Antonio Ingram

Hello, I hope everyone is doing Okay. I wanted to take this moment to throw a question out that I've been curious about. What do you think about the power of the black writer today? Is it more powerful or less powerful? If less powerful why do you think that is? And, what would you say was an era where the black writer was the most powerful?

I know I asked more than one question, you can just answer one of them if you want. I'm not demanding answers, these are just thoughts I'm curious about.

Hello, Harry. I think that's a great idea. And to take it a step further, I think that day should be one of the days within black history month. A month where the young black community can be educated on what the  "regular" school system lacks to teach us about. Some young blacks didn't even have African American history class (I did, girlfriend didn't). We have to be the ones that educate and celebrate our people.

And of course those that oppose will say, "Well Veteran's Day represents everyone that fought for us." Just like the flag represents freedom and just for all... Yeah.

@Delano, because I was thinking that it wasn't regarding screenwriting. I seen most of the post were about other fields of writing. I'll look back into it though.

@Cynique, Even though it's not much stuff in my field on here, I like the idea of being in something a little different. It's good for balance, my balance anyway. And absolutely, I've had lots of criticism and feedback. Since I first started back in 2012, lol (boy we came a long way). And all of it has made me the writer I am today. I do have like two screenwriters that's familiar with my work that I share with. One recently praised my writing. I even used a script consultant one time (won't be anymore) who I kept in touch with. And when I went to Full Sail University (graduated June 2017), which was where I was in a hands-on environment and they treated the classrooms like the professional writing spaces. There was lots of critiques and feedback flying around.

Regarding my writing, I write character-driven drama films focused around the young black man to give our society a different viewpoint of who we are and to show that we’re living humans like everyone else. I don't see the young black man's voice reflected on screen, unless it's something along the lines of slave, drug dealer, dead-beat, victim, killed, poor, ignorant, buffoon. There's so much more to us than those things, and I want to be the one who leads the charge in reflecting all the other aspects of the young black man and what we're capable of. I also want to tackle issues within our culture. 

@Delano, I looked through the post sections before I posted it. I didn't see any employment sections, so I picked somewhere I thought It would fit. And Okay, I'll keep that one in mind. I had no problem with you not giving me career advice, that's your preference. I only took issue in the first place because it appeared that my character and who I am as a person was being questioned. Being told I'm trying to "run" things, being told I think my perspective is "superior" to everyone else. I took issue with that because that's the opposite of who I am as a person. But, that's how you guys address each other on here, I'm not used to that.

 I came on here to connect with other black writers, I have a connection with a whole bunch of white writers on stage 32. I wanted to build on my connection with black writers. People I can relate with. To be more specific, young black writers and young black screenwriters because I was basically the only one who wanted to do that at the university. Those people are not on here either, but I like the topics in the post and have decided to stick around.

And I think "school your benefactors" is the wrong statement. First glance, I thought everyone was bashing each other and arguing. Naturally, I'm not the arguing type, especially when it comes to black folks. I just thought about how blacks tear each other down, and that was why I brought the black panthers up in the first place. I was making a point. Me saying they were one of the greatest movements we had, that's my opinion. I didn't know that was how you guys communicated on here. I know that now for sure. I was just trying to stop what I thought was an argument. If you get me trying to "school" you and my other peers out of that, I don't know what to tell you. 

I've taken the time to rectify the situation with nothing but respect. I would never try school peers that are older than me. Even if I was your same age, I still wouldn't do that. That's not in my nature. It's unfortunately that you considered me as such.

18 hours ago, Delano said:

why do you assume your perspective is correct? 

@Delano, I'll rephrase something you said, but it really doesn't matter. That's your perspective. If you think I have "false modesty", that's you. I'm not going to take the time to defend that, I don't have to. You're overanalyzing my statements. If you'd read my conversations with @Cynique, You'd see there's nothing false about that, or maybe you won't see it and find something else to argue with me about. I feel like you want me to admit to being a certain way that I'm not, I can't entertain that, man.

@Cynique, Oh, Okay. That's close enough.

Completely understood @Cynique. I'm glad you have an understanding. And I like the backstory with the name there. It's all coming together. Funny enough, it's the same with my Granny. Since she's known about this writing journey, she's been against. I've convinced her over time, she still slips in her comments thought. But, I love her. You're southern, aren't you? Something feels familiar about you.

And @Delano, I don't really look at it like that. I'm just giving my perspective. Nothing more, nothing less. I don't have the ego to pull such a statement off. I know people like that, and they speak more and listen less because they think they know everything.

On that note, I apologize for the misunderstanding. Let's just say all of this was our introduction to each other, lol.

