Amy Aniobi, Presented by HOORAE

Grab your key to the writers' room! This mock writers' room is a seat at the table for attendees to collaborate and learn the craft of writing a half-hour comedy pilot. Esteemed television writers Amy Aniobi and Mike Gauyo lead an interactive, engaging and comedic lesson in tv writing.

About the Instructors

Amy Aniobi

Amy Aniobi is an award-winning writer/director/producer currently under an overall deal with HBO/Max. She is the founder of production company, SuperSpecial, and industry talent incubator, Tribe. Amy most recently directed multiple episodes for Rap Sh!t on Max and Survival Of The Thickest on Netflix and also previously served as Executive Producer on Insecure and Showrunner/Head Writer on 2 Dope Queens for HBO. Prior she was consulting on Brothers In Atlanta. Previously, she was a Story Editor on Silicon Valley and a Staff Writer on The Michael J. Fox Show for NBC. She also recently co-hosted comedy and wellness podcast, The Antidote, produced by APM studios, named one of The Guardian's "Best New Podcasts of 2022." Amy is Nigerian, attended Stanford University and UCLA and hails from Dallas, Texas.

Mike Gauyo

Mike Gauyo - born in Haiti and raised in Boston -- graduated from The University of Massachusetts Boston with a degree in theatre. After college, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a writing career, first landing in reality TV where he worked his way up from an assistant on shows like American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, The MTV Awards, and The Emmys to a producer on shows like GSN’s Common Knowledge and E!’s The Comment Section. A few years later, Mike would make the jump to scripted television, writing on the first two seasons of the highly successful Netflix dramedy, Ginny & Georgia and the final season of the critically acclaimed MAX series, Insecure. Mike then went on to co-create, co-showrun, and executive producer ALLBLK’s original series, Send Help. He is also the founder of Black Boy Writes Media; a talent incubator for marginalized voices and home to the Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative, which is a pipeline program for pre-WGA Black writers.

About the American Black Film Festival

Now celebrating its 28th year, the American Black Film Festival remains the preeminent event of its kind, empowering Black artists and spotlighting a diverse array of entertainment content created by and for individuals of African descent. An event like no other, the festival brings together enthusiasts of Black culture alongside industry executives and content creators from across the globe for five days filled with screenings, engaging talk events, exclusive parties, and invaluable networking opportunities.

Join us live in sunny South Beach from June 12-16 for an unforgettable experience, followed by our online segment streaming on ABFF PLAY from June 17-24

Host or Publisher American Black Film Festival