Earlier this year, we announced the national expansion of our highly-anticipated fellowship for emerging writers, directors and producers.

This annual program is one of the our marquee initiatives designed to identify and activate intersectional artistry, stories and identities that are often marginalized by market and society because of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, class, disability or citizenship status.

After receiving record breaking applications from across the United States, we are excited to announce its first national cohort of artists: Adhana Reid (Chicago, IL), Shaan Dasani (Los Angeles, CA), Vee Hua (Seattle, WA) and Latasha Mercer (Brooklyn, NY).

OTV is deeply grateful to all of the artists that applied for this opportunity and Adia Ivey (2021 OTV Fellow), Lena Elmeligy (2021 OTV Fellow), Terrence Thompson (2020 OTV Fellow), Grace Tran (2020 OTV Fellow), Karan Sunil (2019 OTV Fellow & OTV Integrity Board Member), Kyra Jones (OTV Integrity Board Member) and the entire OTV Leadership Team that served as this year’s juror. Keep up with their careers and projects via OTV’s website www.weareo.tv and across the award-winning platforms social media channel: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

MEET THE FELLOWS

SHAAN DASANI

*“AGENT OF CHANGE: Project Polymer”*

Shaan Dasani is an actor, writer, producer & director based in Los Angeles. He was recently featured as a trailblazer in the NEW YORK TIMES piece “The Trans Actors Challenging Outmoded Ideas of Masculinity,” for his work in award-winning digital series THESE THEMS (dir. Jett Garrison) and EMMY nominated comedy series RAZOR TONGUE. Recognized as a champion of social change, the BONOBOS brand picked Shaan as a representative for their #EvolveTheDefinition campaign, created to broaden ideas around masculinity. Other acting work includes the prestigious ABC Discovers South Asian actor workshop, two-time performances at the YOUNG PLAYWRIGHT'S FESTIVAL and HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FEST, and Harper Collins' audiobooks ALL KINDS OF OTHER and ACT COOL. Prior to launching into the acting world, Shaan received his M.F.A. from Chapman University. He has written, produced & directed over 30 short films, commercials and music videos. He is a proud member of the D.G.A and SAG-AFTRA.

AGENT OF CHANGE: Project Polymer is a spy-genre short film featuring transgender actors of color in one of the most popular cinema genres in the world. Agents Evelyn Quinn and Guy Longani are on a mission to expose a network of dirty politicians involved in an illegal plastic dumping scheme spearheaded by Ian Dick, a plastic-lovin' businessman who only cares about making money. But teamwork doesn't come easy to these two, with the more experienced Quinn frustrated by having to work with a newbie agent, and perhaps even more annoyed that she finds him charming. Can these two get it together and find the secret thumb drive they're looking for, or will Ian Dick catch them in the act and continue his reign as the "duke" of dirty plastic?

Adhana Reid is an actor, writer, singer, and dancer based in Chicago. Living out her praxis of an ‘occupation with joy,’ she fills her life through DJing curated spaces to amplify Black joy, and rollerskating as meditation. This burgeoning screenwriter focuses her storytelling efforts around art that uplifts and empowers Black lesbian and queer joy. Originally hailing from Maryland, she received both her bachelor’s in Theatre and her Masters in Marketing from Northwestern University. After finding a new home in the flourishing artistic community Chicago had to offer, she went on to perform in various local theatres. Chicago credits include: MICHAEL JACKSON & THE DEVIL’S BOOK (Jackalope Theatre); SCHOOL GIRLS: OR THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY(Goodman Theatre); The MLK Project (Writers Theatre); SHEEPDOG (Shattered Globe); A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE COLOR PURPLE (Drury Lane Theatre); LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Mercury Theatre); ECLIPSED (Pegasus Theatre); BIG RIVER (Theatre at the Center); & SPRING AWAKENING (Marriott Theatre). You can follow her journey on social media @uhh_dah_nuh or adhanareid.com

GLO: Jade, a shy, out-lesbian high-schooler, falls into rollerskating as she struggles to garner the attention of Parkwood High’s most eligible queer, Glo.

Vee Hua 華婷婷 (they/she) is a writer, filmmaker, and organizer with semi-nomadic tendencies. Much of their work unifies their metaphysical interests with their belief that art can positively transform the self and society. They are the Editor-in-Chief of REDEFINE, Interim Managing Editor of South Seattle Emerald, and Co-Chair of the Seattle Arts Commission. They also previously served as the Executive Director of the interdisciplinary community hub, Northwest Film Forum, where they played a key role in making the space more welcoming and accessible for diverse audiences. Their latest short film, Reckless Spirits, is a metaphysical, multilingual POC buddy comedy, and will be released in late 2022. Follow them at @hellomynameisvee or over at veehua.com

Reckless Spirits is a hyperreal buddy comedy featuring two best friends—Yvette, a neurotic Korean-American therapist, and Syd, a gender-fluid Puerto Rican performance artist—who are led by a series of supernatural events into an uncanny new world of psychics, spirits, and a cult leader that’s threatening to tear their friendship apart.

**LATASHA MERCER**

“JustLatasha’s Inner Actions”

"JustLatasha", has been in Media / Entertainment for several years, beginning with her celebrity interview platform which put her in conversation with Pharrell, Anna Sui, DJ Khaled and more. She then expanded into YouTube, right before launching her first series, Sit Black & Relax. She shared two seasons of this awarded project with her 20,000+ subscribers, as well as distributed the series on the Amazon Prime platform. Though Latasha was the Lead Comedy Writer for a celebrity news podcast, Quarantine Nightly, her writing style includes psychological character inspection, with the examination of human form in various dramatic styles. She loves to curate projects that explore family relationships and self discovery journeys through major emotional breakthroughs. Latasha is a staple panelist on The Grapevine TV, and has been featured on Entertainment Tonight, Dark & Lovely, BET, AFROPUNK, Blavity, and several podcasts on The Loud Speakers Network. She currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, and hosts a weekly film analysis live show. Latasha continues to host, write & produce, with her sketch comedy series JustLatasha's Inner Actions on the horizon. The series successfully crowdfunded in 2020, and was noted as Most Anticipated series by Seed & Spark.

JustLatasha’s Inner Actions: JustLatasha plays "Latasha", "Latasha", "Latasha", "Latasha", and "Latasha" in this sketch comedy series from a Black Bi woman's sense.

JustLatasha has always represented Black cultural observation in her work. Each episode tackles a different social issue, padded with comedy in sharp and witty five to ten minute episodes. Some conversations include: dating, sexual assault, LGBTQ+ and more. No "Latasha" is related to the next in this comedic series.

now presenting: our 2022 #otvfellows

MEET THE FELLOWS