The FUCK IT DRAFT

There are moments in your life when you have to step back and ask whether what you’re experiencing is truly real. Such is the case with Craig T. Williams. Over the years, he has invested so many hours into my work that it feels like he’s read more drafts of my scripts than I’ve written.

Under Craig’s guidance, my projects have premiered at Tribeca, won Best Web Series at the ABFF, become finalists for the SFFILM Rainin Screenplay Fellowship, and received a grant from the Sundance Institute. What fuels Craig’s success as both a writer and a mentor is his deep understanding that great stories don’t stem from formulas, rules, or dogma, they’re forged through an alchemy of confidence, craft, and commitment.

His notes reflect not only his exceptional ability to listen, but also his rare talent for seeing where your story can go if you build your discipline, trust your voice, and as Craig always reminds you, “stand in your power.”

Randy Dottin - Writer/Director
Chair of the Film Arts Department
New York Film Academy

Craig's mentorship is a deeply engaging, hands-on writing lab where I refined my first pages for clarity and propulsion through his thoughtful feedback, peer collaboration, and real-world industry insight - while also honing my personal introductions for any room I might find myself in.

Catherine Cobb Ryan
Actor/Director/Producer
Owner of Moon Hill Pictures

Craig has been a career-long source of inspiration, support, and creative clarity. Since we began working directly together six years ago, I haven’t created a single piece he hasn’t looked over. I trust his instincts completely. He understands my voice and never tries to change it—he amplifies it. At the end of the day, Craig wants one thing: for you to tell a truly great story.

Eunice Levis
Writer/Director
Winner of NALIP, Tribeca, Netflix Fellowships

I went to Craig for script notes because I trusted his cultural sensitivity and maturity—and he absolutely delivered. My story deals with adult, potentially triggering material, and Craig approached it with professionalism and respect. His insights were thoughtful, his suggestions organic, and he never undermined my creative instincts. It was a supportive session. Thanks, Craig!

Kenyetta Smith - Writer/Director
NBCU TV Writers Program, Mara Brock Akil, Story27 Writers' Colony

I highly recommend Craig as a screenwriting coach. He is really supportive and great to work with. He offers a lot of guidance and tips on developing your story, is honest with you about what works and what doesn’t. I definitely credit my weekly meetings with Craig as part of the reason for my success with my first feature screenplay!

Jennica Carmona - Writer/Director
"Milly and the Lords" on HBO Latino

“Having Craig as a writing teacher is one of the best choices I’ve ever made. He helped alleviate my fear of the blank page with his encouragement, laughter, and concrete tools. He does what truly great mentors do - to see right past your jittery feelings, get to the core of where you excel, and brings that to the forefront. He dives in with full commitment to your potential, and through draft after draft, supports the best version of your work.”

Toni Robison-May - Writer/Director/Actor
- AFI Screenwriting MFA

Craig played a vital role in the development of Young N’ Reckless. He stepped in when we thought our script was perfect. He challenged every idea we had. He convinced me to cut my favorite scenes. These were blessings because when I go back and read old drafts, I can tell I was a new writer. Craig helped us take our project from script to the screen and, most importantly, gave two actors the confidence to call themselves writers.

William Alexander Runnels - Writer/Director
Young and Reckless - Web Series

Recently, I was asked by a Network to present a script after I had pitched my idea to them. Craig gave me feedback that made sense! He helped me think through the structure of the script, the NEED of the character, and even corrected some of my formatting...He proposed solutions that fixed a couple of the problems that my script had. This is a testimonial, but it’s also my ALERT call...If you don’t know what the big deal about CRAIG is, now you know! Red Wall productions is an excellent resource for your entertainment needs. Thanks again Craig. From the bottom of my heart.

Squeaky Moore (Producer, Writer, Director)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Craig T. Williams for an AMAZING script consult this weekend. Screenwriters: if you’re looking for honest, straightforward, thoughtful notes from someone who wants to enable you make your script better, Craig is your man. He takes the time to read and understand your script/story/characters, asks questions AND will give you clear notes (in the form of a meaningful conversation) that you can actually use to solve script problems. Besides being an excellent script consultant, Craig is a helluva writer, a good communicator, a grown-ass man and a smart, funny, perceptive person with a positive heart. Check. Him. Out. #notagame

Celia Peters, Sci-fy/Afroturism - Writer/Director

Craig is one of the MOST talented screenwriters I have come across.  His work is thoughtful, nuanced, and tear jerking, hilarious!  There has not been a script he has written where I have not laughed out loud (literally), despite its content.  

Dr. Katherine Marshall-Woods
PsychMinded Media
Media Psychologist & Film Consultant

It has truly been a highlight of my writing journey to take part in Craig’s mentorship program. It came at exactly the time I needed it and gave me a huge boost of confidence, not only through the techniques I learned, but also through a powerful shift in my mindset.

