Meet the 2024 SSL Cohort
As they delve into week three of the Scripted Series Lab, meet the 2024 cohort working under the leadership of showrunner Michael MacLennan this year, beautifully photographed by Rachel Morris.
Jimmy King
Jimmy holds a BFA from Ryerson University in Performance Studies and is currently undertaking his Masters in Playwriting at the University of Victoria. Jimmy was one of the founders and artistic directors of Babelle Theatre and he is the recipient of several awards, including the 2016 Sydney Risk Prize for Emerging Playwright and a Jessie Richardson award for Outstanding Original Script.
Ren Maguire
Having earned an MA and several academic awards from the University of British Columbia, Ren has worked as an actor, tutor, ghostwriter, and developmental editor.
Melissa Riemer
Melissa is a Eurasian writer, composer, and songwriter. Her script “Cast Some Light” was a top finalist in the Landed Entertainment script writing competition. Also an accomplished songwriter, producer and composer, Melissa’s music has appeared in Spike Lee’s series “She’s Gotta Have It” as well as various syncing deals with Volvo, Decjuba, and films “Gemini” and “Screaming At Stars”. Her track “Moonlight” has eclipsed 200k streams for a single track.
Gur-Inder Singh
Gur-Inder got his start working in Bollywood as an Assistant Director. His dream is to bridge the gap between Hollywood and Bollywood while simultaneously delivering diverse Canadian content to international audiences. He won the American Film Market Pitch Conference twice, in 2021 (with boxing/drama GODSON) and in 2023 (with supernatural/horror SEED).
Helene Taylor
Helene worked for several years in New York while studying as a playwright and screenwriter at UCB, LAByrinth, and Atlantic Theater Companies. She brings a background in both scripted and unscripted production (winning her a CCTA) and two decades in the film industry.
Alex Vance
Alex is a writer with Métis, Caribbean, & European roots. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing and is a graduate of UCLA’s TFT’s Professional Screenwriting Program. Alex was a writers assistant on the Disney+ series “Turner and Hooch.” Her first short film was selected for Telefilm’s Not Short on Talent Program and screened at the Cannes market. Her first comedy short played at Austin After Dark while her feature screenplay was shortlisted for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab.