Sometimes advice is situational, other times it is lasting. Researching and creating while awaiting the next opportunity is a philosophy that award-winning independent filmmaker Nakia Stephens (Cream x Coffee; Suga Water; Nepotista) continues to impart. While this guidance is for those who aspire to tell stories for the screens, it can be applied to anyone with a dream. Recently, the Damn Write Originals founder spoke with So Booking Cool about the inspiration behind her advice.
“I think a lot of the times people just wait around for people to give them an opportunity,” she said. “But then when the opportunity comes, they’re not prepared for it…I always say you should always be creating; you should always be thinking about what you want to write and writing it so that when your opportunity comes you can take advantage of it.”
Before winning awards in the categories of Best Webisode, Best of Festival, and the Horizon Award and before writing more than 20 scripts that were produced for the likes of BET, Revolt TV, Showtime, FoxSoul, Netflix, AspireTV, and KeyTV, Stephens was a girl with a passion and “lots of audacity.” She found like-minded individuals in her hometown of Atlanta and created constantly, leading to Damn Write Originals (also what the screenwriter calls a screenwriting label.)
Among her latest works is the workplace comedy, Nepotista, which recently premiered on Key TV Network, an original entertainment station founded by Keke Palmer. The show was created and written by Stephens and developed by Palmer.
“It’s just a story of failing forward,” said Stephens. “We hear a lot about white nepotism, so I did want to tell a story about black nepotism because it’s something that I’m very interested in and people don’t talk about it. We have our Zoe Kravitz, our Blue Ivies, all these nepo-babies that we love. I wanted to create a world where we talk about nepotism in a comedic way that involves Black women, especially a character like Rhonda…imagine if Shonda Rhimes has a daughter who has no idea what she’s doing, she’s a party girl, and now all of a sudden she wants to join her mother’s world.”
Check out the full conversation to learn more about Nepotista and Stephens including her favorite books; the Los Angeles wildfires; the discipline of a writer; her thoughts on volunteering; the memorable encouragement she received from Mara Brock Akil; the experience of being a show runner, and more! For more information, visit www.damnwriteoriginals.com.