As a part of the New Voices Interview Series, we asked our New Voices alumni to share about their writing process, their experience with mentorship, and what inspires them. Today’s interview is with New Voices Fellowship alum, Jessica Mollo.

Humanitas: What was the first script that had a profound impact on you? 

Jessica Mollo: Thelma & Louise, which is my favorite movie of all time, hit me like a lightning bolt. I immediately became obsessed with that story—the female empowerment, but also the way that Callie Khouri explored the men in the film. A less-nuanced writer may have indulged in only negative manifestations of masculinity, but we have the beautiful character of Hal, played by Harvey Keitel, who is complex and empathizes with the women and their crime spree as a powerful expression against the patriarchy.

H: If you could have dinner with any writer, dead or alive, who would it be and why? 

JM: I have a bit of a fan-girl crush on Edgar Allan Poe. He's truly a master of the macabre and I love his short stories. Also, he was just such an enigmatic human being that I would love to sit across from him and pick his brain. And then kindly escort him to an AA meeting.  

H: What kind of characters do you love to write and why?

JM: It is my belief that everyone deserves a redemption story, so I love to explore damaged characters seeking healing and hope. I also love the quote, "If you're not part of the freaks, you're part of the boredom." I tend to gravitate towards complex characters on the fringe of society with unique worldviews who are seeking an authentic identity. I also love writing about strong, empowered women. They are everywhere in the world and their stories are inspiring and their voices need to be heard more than ever. 

H: Why is it important for a writer to explore the human condition in 2022? How can writers use their art to make a difference? 

JM: I think it's fair to say that 2022 is a time of social and political unrest, domestically and abroad. It's a time of extremes, a lot of inequality and injustice coming to light in new ways, a lot of loss and suffering due to the pandemic and beyond. But there is also a movement for authenticity, vulnerability, and openness as strength, lifting up the voices of the marginalized. Art has the beautiful power to transform and catalyze movements and organizations as well as bring communities together. Because of this, it's so important to examine the human condition through these lenses—to open eyes and hearts. 

H: What are you watching right now? 

JM: I am currently watching Under the Banner of Heaven, based on the non-fiction book by Jon Krakauer, about an investigation of a brutal double homicide that occurs in a fundamentalist religious community. I love a well-written investigative thriller, and this one elevates the genre by exploring the complexity of religion alongside its slow-burn murder mystery. Also, Andrew Garfield is absolutely superb as the lead detective questioning his own faith.

H: If you could go back in time to when you wrote your first script and give younger you a piece of advice, what would it be and why? 

JM: I would tell my younger self that pre-writing is the most important part of shaping a story. Before you write "Fade In," make sure to research, brainstorm, outline, and write beat sheets and scene notecards. Without this prep, you run the risk of realizing the story has gaping holes which could deter you from ever finishing the script. Relish the research and pre-writing process. It's a creative buffet that helps inspire characters, themes, scenes, beginnings, and endings. It requires a lot of logistical thinking, but it paves the way for free flowing inspiration and lets your characters drive the story once you get deeper into writing scenes and dialogue. 

H: What impact did the New Voices fellowship have on your writing/career? 

JM: The New Voices Fellowship was absolutely pivotal in helping me crystallize my creative intentions: Prioritizing projects that shed light on important social and psychological themes and human rights issues and writing content with a purpose that can help enlighten and hopefully incite change. I truly believe that it's important for every creative individual to combine talent and purpose. The New Voices Fellowship also helped introduce me to some of the most brilliant writers and producers working today.

Jessica Mollo has been writing since she was a child and completed her first screenplay at age 13. In 2009, she graduated from USC's School of Cinematic Arts with a BFA in Writing for Screen and Television. Shortly after, she sold an original sci-fi feature script to an independent production company and adapted Kelly Thompson’s novel The Girl Who Would Be King for Legendary Entertainment. Jessica has written upwards of 30 episodes in the True Crime and Historical space for the Spotify podcast network Parcast and recently completed her first novel. Her television pilot IMMERSION, for which she was named a New Voices Fellow, focuses on a sex trafficking investigation told through four perspectives: the victim, the victim's family, the investigators, and the traffickers. Her latest feature script explores another global human rights crisis through a diverse cast of characters and multi-narrative structure. Through writing, Jessica seeks to illuminate important social and psychological themes and make a positive impact on the world around her. She continues to write while also producing several unscripted series for WarnerBros. Discovery. She currently resides in Brooklyn, NY with her Instagram official Chihuahua Sage.

Are you an emerging, unrepresented writer? Join us this summer for Industry 101, a series of free online workshops inspired by components of the New Voices Fellowship. You can sign-up to learn more by clicking here.

Submissions for this year’s New Voices Fellowship closed on May 18, 2022, but next year’s program is slated to open for submissions in early 2023.

New Voices is a four-month mentorship program for emerging television and screenwriters. The program is committed to identifying and empowering five writers each year who are currently at work on a 30- or 60-minute pilot or feature film screenplay that upholds the mission of Humanitas. 

Learn more about the Humanitas New Voices Fellowship by visiting this webpage.