Sonya Alexander
400 W. 119th St., #5S
New York, NY 10027
(323) 335-4798 (cell)
Education:
English B.A., UCLA, 1988
Writing/Editing Credits:
Glory Days Project: Editing and rewriting manuscript for producer/director, Alex Lucas. (2009-present)
Kidnapped By a Dream Project: Edited and rewrote memoirs of Lupita Tovar Kohner, the first Mexican silent screen star, who went on to marry studio mogul and vanguard Hollywood agent, Paul Kohner. (2008)
Essence Magazine ( Wrote article about Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry, for the May, 2008 issue. (2008)
Actress Archives ( Wrote five news stories a day on breaking entertainment and celebrity news. (2008)
Untitled Book Project: Assisted veteran, award-winning actor/producer/director, Tony Bill, in developing and editing his first book. (2008)
Asia: The Journal of Culture and Commerce ( Currently covering events at local universities regarding Asia’s changing political, economic and social landscape. Previously wrote about entertainment-related topics: Interviewed Kenneth Kasamatsu, former president and CEO of Pacific Commerce Bank and reviewed Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution and Finishing the Game for guest column, The Cinephile's Review. (2007-2008)
eHow ( Wrote articles about particular topics, focusing on politics and entertainment. (2007-2008)
Cover Your A** Screenplay Coverage and Analysis ( Provided in-depth coverage and notes on incoming scripts. (2007)
Los Angeles Screenwriting Expo 2007 ( Read incoming scripts and did coverage. (2007)
Mania.com ( Interviewed director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Sunshine). (2007)
Denver Urban Spectrum Newspaper ( ): Wrote articles about entertainment-related topics from a Los Angeles-perspective. (2007)
Black Film and Media Magazine ( Write articles about Black filmmakers, musicians and artists from the African Diaspora for this London-based publication. Interviews include dancehall king Sean Paul, Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby, Crash), Doug Atchison (Akeelah and the Bee), and F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job, The Negotiator) (2002-2007)
UGO.COM ( Covered press junkets for upcoming films and wrote movie reviews for new releases. Went to New Mexico in mid-November, 2007, to interview Sam Jackson on the set of Frank Miller’s The Spirit. Interviewed Timothy Olyphant, star of Hitman, and Jake Kasdan, writer/director, of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Reviewed Walk Hard,The Break-Up, Over the Hedge, Silent Hill, Thank You for Smoking, Night Watch, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Hills Have Eye. Also covered several red carpet and live events, including NBC/Universal Press Day. (2006-2007)
Scriptwriter Magazine ( Wrote articles about current screenwriting and filmmaking trends. (2006)
The Anklet Project: Developed suspense script for legendary Bollywood director, Saawan Kumar Tak. (2006)
Black AIDS Institute: Proofread and edited manuscripts, newsletters, and press releases. (2006)
The War on Iraq: The War Profiteers Project: Conducted research for producer Robert Greenwald’s (Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism, Wal-Mart) film. (2006)
Woe Unto Death Project: Commissioned by producer Uche Ozoh to develop Nigerian play into screenplay. (2006)
Virtual Pitch Fest ( Consultant for incoming projects for this on-going contest. (2005-present)
Fatherland Project: Adapted Hans J. Massaquoi's book, Destined to Witness: Growing Up Black inNazi Germany, for Whoopi Goldberg's production company. Currently being considered to do rewrite. (2005-present)
Los Angeles Screenwriting Expo 3 ( Judge for the Creative Screenwriting Open Live Writing Tournament at the Screenwriting Expo/Los Angeles Convention Center. (2005)
Search for the Blue Sapphire Project: Commissioned to develop and co-write screenplay with Dr. Firpo Carr, based on his book Germany's Black Holocaust, 1890-1945: The Untold Truth! (2005)
BollywoodCareer.com Project ( Commissioned by Sulaman Choudary to develop BollywoodCareer.com website content, contracts, and all material concerning the launch of the company and the website. (2005)
Can Serrat International Art Center ( Received stipend to attend writer’s residency in Barcelona, Spain. (2005)
Cosby Screenwriting Fellowship Program: Participated as a screenwriting fellow in the Guy Alexander Hanks/Marvin Miller Screenwriting Fellowship Program at USC, which is sponsored by Dr.'s Bill and Camille Cosby. (2004)
Proofreading/Editing: Conduct various proofreading and editing assignments for private parties on a contractual basis. (2003-present)
AllStudyGuides.com ( Critiqued literary figures like Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Allen Poe for this educational website. (2001-2002)
MovieBytes.com ( Interview produced screenwriters, including Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects), Peter Steinfeld (Drowning Mona), Ira Israel (Live Virgin) and Douglas Atchison (Akeelah and the Bee). (2000-present)
Blacklines of Architecture Magazine ( Wrote articles about art, interior design, and architecture for this magazine geared towards the African-American/urban community. (2000-2002)
Pseudo Project: Commissioned to write psychological thriller, Pseudo, for independent producer, Andrew Levy. (2000)
Social Knowledge Systems, Inc. ( Wrote educational lesson plans based on 17th, 18th and 19th Century photos. Copy edited various articles and lesson plans. Consulted with teachers at local high schools. Summarized books on social theory. (1999-2004)
Brazzil Magazine ( Wrote article about infamous Brazilian bandit, Lampiao. (1999)
Script Reader: Performed script analysis for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Nicholl Fellowship, the Sundance Institute, the American Film Institute, Bluecat Screenplay Competition, the Screen Arts Foundation and Coverage, Ink. (1996-present)
La Place Project: Researched history of the gens de couleur libres (free people of color) and wrote drafts of script. Held reading in Lafayette, LA, sponsored by Senator Donald Cravins. Project accepted to IFFM/NY in 1999, where it received many accolades. Scouted potential locations. In the process of securing funding. Actors Steven Brand, France Zobda and Philip Michael Thomas attached. Won writer’s residency in Spain based on project. (1996-present)
The Business of Film Magazine ( Interviewed activist Ted Hayes and filmmakers Leon Ichaso (Pinero, Bitter Sugar) and Kayo Hata (Picture Bride) for the Cannes Edition. (1996)