Mike Gauyo Aims to Amplify Black Voices in Hollywood

Writer Mike Gauyo, who is best known for working on Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia and the Emmy-winning Insecure, has once again partnered with Stage 32 and recently unveiled the new round of mentees for the Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative.

Taking pride in being a Black, queer, Haitian writer, Gauyo is dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices, particularly those behind the camera, across the entertainment industry.

“This year, we have 14 in the class,” he says. “Initially, I was only looking to induct 12 into the program, but 829 writers applied. It was so hard boiling it down, but we chose this fantastic group of 14 talented writers, and we’re really looking forward to helping them throughout the year.”

Hailing from New York, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, and the United Kingdom, the mentees were ready to hit the ground running.

Founded last year by Gauyo and co-ran by his Chief of Programming, Ashely Aronson, the Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative is a year-long program that provides a sustainable pathway for Black writers to build their careers in Hollywood and addresses an ever-pressing need for the industry to improve the narratives around people of color.

POC narratives were underscored in the recent:

• UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report 2022 stating, “women and people of color are still vastly underrepresented.”
• NAACP ‘The Black Executive’ Report, which found the “absence of Black control of media” is “harming the African American community”
• Writers Guild of America West Inclusion Report, stating only 18% of screen credits went to minorities for the 2020-2021 TV season.

“I feel like there are so many people that helped me along the way in my career, and if it wasn’t for them, I would not be where I am,” Gauyo says. “I only felt it right to be able to create that kind of pathway for other writers coming up. Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes isn’t just about the creative aspect. It’s about allowing Black writers to exist and allowing them to be able to take up space. It’s almost like a political stance. We are giving them the space to create and giving them the freedom to do so.”

According to Gauyo, the inaugural round was received extremely well by its participants. This year’s program includes pitch sessions with industry experts, monthly writer roundtables, and workshops to prepare mentees for fellowships, representation, and staffing opportunities.

Will there be a third round?

“Absolutely,” Gauyo exclaims. “I’m really wanting the program to be like a permanent foothold in the industry, something that will last for a very long time. I’m already thinking about the application process for next year and how we want to do that, and I’m hoping to create a village with these mentees so they can continue to thrive and support each other. That’s the goal.”

Gauyo initially entered the entertainment industry as a production assistant before pivoting and building his career as a writer, but Hollywood was not always the dream. He grew up thinking he was going to be a doctor.

“That was kind of drilled into my head by my parents,” he explains. “You’re going to go to med school; you’re going to be a doctor. When I got to college for pre-med, organic chemistry and I just did not see eye to eye. I quickly discovered that maybe this is not for me. I grew up writing and enjoyed it, but I never thought of a pathway towards that. Individuals who crave to be creative but find themselves in a regular nine-to-five or find themselves transitioning into their second act in life—Those are the people that I respond to the most because that was me.

“I really had to pivot in college, and then pivot again after college because I had gone into the world of finance. When that didn’t work out, and the economy crashed, I was like, ‘What’s next?’ What do I want to do? I always loved writing, but I never knew how to get there. So, it was about finding my own path and how to get there.”

After Gauyo found the access and gained the knowledge, he wanted to help others forge the same kind of path for themselves.

In addition to the Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative, Gauyo is currently co-creating and showrunning a new series entitled Send Help, which is set to premier on AMC’s ALLBLK network this summer. He is also working on a couple features and developing another pilot.

Stay up-to-date and connect with Gauyo by following him on Instagram @b.l.a.c.k.b.o.y.w.r.i.t.e.s and Twitter @blackboywrites. Learn more about the Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative at blackboywrites.com.

Photos courtesy of Anthony Bryce @TheBryceStudios