Screenwriting: From Idea to Screenplay

Trey Ellis is an Emmy and Peabody winning filmmaker, American Book Award Winning novelist, playwright, essayist and Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Most recently, he is an Executive Producer of the HBO documentary TRUE JUSTICE: BRYAN STEVENSON'S FIGHT FOR EQUALITY and last year’s KING IN THE WILDERNESS also for HBO.

He has written dozens of scripts and teleplays including the TUSKEGEE AIRMEN for HBO, and GOOD FENCES for Showtime, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was shortlisted for the PEN award for Best Teleplay of the year. His works have been screened at the Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He is the author of the novels, PLATITUDES, HOME REPAIRS and the American Book Award Winning, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, as well as the memoir BEDTIME STORIES: ADVENTURES IN THE LAND OF SINGLE-FATHERHOOD. His essays have appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, GQ, Vanity Fair and NewYorker.com and he has contributed audio commentary to NPR’s All Things Considered. His play, FLY, was commissioned by the Lincoln Center Institute and continues to be performed around the country including in Washington, D.C.’s Ford’s Theater, the Pasadena Playhouse and the New Victory Theater in New York.

Deborah Goodwin's screenwriting journey started with a decade in development at Hollywood studios like USA Networks, CBS, ABC Daytime. She is the former Director of Development at Sanford-Pillsbury ( "Desperately Seeking Susan," "River's Edge," and "How To Make An American Quilt”.)

She made her mark as a screenwriter and independent filmmaker when she won the Urbanworld Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Best Screenplay for her bold and darkly funny family drama, "Cherrys." This win put her on the map and opened doors for future projects.

Deborah's writing gained attention, scoring fellowships with prestigious organizations like Film Independent (FIND) and IFP (The Gotham) Lab Emerging Narrative.

Some of her produced works include the horror/fantasy film "Vampires in Venice," which got international buzz at the Marché du Film in Cannes, and the action/drama "The Pastor," released by Fathom Events and AMC. "The Pastor" was a groundbreaking project in the amplification of day and date releasing, premiering at the same time in 500 theaters across the United States and 300 theaters throughout Latin and South America.

"The Pastor" also stands out for having a mostly Latin American/Latinx cast, showing Deborah's commitment to diversity in her work. The film launched the careers of several rising stars, including Ismael Cruz Cordova, who later became famous for his roles in "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Rings of Power," Victoria Cartagena, known for her role in "Batwoman," David Iacono, who starred in "The Summer I Turned Pretty," Rosal Colon, recognized for her work in "Orange Is the New Black," and Frank G, a seasoned actor with credits in "Power" and "Saw."

At the height of The Pandemic Deborah and Ginni Media teamed to produce critically acclaimed and highly rated scripted audio meta fiction podcast series” Fear, A Love Story” created by Goodwin. Seasons one and two topped Apple’s 100 podcasts to listen to chart and boasts an impressive 8.3/10 on Amazon. Season three will air Valentine’s Day 2025.

Deborah Goodwin's career shows her strong dedication to storytelling, her fresh approach to filmmaking, and her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the entertainment world.