RespectAbility Entertainment Professionals Lab 2024
Coli B. Sylla
Coli Sylla, named an ISA Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch For in 2024, hails from Philly via Lome, Togo in West Africa. He holds a master’s degree in visual and media arts from Emerson College in Boston, MA.
During an internship at NBCUniversal in 2006, Sylla penned a spec script for the NBC comedy 30 Rock, catapulting him into professional writing. His inaugural project, the single-camera comedy Big Boy’s Neighborhood, loosely based on the radio show of the same name, featuring talents like Big Boy himself, Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg, was produced.
Subsequently transitioning to TV drama, Sylla crafted his first pilot, Porter, which garnered widespread acclaim, leading to meetings with major industry players like HBO and Showtime. Porter secured top honors at the Creative Screenwriting Magazine TV Pilot Competition in 2022 and found success on the Coverfly Red List twice before landing a shopping deal.
In 2023, Sylla’s second pilot, The Informer, achieved finalist status in the LA International Diversity Initiative and attracted a shopping agreement. His latest project, Afterlife, also has made waves on the Coverfly Red List, currently holding a prominent position at #16 Fantasy Television/Half-hour.
Sylla recently completed what he hopes to be the next script of all scripts.
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After an extensive search and interview process, 25 individuals were invited to participate in the Virtual Cohort of RespectAbility’s 2024 Entertainment Lab taking place May 7 – September 24, 2024. This 5-month Lab aims to develop and elevate the talent pipeline of disabled entertainment professionals working behind-the-scenes in television, film, and streaming, while connecting them with industry professionals and creatives. Participants include people with physical, cognitive, sensory, mental health, and other disabilities ranging in age from people in their 20’s through their 60’s. The Lab is a recipient of The Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award.