2 hours ago, Cynique said:

LOL. If you think the arguing and debunking that has been going on here from day one will suddenly reverse itself, Antonio, and everybody is going be of one mind, you're  in for a rude awakening. Like Troy suggests, this is an open forum where a lively exchange of ideas prevails, and nobody is encouraged to defer to another person just for the sake of harmony.  Different opinions are the name of the game here, because this broadens the perspective and keeps things interesting. The regulars here routinely argue and feud with each other and then move on. We don't really take each other that seriously and "insults" roll off our backs.

I'll agree with that, @Cynique. Yes, I'm new to new on here, so I was unaware that what I was addresses was simply a norm on here. You all are used to each other and I understand the nature here now. I'll be sure to pay such arguments no mind next time. That's not really what I'm on here for. And naturally, I'm not really the arguing type (It's my girlfriend's thing). And even if I was arguing, I'm just not a person that believes in throwing insults in an argument. Especially given you all are older than me, I wouldn't address you like that no matter how much I disagreed. I was raised on respecting your elders, treating people how you want to be treated. So, thank you for making me aware so that I'll know going forward. And thank you @Troy.

And with the black panthers, Okay. To each is own. Every movement has its negative, just like every person does. And within those will be arguments.

Okay, @Delano, I came on here to run things. I've already resigned if that's the case, lol. I don't like the idea of being a boss, I don't to manage egos.

23 minutes ago, Delano said:

Your criticism are unfounded and misguided. Yet they have unitEd us in criticising you.

That you're right on, but @Cynique made me aware of the nature here. And yes, I noticed that, and it's kind of funny.

Trust me, Antonio is minding his business next time. You can have the lead back @Delano.

@Troy I have a Twitter (that's what I'm on more than anything, I like it better), I have a stage 32, I have a Linkedin, I've established a blogger page now. I'm just not a fan of Facebook. I never gravitated to it. I did with Twitter though.

And yes, I agree, I think disagreements are important as well, never said they weren't. I also didn't take it personally, but it seemed like my peers were to some extent. I was pointing to the fact that there were insults being attached to the disagreements, I don't think that's a productive argument, because naturally, another insult will be returned. That's more so what I meant about finding a common ground. That's my point.

Okay, I don't really like to get in people's business, but @Pioneer1, @Delano, and @Cynique, what you're doing here is another one of the problems amongst our culture. I know that we have our different views, but that should never overshadow the fact that we're all trying to go the same direction. Yeah, we're taking different paths and we come from different generations, but why not find a common ground instead of contrasting amongst each other? I shall mention the color white again, the FBI of the 1970s pit the black panthers against each other and that's what led to their demise. That was one of the greatest movements we ever had, and yet it fell apart from the inside. Then the outside took advantage of it and has ever since.

With all that's going on right now, with all that our culture has been through, we should be able to have a productive conversation that ends with unified hands. Not throwing what we know at each other, but using what we know as one. We've got to look out for one another, because no one else will. And that doesn't matter what color you want us to be, we'll still be the same color and viewed as such. I say this with nothing but respect to my older peers. I love my black people and I don't like to see us bash each other. That's not what our generations past went through all that hell for.

And thank you @Linda Chavis, unfortunately I don't have a Facebook, but I will look for other groups. Thank you for thinking of me, that was very kind you.

Sounds about right, lol. Thanks for having our back. My generation is about breaking cycles. 

Lol, you know what, I knew that was wrong. I kept looking at that word. My eyes tired, I've been writing all day today. Thank you. Let me see if I can edit it.

Just their plot to keep us in check being they're not the majority anymore. They got to have the up some kind of way, you know how that goes.

I second everything that @Pioneer1 is saying. Non-blacks are being taken advantage of, and blacks don't build smarter circles, most have this stay in the family mentality. Some of us are too proud to reach out to other blacks for help, others have trust issues because someone doesn't agree with their particular idea.

And to answer "

On 10/22/2017 at 8:28 PM, Pioneer1 said:

Until we figure out WHY so many of our people aren't smart enough to keep up with what Whites and Asians are doing on the internet......

One simple answer for the most part, money. To most of us oppressed folks, you flash money in front of us and you've already reeled us into to be manipulated at will. Also, we don't know what to say yes to, and what to say no to. Which is branched to the money situation.

I'm not putting the blame on the white man anymore for anything. We know that agenda, I'm putting the blame on us. We got to do better as a people with these things. Our ancestors of the past were a unified strength. They looked out for one another (which @Mel Hopkins nailed on the head), they stood up for one another, they encouraged one another. There was a compassion that I think this generation of our people lacks. It's such an opportunist mentality, mentality that didn't come from us.

Hey, Troy. Yes, I have been warned about taking writing jobs for free. I'm not in favor of that at all, especially right now. And I'll be sure to check out your article.

And yeah, I have a stage 32 profile (like a Facebook for writers, directors, ect in the film, television, and theater industries). I've managed to build networks with peers, professionals and up and comers. The problem on that site is, it's not hardly any black ones on there. And that's been another issue. I've been looking for black screenwriter’s organization, but the ones I found were outdated and basically nonexistent. They are the ones that will be able to help me, they are the one that should want to help me. Where I'm from, I'm like the only one that's pursuing something like this, lol. I just mean not a lot of young blacks want to do this. That was one of the reasons why I came on here, I thought I might find some like-minded writers in my realm on here.

And yes, I'm looking into that. You mark the third person who has told me. I was already sold when two black women told me, I cherish the black woman's insight.

Thank you very much for the insight and the links.  I'll continue to push forward.

Hello, Cynique ( I don't think I've heard this name before) That is definitely a fact, and that's why I push with so much poise. So people can see that I'm not alone in this issue.

And I appreciate the advice. And yep, you're right about that.

Thanks again for the kind words, Cynique.

Hello, Mel. The thing is, amongst my small circle of writer friends in Full Sail regarding my specific field and what I’m seeking, I've been that person with the connections, lol (and sadly, nobody really utilized it, they just listen to the instructors, you know?). A lot of the friends I had just started writing, I started this six years ago. So, I was doing all the research, got connected on stage 32 and build some connections with professionals (I've emailed people on there, they just didn't respond). Yeah, that's been another problem, the people I know that are professionals, they always seem to disappear in these moments. I'm ignored or forgotten about. And don't know what it is, but it just seems like no one wants to make an effort to be a mentor, unless you're paying them, or it's to their benefit some kind of way. And the people that I've been in contact with that could have been very helpful, they've brushed me off.

And kudos to you for sustaining as a working writer. That's admirable to hear. And I will definitely take the blog into consideration. You're the second person that's told me that (girlfriend told me yesterday). I think I can do something with that. I'm bold, unapologetic, And I speak with facts, not envy. If I do it, it can't be about me finding exposure, it must be about people like me as a whole getting exposure.

And I get what you're saying. I'm not settling for equal, I just said the meaning I deserve to the consideration of being read, of being acknowledged. Our philosophies are just a little different there, but that's fine. We just display our confidence in different ways.

Thank you very much for sharing your insight. And again, I will consider the blog idea.

Hello, my fellow black writers. I’m a recent graduate (June 2017) of Full Sail University with a Bachelor’s degree for Creative Writing in Entertainment. I write character-driven drama films focused around the young black man to give our society a different viewpoint of who we are and to show that we’re living humans like everyone else.

I introduce myself to you all on here in frustration. I feel that I’m not being given fair consideration when it comes to the writing jobs out there. Here it is November again, I’ve been looking for a writing job since last November. And don’t mean I’m just out her trying to zap a screenwriting career, I mean me securing a writing job where I can contribute my strengths. Whether creative writer position, scriptwriter position, things in that realm.

Between that time, all the way up to now (and pending), I have contacted nearly 240 companies everywhere (areas in the US and the UK), and I have been shunned, more of no one responding than anything else. And ones that do respond say, “you have good quality writing,” but it didn’t lead to a job, it led to some excuse why I wouldn’t be a fit. Or I’m offered an unpaid internship to fly somewhere else (like, I’m oppressed). The little spending money I did have were from school loans that I must start paying on this month. But, I don’t have any money now because I haven’t been given any consideration a writing job. Yes, I know I could go back to the $7.50 an hour KFC job out there, but what does that do for me? Why do we always have to be held to that?

And recently I found two writing jobs that I was perfect for. It’s been seven weeks for one, and over four weeks for the other. My applications weren't not even looked at. That’s been the case this whole time, no one is even really looking at my material or application, so I can’t be considered for nothing like that. I know it takes some months to hear back about screenplays, but does it really take the same time for a writing job, too?

I know I’m a young black man, and I’m proud of that. I’m not ashamed of the fact that my material is based around black people, that’s my background. You write what you know. And I can’t help I’m a millennial, it just happened and I’m living in the era. I hear these comments about people not wanting to hire millennials because we feel entitled. To be clear:

I’ve been working at my craft for nearly seven years now. I’ve spent many hours sitting down and writing, failing, rewriting, failing, venting, and repeat. I’ve sacrificed years of my youth, I’m still sacrificing years of my youth. I don’t feel entitled because I feel like something should be handed to me. Every trophy I’ve ever won, I threw them away because I don’t go by that mentality anymore. I feel entitled because I have worked my ass off and come of age as a writer. I feel that I am qualified based off my work, not because I feel entitled.

I’m just fed up. What is the use of all this hard work I’m putting in if I can’t even get someone to view my application, or consider a screenplay of mine.

I understand that other like-minded black creatives are on here. I have been trying to get my material or apply to black-owned companies, but I couldn’t find any. I don’t mean to sound desperate, but please. Is there someone you know that would be willing to give me consideration? I’m asking for a handout, I’m just asking to have to the chance to be legitimately considered  for writing work.