Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda Mariah Morgan.
Hi Yolanda, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
“No black woman writer in this culture can write “too much.” Indeed, no woman writer can write ‘too much’… No woman has ever written enough.” This powerful quote by the brilliant Bell Hooks has carried me through my writing career. Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, I quickly became inspired to write about my experiences in the south. My writing was constantly filled with detailed paragraphs of southern cuisine and meticulous monologues of complex family dynamics. It was always clear to me that my upbringing made me into a writer.
Growing up in a very southern household, the film was naturally pretty late on my horizon. However, words were not. I’ve been writing since I could remember. Writing has always been my escape from reality. As someone who has struggled with a speech impediment for most of my life, writing became my outlet. Therefore, I consider my storytelling to be my greatest strength. Storytelling has allowed me to create a world where I can be a different person; a world where I can escape and create my own story.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I learned pretty early in life that nothing worth having will be easy. Going into the film industry has forced me to reshape my perspective. I no longer stray away from challenges. I embrace them. My first challenge as a filmmaker came in college. I enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University. as a Journalism student. I spent two years learning the ropes of being a journalist and concluded that the route was not for me. Furthermore, I decided to transfer to the University of Southern California and enroll as a film student. I spent my four years in college trying to find my voice as an artist. This process required deep introspection and vulnerability. I had to ask myself the tough questions. “What type of art, do I want to create?”
Every writer has their own style and voice. It took me a while to find mine. Through many failed scripts and even more failed treatments, I believe I have finally found my unique voice. My voice is for the ones who can’t quite figure out where they fit in. My voice is for the lovers of animation who can’t draw, the funny friend who is scared to pursue comedy, and the drama queen who cries when they get mad.
As a black woman, my filmmaking voice is heavily centered around the black experience and the variety that this experience offers. My hope is that my stories give voice to the voiceless. It is my greatest desire that my writing can be used to tell someone else’s story. Whether that is done through comedy or drama, I would love for my work to be able to provide a safe space for at least one person.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a filmmaker, my goal is to create films that will impact a generation and provide a voice for young people to unabashedly express their youthful exuberance and creativity. Currently, I work in both writing and production at Disney TV Animation where I have the pleasure of creating content filled with positive representation, beautiful artwork, and powerful messages. I also serve as a participant in Disney TVA’s Writers Workshop, where I am working on an original adult-animated pilot. Outside of Disney, I am also working on independent projects and have had the honor of creating multiple short films. My short film “I Never Picked Cotton” has earned numerous awards in film festivals and most recently premiered on Aspire TV.
My filmmaking aspirations are primarily focused on writing and producing my own television shows, with the end goal of becoming a showrunner. In the future, I would love to step into a meaningful role in the executive field. Ideally, I desire to be an executive at a major network, with at least one original show in development – all while working towards taking the steps to launch my own production company. My production company would specialize in producing black-driven stories, focusing particularly on animated projects.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
If I could offer one piece of advice for finding a mentor, it would be to never stop networking. At twenty-four years old and a “newbie” in this industry, I’m still practicing this lesson myself. I would also suggest giving yourself grace during this process. Finding a mentor and networking can be exhausting and at times discouraging. However, I would recommend not being so hard on yourself. Not everyone you meet will result in an opportunity, and that’s okay! I found that networking is like dating. The goal is not always to get married, or in this case – “find the perfect opportunity.” Sometimes the goal is to have a good time, learn more about yourself and hear other people’s stories/ career paths. By not putting so much pressure on the situation, you allow yourself to go in more freely.
Whether you’re waiting for the right job, opportunity, or even parking spot. Life is filled with waiting. But I’m also learning that waiting isn’t always bad. Waiting produces faith, and faith produces favor. Not every opportunity will be for you, and that is okay. Sometimes “the wait” is necessary for your journey. I would encourage anyone reading this to use your season of waiting to prepare for everything that you’ve ever wanted. In the end, when the right opportunity comes, you will be so glad you waited, and even more glad you prepared while you waited.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yolandamariahh.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yolandamariahh/
