How Veteran Screenwriter and Producer Mara Brock Akil Is Supporting Writers With Nail Polish
"As a writer, I am looking at my hands all day ... I wanted to create something that acknowledges the power we hold in our hands," says the 'Girlfriends' co-creator and Story27 Productions founder.
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Mara Brock Akil Courtesy of Jazmin Johnson
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Of the many creative ways that insiders are supporting Hollywood’s striking writers, Top Showrunner Mara Brock Akil‘s might be among the most colorful.
The Women in Entertainment Power 100 alum has teamed with Los Angeles-based beauty company Orly on a curated trio of polishes, with all proceeds from the $40 set benefiting her nonprofit organization, The Writers’ Colony, with the goal of supporting writers by providing stipends — strike or no strike. The collection includes Vintage Vanity, a blush hue inspired by the pink vanity of Brock Akil’s grandmother; Mocha Memories, a light brown shade that nods to the Story27 Productions founder’s motivation “to write from a place of humanity for Black characters and the precious and necessary existence of our stories;” and Cloud Cover, a white lacquer that represents “the blank canvas that told me to follow my dreams.”
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“As a writer, I am looking at my hands all day. They are the first purveyor of my voice, the most vital tool I use to bring my characters and stories to life,” the 53-year-old Girlfriends and The Game co-creator tells The Hollywood Reporter. “And it’s not just us! Most creative outlets come through our hands, leaving most artists to have an intimate relationship with their own. I wanted to create something that acknowledges the power we hold in our hands, while also allowing us to reflect on beauty and self-care rituals and let that feeling seep into our work.”
The Writers’ Colony has so far supported 20 writers “with the generous help of a robust community,” explains Brock Akil. “In a business that is so transactional, I was called to create a safe space for writers to write, belong to a community and transact only with their voice. I realized that many opportunities for burgeoning writers are rooted in transacting with the business side of the industry, often lacking the vital space for writers to first get to know their own voices as artists.
Jazmin Johnson
As a seasoned showrunner who has collaborated with a wide variety of writers, I understand that the most valuable opportunity any up-and-coming writer can have is the space to get to know their own voice. Understanding one’s specific perspective leads to a needed compass to start their career and craft compelling urgent storytelling, allowing writers to have the staying power that could shape the industry. With our continued growth, we have exciting plans to expand far beyond our current reach.”
Brock Akil and Orly connected via an introduction by creative consultant Allie Rose, who works with the screenwriter’s In the Land of Mara digital magazine (which she dubs “dézine”) and has a background in fashion retail merchandising and branding.
“I am excited about Orly because it is a family-owned, LA-based company,” continues Brock Akil. “As someone who is always on the go, I love that Orly is all three steps in one — base coat, color and top coat — it’s easy and saves time.”
Here, the veteran producer shares more about the Writers’ Colony’s work, her nail polish power color, how she finds empowerment in simple beauty rituals, her advice for writers of all levels and more. Keep reading below, and shop Brock Akil’s In the Land of Mara x Orly Color Labs collection online here.
Jazmin Johnson
How will the partnership support the Writers Colony and its work? What are your major focuses right now?
Proceeds from the Orly partnership will be given to Writers’ Colony. We are in the midst of growing our program, with a near-future goal of expanding the now invite-only model to a public one that can offer stipends based on need. Every financial contribution will be an important step in that direction. Currently, we are about to begin our fall cohort of four talented writers, who will be in residence alongside veteran Artists in Residence, Anna Malaika Tubbs, Rachel Cargle and Nakia Stephens. We are very excited about having found these talented writers and helping them cultivate the next steps in their careers.
What’s your nail polish “power color”?
Red! Absolutely my power color. Red is magnetic, sexy, full of agency. It demands attention and desire. My grandmother only wore red nails. As much as I loved it, I was somehow afraid to wear it. It wasn’t until I approached my 50s when I started to feel it was no longer serving me to keep playing small. As much as I had accomplished, people had only seen a little bit of me. It was time to show up boldly. It was in that moment that I didn’t hesitate to wear red on my nails, my lips. It was go time. There was no more hiding. Be bold. And now, I can rock with my grandmother, who is 101. Red is my constant reminder that I belong to her and her legacy. Stay tuned for a signature Mara red!
Since we’re on the topic of nail polish — what’s your definition of beauty, and how does it empower you (whether in personal or professional life, or both)?
Beauty is a non-negotiable. We’re often taught we don’t deserve nice things, or that beauty is a luxury, but I say it’s a necessity. When I was still coming up in the industry, no matter how little I had, I sought out beauty at every turn. It’s in my style, my interiors, my rest, my play, my trips to nature. It’s a value system and a way of life. I chose early on to value beauty, and to see it everywhere, which ultimately empowered me to have a vision outside of myself and to reach for my highest potential.
As you mention in one of your pieces on In The Land of Mara, you’ve cultivated quite a Hollywood playbook. For aspiring and veteran writers alike, can you explain your approach to the industry in a nutshell?
My playbook is classic. It is simply to identify what you really want, sit down somewhere and start writing. Once you complete it, ask your peers who you respect and if possible those veterans who you would love to learn from (aka mentors) and get their feedback. Take a few days to sit with what you’ve heard, perhaps at the beach, walks up canyons or with some tea at your favorite cafe and as Lorraine Hansberry said, “never be afraid to sit awhile and think.” After a few days of that plus some cooking, taking in some art and listening to music, it’s time to sit back in the chair and write.
No matter how our industry changes, or what new technology exists, it will never get done until we sit in the chair and write. Now with AI on our ass, we better reach deeper for a greater more connected human truth.
Looking ahead, what are some stories you hope to hear more about in Hollywood?
As a storyteller, I pride myself on telling the truth through fiction. As the industry — and the world — continues to shift and mold, I hope that what remains true is the value of truth in storytelling, especially centering the human condition of those who are often marginalized. And in 2023, there are still a lot of stories missing from the landscape of Black people I want to continue to tell. I want to tell stories that highlight not always the external hardships we face, but instead the complexities and challenges of our many human desires.
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