Screenwriter/Playwright
Katherine Craft
ABOUT
Katherine Craft is a Texas native with extensive experience as a playwright and theatre maker. She recently received her MFA in Screenwriting from University of Texas at Austin, and also holds an MA in Applied Drama from Goldsmiths College at the University of London.
She received a 2017 HBOAccess Writing Fellowship, and is currently developing a pilot as part of that program. She has written and produced several short narrative films, including June, which is one of three films selected to premiere as part of the HBO Asian Pacific American Visionaries showcase at the 2018 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Another short, Charlotte and Charlie, is premiering at SXSW in the City of Austin's 2018 Faces of Austin showcase. Her one-act play DIY will be staged in April 2018 as part of the Down for #TheCount series at the Bishop Arts Theater in Dallas, Texas.
She also founded Conspire Theatre, a nonprofit that uses theatre to work with women during and after incarceration, and was a teaching artist for arts education organizations in Austin, Chicago, and London. She currently runs the hotline for the Lilith Fund, a reproductive rights organization, while splitting her time between Austin and LA.
SHORT FILMS
a short film written/produced by katherine craft
directed by huay-bing law
JUNE
June, a young Chinese woman, navigates her husband’s college graduation celebration one evening, shortly after joining him in America. To her, the culture shock is startling. Odd buildings, unfamiliar food, strange dancing and foreign faces surround her.
Based on a true experience, the film aims to explore an awkward introduction to America in the mid-20th century through the perspective of a Chinese woman, who is faced with a question without any clear answer: Where does she fit in here?
Featuring Ching Wang and Joe Lee.
World premiere in April 2018 at the HBO Asian Pacific American Visionaries showcase at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Will be available on HBO streaming platforms in May 2018.
_edited.jpg)
a short film written/produced by katherine craft
directed by artemis anastadiadou
CHARLOTTE AND CHARLIE
When a young woman faces vision loss, she struggles to say goodbye to her beloved car. Charlotte and Charlie is a short film that combines live action and animation to explore disability, grief, car culture, and how the objects we love can shape our identities.
Won "Judge's Choice" at SXSW City of Austin's Faces of Austin screening in March 2018.
Featuring Cecilia Iveth Gomez
Animation by Owen Parker
a dogme style short film written/directed by katherine craft and artemis anastasiadou
LOST AND FOUND
When a young man tries to woo his girlfriend in a corn maze, nothing goes according to plan.
Featuring Julia Bauer and Max Torrez
A short film written/directed by katherine craft
DIY
Twelve pills, two former friends, one class project. Can two girls repair their friendship in the middle of a crisis?
Featuring Hope Carew and Sydney Davis.
PLAYS
Katherine is an accomplished playwright, both as a solo writer and as part of a collaborative team. She has been the company playwright for the Austin based site-specific theatre company the Exchange Artists since 2011. She has also led the writing process for community-based theatre groups Conspire Theatre and Changing Lives Youth Theater Company.
Austin critics have called Katherine’s work, “poignant,” “an experiment of imagination,” “irresistible,” and “audience participation at its finest.”
Awards
HBO Access Writing Fellowship 2017
Second Round: Austin Film Festival 2016/2017
KLRU: Women and Girls Lead 2013
WORK EXPERIENCE
LILITH FUND
Program Coordinator, August 2012 - present
Operate and supervise a volunteer staffed hotline for people seeking financial assistance to obtain abortions. Recruit, train, and supervise a fluctuating team of 20 – 30 hotline volunteers. Deliver monthly report to Board of Directors. Create, maintain, update, and deliver all training materials and program documents. Create and implement all hotline and funding policies. Create, promote, and attend educational workshops.
CONSPIRE THEATRE
Executive Director, June 2009-December 2013
Create and implement theatre/creative writing programs for over 100 women annually during and post-incarceration. Facilitate weekly workshops at the Travis County jail. Research, write and apply for grants and funding. Create and maintain budgets, funder database, and all correspondence. Create all internal program documents and lesson plans. Organize and execute public performances for Austin audiences.
YOUTHLAUNCH
Program Specialist, August 2010 – September 2011
Manage No Kidding: Straight Talk from Teen Parents program. Recruit, hire, train and supervise a team of approximately 20 teen parents between the ages of 16 and 24 to be peer educators about teen parenting. Supervise presentations in high schools and middle schools. Plan and facilitate team meetings, create program reports.
CHANGING LIVES YOUTH THEATRE
Education Director, September 2008 – May 2009
Work for the SafePlace domestic violence shelter in partnership with Theatre Action Project to facilitate a group of young people (ages 13-18) in creating, writing and performing a play which informs audiences of issues around teen dating violence and healthy relationships. Educate this same group of young people about teen dating violence, bullying, power struggles, sexism and abuse to ensure that the end product would have an educational message. Lead both drama and writing exercises throughout the devising process, edit and proofread students’ work.
CLEAN BREAK
Drama Faciliator, April 2008 – July 2008
Facilitate drama workshops for female ex-offenders who have been through the criminal justice or mental health system. Assist with two accredited courses – assistant direct a production of DNA by Dennis Kelly for the Performance Level II course and lead exercises and games for the Intro to Drama course. Evaluate students’ performance and written work, teach formal essay writing and research skills, foster positive relationships with students, aid in conflict resolution. Recognize when students need extra help and refer them to the onsite social workers.
HALF PRICE BOOKS
Bookseller, June 2002 - Decembe 2008 (various times)
Buy books, sell books, read books, love books.
