27 Year Playbook…
Twenty-seven has been a prevalent number in my life since before I was born. My mother’s birthday falls on the 27th day of October (Again, Happy Birthday, Mommy!). My own date of birth lands on the 27th of May. 27 is the number of humanity, and I’ve been intentional about incorporating it into my life and creations. This year makes 27 years that I’ve been in “The Game.” I think every production assistant daydreams of the day that they are in the director’s chair, the writer’s room, or the department of their choosing, living out their dreams. For me, the dreams and visions I had as a stage PA materialized into a reality over the last three decades.
The rooms I’ve walked in, the doors I’ve held open, the conversations I’ve had to have, the decisions I’ve had to make, and the stories I’ve been in service to have all been valuable lessons that have provided me with the discernment needed to navigate the game and be declared as one of its greatest players. Yes, I’m a player. In fact, I’m an athlete. The work I do as a storyteller takes training, practice, strategies, coaches, other players, playing fields, etc.
If you’ve ever been on set during a live taping of a show, does it not remind you of a sports game? For those of you who might not have witnessed a live taping, let me paint the picture for you: You have your coaches (your EPs, writers, directors) on the sideline monitoring the field. You have the fans in the stands sitting in a stadium-like arrangement, allowing everyone to see the action. You have your support staff, your crew, there to provide their contributions. And then you have your players giving the performance that people came to see. I’ve been the crew. I’ve been the coach. My playbook is HEAVY.
Part of my journey of living a creative life with a full heart is lifting as I climb. If you check the receipts and my track record, you will see I’ve done just that. As I build out my trifecta of brands (InTheLandofMara, story27, and The Writers’ Colony), I realize a lot of what I’m willing to offer is valuable. It encompasses not only my playbook and lifetime as a player in the game but also the others who I’ve learned from along the journey.
As I grow into the new chapters of my life, I want to present my lessons, my fuckups, my greatest gems, and my notes of wisdom as an offering because I believe our greatest assets are in each other. I am willing to share what I know to help you navigate your own journey. Use what you can, and reinvent what inspires you.
But my question to you, my audience, is what do you want to know? I thought instead of me guessing what you want to hear me say, perhaps in the Writers’ Colony digital community, you could help shape the content. What suggestions do you have on how I can best present these nuggets of hard-earned wisdom? What have you always hoped that you could ask me about my shows?
What do you think are the biggest obstacles to your generation breaking into this industry? I’m interested in discussing it all with you to see how we can meet and build this community together. My overarching desire is to share this wisdom with image makers, storytellers, and creatives from all over. If you all are interested, I’d love to hear from you. I created a comments section to really get this party started.
DATE: 11.04.2022
PHOTOS: Mara Brock Akil Archives + Coliena Rentmeester
Hi Mara!
Long time fan, first time poster.
Thank you for creating this beautiful platform and sharing so much of your creative and personal journey. Over the last few years I transitioned from journalism into screenwriting and have found some success writing TV movies (thrillers, rom coms and holiday movies) and have a new TV series premiering in December. Most days I feel positive about the progress I’m making but I’m curious about how one goes about getting representation. How important do you think that is and how does someone starting out find someone to champion their work? Truly appreciate any insight you can share.
Can’t wait for your adaptation of FOREVER– one of my all time favorite books growing up as an awkward black girl in Cali! Wishing you continued success.
Wow! I’m commenting underneath THE Angela Burt-Murray on a post by THE Mara Brock-Akil. The Vow was one of the first books I read in my early 20’s after abandoning my beloved pastime, after I outgrew “The Babysitter’s Club.” I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. Reigniting my love of reading is what has brought me to my present day journey towards storyteller and producer (television and film). Thanks Mara and Angela for your inspiration. I would love to see or hear all of your stories on your incredible journey. I was a HUGE fan of “Love Is,” and I feel like you gave us a quick teaser of your journey. I would be happy to listen to a podcast or even watch a video series, where you take us from the beginning to present day.
