Script Club: Sorry to Bother You
About this Live Online Event
Are you interested in meeting other Sundance Collab members in a casual, moderated space? Join Sundance Collab for Script Club, a virtual event series designed to spark conversations with screenwriters, filmmakers, and cinephiles from across the world.
For our first script club of 2025, we will discuss the screenplay for the absurdist dark comedy film Sorry to Bother You, written and directed by Boots Riley. The film, which stars LaKeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson, premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and went on to win the Sundance Film Festival Vanguard Award and Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards.
In an alternate reality of present-day Oakland, California, telemarketer Cassius Green finds himself in a macabre universe after he discovers a magical key that leads to material glory.
As Green's career begins to take off, his friends and co-workers organize a protest against corporate oppression. Cassius soon falls under the spell of Steve Lift, a cocaine-snorting CEO who offers him a salary beyond his wildest dreams.
In preparation for the event, we recommend you first read the script, then watch the film.
How Script Club Works:
- Read the script in advance, watch the film if you can, then join us on Zoom for a lively discussion led by one of Sundance Collab’s Community Leaders
- The event will last approximately two hours and will start off with a moderated conversation and Q&A with special guest, writer/director Boots Riley
- We'll watch clips from the film, then break into interactive groups led by a Sundance Collab Community Leader to discuss the script and the film
- We encourage joining our Community Forum on Discord to get prompts ahead of the event and continue the discussion with your peers afterwards
Live event registration for Script Club Events is free of charge. This event will be recorded for archival only and will not be posted to the Video Library or emailed to registered participants. A free Sundance Collab account and advanced registration are required in order to receive the Zoom link for the event. You can attend as many events as you like as long as you abide by our Community Agreement.
Live Online EventTeam
Boots Riley
Writer/Director
Activist, filmmaker, and musician, Boots Riley studied film at San Francisco State University before rising to prominence as the frontman of hip-hop groups The Coup and Street Sweeper Social Club. His debut feature film SORRY TO BOTHER YOU premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, was acquired by Annapurna Pictures, and was released to resounding box office success and widespread critical acclaim.
Fervently dedicated to social change, Boots was deeply involved with the Occupy Oakland movement and was one of the leaders of the activist group The Young Comrades. His book of lyrics and anecdotes, Tell Homeland Security-We Are The Bomb, is out on Haymarket Press.
He is the recipient of the Independent Spirit Awards for Best Feature Film, and SFFILM's Kanbar Award. His most recent work, I'M A VIRGO, is available on Amazon and was nominated for a Gotham Award and 4 Independent Spirit Awards. He is currently working on his next feature film I LOVE BOOSTERS.
KD Daza
KD Daza is an executive, producer, and writer dedicated to future-minded storytelling. As the leader of Punctuate Studio, she works at the intersection of entertainment, innovation, and education. She has contributed to projects for Netflix, Warner Bros., Disney, Sony, Cartoon Network, Hi-Rez Studios, and more.
Punctuate empowers film and television professionals to navigate rapid industry transformation. The studio specializes in creative resilience frameworks and the ethical adoption of emerging technologies, including AI, XR, virtual production, gamification, and interactive storytelling.
Through the Sundance Institute, Daza serves as the creative technology advisor for Sundance Collab and the Story Forum program producer for the Sundance Film Festival. She also teaches filmmaking courses and hosts story development events, including the popular Sundance Collab Script Club.
Daza has navigated a robust career as an artist, researcher, and entrepreneur. She has successfully founded and sold two companies — an award-winning digital strategy studio and an edtech media platform — and generated millions of media impressions for her creative works.