VANITY AFRO: Q&A with Producer and Entrepreneur Natalie Edward-Yesufu

Natalie Edward-Yesufu is a multi-award winning creative entrepreneur and actor who has recently won Woman of the Year at the prestigious City of Birmingham Business Awards for her endeavors with her film and event production company Transition Stage Company, alongside her writing initiatives and galas “Enter.Stage.Write” and “Amplified”.

She is on a mission to create uplifting stories from regional cities and amplify diverse voices while bringing people together from all backgrounds to celebrate the intrinsic value of all forms of visual arts.

1. Hey Natalie, how are you? Amplified is an excellent idea because it is time to change the narrative for Black, Asian, and Minority writers!

Throughout 2020, with the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, if I wanted to see myself represented on screen all I would see is 'Black Trauma'. It was not pleasant. All stories of adversity need and deserve to be told - but where is the comedy? Where is the light? Why do all diverse stories have to have “trauma” as a minority at the center of the story? I thought black and brown British comedy needed a reboot; so, I pulled my sleeves up and decided to do something about it. That’s how Amplified was born.

2. How will winning the competition help the writer with their career?

Writers who submit scripts to Amplified get feedback on all their work and have it placed into a database. That way, even if they do not win or get to the finals, they have an opportunity to have their writing passed onto producers or production companies. The writer always owns the rights to their I.P. Furthermore, the finalists get to meet and greet with Sara Asante, commissioning editor of UKTV, alongside various other industry people from the world of T.V. and stage. There is a £1000 prize, sponsored by Final Draft software, for the Grand Champion who is chosen by our panel of industry professional judges. Additionally, the Grand Champion and Audience award winners are given mentorship from Transition Stage Company, and we also aid them in their press and social media marketing for two months.

3. Can writers enter more than one script in the competition?

The Writers can submit as many scripts as they like as long as they follow the rules. It is extremely important you read the terms and conditions and the marking scheme on the Transition Stage Company website. So many writers freely send their writing I.P. without researching the rules and/or reading the contract.

4. Will writers get feedback about their entry?

All writers get feedback on their script, although not in-depth; however, there is an option to upgrade and pay for a session with our in-house script editor and coach.

5. What does it take to write humorously?

Speaking from the role of a producer and not a writer, I can say that you're either funny or not. Some people are just naturally funny, and the best comedians are the ones who can write well and translate this through different characters, story structure and most importantly good conversational dialogue. There is a massive demand for comedy. So, to all comedians, we would strongly advise you to learn how to write for the stage and screen.

6. What type of stories excite you?

I like dark humour and I especially love scripts that tackle sensitive topics through comedy. I am not a fan of movies or TV series that explore and focus on black trauma, however, Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ tackled liberal racism superbly and tactfully. I even watched it three times in the cinema! It was a masterpiece. I also love 'Dreaming Whilst Black', a BBC TV show written by Adjani Salmon, and Michela Coel's 'Chewing Gum'. With Amplified, we are trying to unearth these black and brown comedic voices in Britain.

7. Name a comedy stage that has inspired you, and why?

Oh, it's been a while since I watched a comedy play! But I started in Moira Buffini’s “Silence”. I love her style of writing - dark comedy covering layers of witty themes.

8. Who really makes you laugh?

Do you know who makes me actually cry with laughter? Mo Mulligan, specifically when he does that football hooligan skit and tells Julie to get her tits out and shouts **oodclot. It is so relatable because we have all encountered a chap like that growing in the U.K in the 90s.

Also, Dave Chapelle - he is a genius. No introduction or explanation is needed as to why he consistently tops the list of who makes you 'really laugh'!

9. What are your favourite holiday destinations?

I cannot choose, I love too many places! I travel a lot and have lived in many countries, so it's never felt like I have holidays. I love Paris and New York, but my favourite holiday destination at the moment is Greece.

10. What are your favourite books?

I am a personal development geek! I read 1-2 books a week. But my favourite book at the moment is “Routine Machine” by John Lamerton. His motto is: “Ordinary people + everyday habits = extraordinary results”. Lamerton’s view on habits perfectly fits with my thesis on success; keep moving forward.

I am currently reading 'The Ride of a Lifetime' by Robert Iger, former CEO of The Walt Disney Company.