Write Your Screenplay with Jo
Jo Rochelle thrives in Los Angeles, despite her phobias of driving, Uber-ing, and public transportation. When she’s not in LA, she’s on location making films with her husband or in Jamaica getting roasted by her cheerfully blunt relatives. On her long walks, she dreams up television shows about sibling rivalries, overprotective parents, and what it means to exist in two worlds.
She wrote on multiple seasons of the series Good Trouble on Freeform/Hulu and continues to develop projects featuring complex family dynamics and characters existing in two worlds. She sold and developed a family drama pilot at Netflix.
Jo’s feature film debut, Jasmine Is A Star is now streaming on Fuse and screened at several festivals including Urbanworld and BlackStar, received an honorable mention at Dances with Films Festival, and won the Audience Award for “Best Film” at the Sidewalk Film Festival. She is currently in post-production for her second feature, which recently completed filming in Washington.
She graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in Drama.
Ask Jo Your Questions
Ready to see if she’s the right partner for you? Our next Meet the Mentors panel is coming up on March 15th. Join Jo and the other mentors for an open Q&A.
Decide if Jo's Right for You with Our Mentor Interview
What excites you most about writing?
“The power our words can have on our intended audience. When I write, I am my first audience member. I’m telling a story I’d like to see. When I revise, I think of the people I’d like to reach. Who else am I telling this story for?
Writing is like magic — creating something out of nothing. It’s magical that our stories have the power to reach people we’ll never meet, find them in their homes or on a break at work, and positively affect their lives. That ripple effect where our work can inspire and entertain others is what excites me the most.”
What mindset does a writer need to grow?
“Perseverance. Rejection is rampant and it’s really hard. Sometimes we assign meaning to those rejections and allow them to dictate whether we’re good writers or not. But I’ve learned that the act of writing and finishing a project is what success looks like.”
What three words best describe you as a mentor?
“Generous, caring, and honest. “
What makes a good writing mentor?
“Someone who gives feedback that takes you further in the direction you’re already heading. A good writing mentor is dedicated to make your unique voice shine on the page.”
What is your style of feedback?
“I’d love to know your specific goals for your work and why you’re working on this particular script. We’ll come up with a plan to get deepen your story. My feedback usually consists of what I loved, what I wanted to see more of, less of, and questions that will amplify your voice and strengthen your story. I’ll look at the structure of your script to make sure it’s telling the story to its fullest potential. I provide tools and relevant examples specific to each person and their project. “