June’s Script of the Month as selected by the WGC Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee, is The Family Value—an original comedy feature written by Qaseem Fazal. Qaseem is a Muslim, gay, comedy writer. He was one of the ISA’s Top 25 screenwriters to watch in 2022. He recently finished working as a junior story editor on the second season of Family Law (Global TV/The CW) in Vancouver, BC. Qaseem is also a graduate of the Netflix-funded Pacific Screenwriting Program and The Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada: Mid-Level Writers Room. His queer coming-of-age comedy series titled What’s Normal Anyway? is currently in development with Amaze Film + Television.
“[The Family Value] is original, has great characters, and I just couldn't put the script down until I read the whole thing,” says WGC member Robb Wells who worked with Qaseem to polish the script. “It had me laughing from start to finish. It's unique and very current. It's one of those scripts that just has to get made and I honestly can't wait to see the film when it's finished."
“I'm incredibly excited that my feature film comedy, The Family Value, has been selected as June's script of the month. As a gay Muslim, navigating through the world can be challenging, so I wanted to write about the tough realities of being gay and facing arranged marriages within the Muslim community while making it funny. The film also celebrates my roots and honors my parents' heritage because it's a big part of who I am. Ultimately, The Family Value is a personal story that will make you laugh. My ultimate goal is to find a producing partner who shares my vision for the film. Additionally, being considered for a writers' room opportunity would be a fantastic bonus. Thank you so much for taking the time to read it.”
Congratulations, Qaseem!