Craig taught us the industry standards while also emphasizing when to throw them out and trust our inner voice. While past mentorships I’ve experienced were typically one-on-one, being mentored by Craig in a small group created a real sense of community. It allowed me to learn from my peers and reminded me that I’m not alone in the many feelings that come and go on the path to becoming a professional writer.

Because the program was held via Zoom and was mindful of my current financial situation, it felt genuinely accessible and added to my life rather than becoming another obligation in an already busy schedule. What I loved most, though, was that it’s clear Craig truly cares about giving back and breaking down barriers created by industry gatekeepers. That alone made the dream of becoming a professional screenwriter feel far more possible.

I’m immensely grateful to have been part of this program, especially during such an unpredictable time in the industry, and I’ve already been referring my friends so as not to gatekeep myself! :))

-Daryl Bright Clay

I've been screenwriting for some time, but I had felt stuck about how to move forward.  Then I signed up for Craig T. Williams's mentorship program. It was the game-changer I didn't know I needed. Craig is all about lifting you up, helping you to step into your brilliance, and unequivocally reflecting back the value you and your storytelling have in the world. His integrity, wit, devotion, contagious energy, generosity of spirit, and genuine desire for all of his mentees to succeed gave me not only the boost I needed, but also the information necessary to start carving a path forward. I can't speak highly enough about my experience of and gratitude for Craig and his mentorship screenwriting program

- Elizabeth Aaron

I do want to say THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for your patience and guidance these last couple of months. I am so much further along in finding my voice and I never would've gotten here without your help. I didn't even know what it meant to have a voice before joining this group. This has quite literally changed my life and I am so grateful for your generosity of time and effort into our individual stories. 

-Tilesha Brown

Craig is for real-real, meaning he tells us writers and artists the truth AND does it in ways we can relate to, understand, take in and USE! No matter what the challenge or block is - he breaks it down so we can process the issue to get our own collaborative “a-ha” with him. Then he always follows that wowsa moment with an actionable item that is not only doable but inspiring and expansive. Yet, even beyond all this wisdom that he serves up to me as a writer, what I love most about Craig is that he cares with all his heart. He cares about the process, the craft, the industry and through his mentorship, I feel more powerful than I ever have before. 

-Marc Santa Maria

Craig has a great eye and ear and an uncanny ability to get to the heart of your story. After a rut of not writing for a couple years, his class got me writing and dreaming again. Craig’s generosity of spirit and keen eye for story translate into useful notes and questions that have guided the early stages of my writing as well as my subsequent rewrites. His feedback has been invaluable. I’m so thankful for Craig’s mentorship and the community he builds. I highly recommend anything Craig does, because it’s always on point. Sign up!!

-Monique Hazeur

Not only is Craig an amazing writer, but he’s also an amazing mentor. I joined his mentorship program because I needed guidance. I needed someone to help me turn my ideas into actual words on the page. His tips, tools, and decades of experience did exactly that for me. I’m already planning to join again in 2026.
If you’re stuck in a writing slump like I was and want straightforward, no-BS feedback and sincere guidance, Craig is absolutely the mentor to go with. 

-Jeremy Patterson

I just applied for a short film grant. Part of the application was pitching myself and I am very thankful that this mentorship has included that. Mine still isn't perfect, but I was able to pitch both myself and my project within their given 3-min time limit, so again, thank you for all of your help! 

This mentorship has been THE most helpful, motivating, and supportive thing that I've done since gaining my MFA! I greatly appreciate you and this program!

-EJ Baptiste

"The tough love knowledge I got from Craig T. Williams workshop basically shaved 5 years from my writing journey. With laser precision, he carves out the specificity of your voice while he tosses your bad habits to the side. It's a game changer."

-Hollie Harper

Craig stripped me of my inhibitions — and when I let go of them, I became a writer. He doesn't just teach you the rules — he shows you how to use them, when to use them, and then how to break them. He created a space where, as a Black woman, I could just be. That meant more to me than any degree or award I've ever received.

-Lefifia Lewis

Craig's Writing Mentorship program will help you cut through the noise and peel back all of the layers to discover WHY you do what you do and HOW to do it better! I had a major breakthrough moment crafting my personal pitch. Craig helped me strike the right balance between my lived experiences and better understanding how that informs my writing and why I am the best person to tell the stories I tell.

-VC Rhone

If you think learning this craft can be done with books, more power to you.  If you want the real real about what to focus on in your scenes, about what it takes to find a place in this industry that your soul can live with, then check out Craig.  He's doing it, and he will help you do it too.

-Deborah Unger