Jess Waters

Screenwriter, Story Analyst and Director

Los Angeles, California

Member Since:
October 2014

Last online:
> 2 weeks ago

Invites sent:
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About Jess

Jess Waters is an award-winning screenwriter originally hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, and currently residing in Los Angeles. As a queer Black non-binary writer, their narrative focus revolves around the re-imagining of history to create both grounded and fantastical explorations of Black and LGBTQ+ identity through a unique lens. Jess is a former Hillman Grad Mentee, currently a part of the Artistic Standard TV 2020-2021 Mentorship Program, and a winner of the Netflix x Ghetto Film School Content Creation Program.

Certifications

Photos

Videos

The Divinity Streak by Jess Waters | Presented by Ghetto Film School x Netflix Film Club

Loglines

The Revenge of the Sycamore Tree Budget: $1M - $5M | Thriller ⋄ Drama When Leya is forced to visit her eccentric aunt on a remote island, she begins to uncover the truth about a cluster of missing boys, and the lonely Sycamore Tree behind it all.
The Infinite Blue Budget: $1M - $5M | Drama After her mother poisons their only water source in a fit of paranoia, Cleo must trek through an indigenous reservation to reach a lake that her mother believes will save them.
Ozell's Gym Budget: $100K - $1M | Drama ⋄ Sports Struggling academically and increasingly the target of bullies, fifteen year old Winnifred Braxton joins recovering alcoholic Ozell Lance’s gym, where she trains to take on fellow female boxers.

Credits

GUMBO (2022)
Short Writer
The Divinity Streak (2021)
Short Writer
Gravel Wounds (2020)
Short Writer
Cross Creek (2020)
TV Mini Writer
CITY KITTIES: Reunion (2020)
TV Series Writer
City Kitties: Luster's Pink (2019)
TV Series Writer
Empty Spaces
Writer
Geraldine
Writer

View all 8 credits

Awards

Table Read My Screenplay Genre Competition, Top 10 for "Fountain"
(2022)
The Standalone Film Fest, Selection for "The Revenge of the Sycamore Tree"
(2022)
George Lindsey Film Fest, Finalist for "The Harvest"
(2022)
Shore Scripts TV Pilot Contest, Quarterfinalist "Fountain"
(2022)
Big Apple Film Festival Screenplay Competition, Quarterfinalist "Gleason's"
(2022)
Page Turner Screenplays First 15, Quarterfinalist for "The Revenge of the Sycamore Tree"
(2021)
Nevada City Film Festival, Winner for "A Lesson on Dying"
(2021)
UPIKE Film & Media Arts Festival Best Feature Screenplay for "The Tenth"
(2018)
WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Finalist for Pilot "Ozell's Gym"
(2018)
Glitter Oklahoma LGBTQ Film Festival Official Selection for Feature "The Tenth"
(2018)
Austin Revolution Screenplay Competition Finalist for "Ozell's Gym"
(2018)
Bolt by Barnstorm Fest Finalist for "Ozell's Gym"
(2018)
Shore Scripts TV Pilot Quarter-Finalist for "Ozell's Gym"
(2018)
IndieBoom! Festival Official Selection for Feature Screenplay "The Tenth"
(2017)