Mara,
Thank you for this generous offering of your wisdom. I have been a PC for a few years now and while doing so I’ve produced a feature, shorts and web series. Being a PC of course I speak directly with showrunners, execs, etc frequently but I feel it would be an abuse of access & unprofessional to mention my personal work. So I would love to hear your take on stepping into producing full time and the process of to have projects greenlit with studios.
I admire that you’re at a phase in life where sharing the learnings is important to you. I believe in the power of women collectively elevating one another through our individual gifts, and I’ve known since middle school that writing would be part of my journey (Judy Blume was my favorite author…and as I matured Toni Morrison become that person for me…so much so, that I decided to write my senior thesis in college analyzing her books). Lord, help me, but I made it. As a storyteller, I’ve come close so many times to almost realizing what I thought was the dream. I’ve had a shorty story in me since I was 17ish, and I’ve felt to my core that it would someday become a book. Ever since I learned that Toni didn’t publish her first novel until her 40s, I’ve believed that my day would come (like many, I foolishly thought the big wins of life were supposed to happen in my 20s). To answer your question, I would love to understand the process of writing a book and actually being picked up by a publisher. Some days I just write whatever the spirit leads me to write (a sentence here, a paragraph there, a clever thought or character description). It is my hope that I can bring the vision (book) to life while my mother is still here to read it since she inspired some of the storyline.
*Like the poster above, I, too, am thrilled to see that Angela landed in this space. And like you, Mara, she has been a tremendous source of inspiration to me (as a fellow Hampton U grad…and as a woman who opened the door for me to be featured in Essence Magazine during her reign). I know that none of us landing In the Land of Mara is by accident. Looking forward to what evolves from these comments. I feel inspired on this here Friday morning.
Hi Mara,
First, I want to thank you for this space. This blog has inspired me to take a chance and publish my essay and random thoughts.
I am a romance author and aspiring (script) writer. I’ve worked in production for a year and I’m having a hard time transitioning into a department. I’m learning that people have established their “teams” and aren’t interested in letting new people in. I’d like to work as a writer’s assistant or even on a scripted show. Do you have any advice on how to transition and find the opportunities that align with my interests?
P.S. when will the colony start accepting members for the next cohort? I am interested in pursuing that in the future.
I’d love to see a fellowship for folks in their forties and fifties who have been in this game as long as you have and have a track record of creative projects that have had success in other circles. The newbies of today have access to internships and fellowships that did not exist for us. We may not have a certain pedigree but we’ve always been Storytellers. The UTA list of the 90s showed most of us no love. We have life experience to bring to the writers’ room but no one seems to be looking out for us. It’s great that those newer to the industry are being sought but it feels like those of us who have truly paid out dues get overlooked.
Great blog Mara! I’m enjoying your vulnerability. I would like to know the financial & leagal plays you made as well in order to protect your creative assets, while generating income. I feel like a lot of us creatives don’t take the proper time out to pay attention to the business side of the industry. Did you hire a chief financial officer to watch your money, while you focused on creating wonderful stories?
I love the legacy you are building, sharing, seeding. I hope you will write a book IN THE LAND OF MARA is a great title. This platform is great, and I think a book would just allow your fans/supporters to actually immerse themselves fully into your world as an artist and fellow human being. That is one of your greatest assets – you are very in touch with your humanity on multiple levels, in all of its dimensions. Write the book babygirl!
Just want to say I am proud of you my daughter in that through all you have achieved you want to leave a legacy and help those to follow. I am a true believer in generously giving wisdom to those who want it and will value it and ideally pay it forward too. Humanity is a marathon and passing the baton is totally required if we want to win, especially for each other in our black community we must share. I learned in my career too that an open hand has room to receive more. Congratulations!! Love you!!! Proud of you!!!!
Mara, just want to say you have been one of my biggest inspirations in life, from your style and grace to the the way I identify and idealize your many characters, and how every actor you select you can really feel their heart beats and sincerity within the role /land story they are telling. I don’t know you personally but you sure are someone I would love to work with and meet in this lifetime. keep motivating forward thinking writers and creatives.