PLAYWRIGHT & SCREENWRITER

JUSTIN NEAL is a dramatic writer of offbeat narratives that weave comedy with high-stakes drama, creating uplifting tales of personal transformation. He grew up picking berries on the small farm his Skwxwú7mesh úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) grandmother, Dorothy Nahanee, and Filipino grandfather, Thomas Almojuela, secured after years of laboring in the fields on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Known by family in Eslhá7an (North Vancouver, BC) as Dot, she migrated to Bainbridge in 1942 with her grandmother, Agnes Moses Joe, to work on the berry fields. There, she met Thomas and had five kids: Thomas, Colleen (Justin’s mother), Ed, Ben and Denise.

Justin juggled day jobs and amateur theatre in San Francisco and New York until he moved to his family’s ancestral homeland to earn a joint MFA in Creative Writing and Theatre from the University of British Columbia in 2015. His play So Damn Proud premiered in Vancouver in 2021. His feature The Skins Game received Telefilm script development funding in 2021. Justin’s original series for television, Boundary Bay, and his feature, The Traveller, have received development funding through the Indigenous Screen Office and Creative BC. The latter script was first drafted as a stage play through Arts Club Theatre Company’s Emerging Playwrights Unit. His series project, Hole in the Donut, a 2023 Creative BC Rogers Indigenous Film Fund recipient, was a 2020 WeScreenplay (LA) TV Writing Competition Finalist.

Justin is an alumnus of the Norman Jewison Film Program Writers’ Lab at the Canadian Film Centre (‘22), and is a 2024-2025 resident Jack and Doris Shadbolt Fellow in the Humanities at Simon Fraser University. He is represented by literary agent Anna Archer of Lucas Talent Inc. 604 685 0345 x230

PROJECTS

The Traveller

stageplay & FEATURE SCREENPLAY

LOGLINE

A First Nations man escapes to Australia only to find himself on the run with an Aboriginal bartender fleeing from her former partners in crime.

• Development draft presented as an actor live reading during residency at the Canadian Film Centre, Dec 2022.

• Recipient of 2022 Indigenous Screen Office and Creative BC development funding

• Stageplay draft created as part of 2020 Arts Club Emerging Playwrights Unit

  👈🏼 CFC PROOF OF CONCEPT SHORT (2022)

Hole in the Donut

ONE-HOUR drama series

LOGLINE

This hour-long dramedy—a comedic twist on the all-too-often somber addiction narrative—follows two hipster-New Yorker alcoholics as they crash-land into AA and into the arms of a famous actor, who’s secretly shooting up again.

“This is a really strong pilot that tackles some difficult and important topics head on and does such a great job. The dialogue and character work are incredibly effective and sharp. Not only does every main character have his or her own distinct voice, but so does just about every character who exists in this world you're creating. I love these little moments of humor that get to pop up because of that.”

—Excerpt from WeScreenplay reviewer

• 2024 ScreenCraft Drama Competition (still in competition as of Oct 16 2024).

• 2020 WeScreenplay TV Contest, Finalist.

• PAGE Awards competition, second round.

Phenom

ONE-HOUR drama series

LOGLINE

An hourlong television sports-drama that follows a female pitcher who cracks the male varsity baseball team, and allies with two players who come out as lovers, challenging the status quo of their team and conservative town.

• Workshopped with fellow screenwriters from Stowe Story Lab

• UBC Players Club commission for University of British Columbia's 100th Anniversary.

• Created for and dedicated to the Musqueam Nation where UBC exists.

speculative scripts
written for PROGRAMS & competitions
available upon request

E D U C A T I O N

Master of Fine Arts
University of British Columbia
Joint MFA Creative Writing & Theatre

MFA AWARDS
Cordula and Gunter Paetzold Fellowship
Aboriginal Graduate Fellowship
Faculty of Arts Graduate Award 

Bachelor of Arts
Fairhaven College | Western Washington University
Cultural Diversity and the Dramatic Arts

RECENT PROGRAMS 

• 2024-25 Simon Fraser University, Jack and Doris Shadbolt Fellow in the Humanities 

• 2022 Canadian Film Centre, Norman Jewison Film Program, Writers’ Lab 

• 2019, 2022, 2023 BANFF Netflix Diversity of Voices 

• 2022 BANFF Media Fest., Indigenous Screen Summit

• 2020 Arts Club Theatre Emerging Playwrights’ Unit 

RECENT RESIDENCIES 

• 2024 Bloedel Reserve Creative Residency (WA, USA)

• 2021, 2023 Coppermoss Residency (BC)

• 2021 Indigenous Playwrights Nest, Banff Centre (AB)

• 2018 The Sointula Art Shed (BC) 

• 2017 Stowe Story Lab (VT, USA) 

• 2017 BigCI (NSW, AUS) 

PEER ASSESSOR

• 2024 First Peoples Cultural Council

• 2023, 2024 BC Arts Council

• 2023 Canada Council for the Arts

• 2022 City of Vancouver, Cultural Arts Grants

FREELANCE SCREENWRITER 

• Writer: The Cowichan Sweater, 2024. Docuseries created by Mary Galloway. A Knitted Legacy Films Inc.

• Co-Writer: Degrees of Separation, 2023. Webseries in development. Created by Eva Grant. Fae Pictures.

• Other Writing Assignments: low budget projects for feature, docudrama, series, and story editing; more info available upon request.

NON-DRAMATIC WRITING WORK HISTORY

FREELANCE WORK  |  2016-ONGOING

• ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, FOUNDER, HOLY CROW ARTS, VANCOUVER, BC, 2020-PRESENT

• PROD/MKTG, ABORIGINAL WRITERS COLLECTIVE WEST [CONTRACT, VANCOUVER]

• ADVISORY COUNCIL & ANCILLARY MKTG, ALLEY THEATRE | 2019, 2021 [CONTRACT, VANCOUVER]

• MKTG PROJECT MANAGER, KAISER PERMANENTE | 2016 – 2017 [CONTRACT, LOS ANGELES]

• MARKET RESEARCH, HOUSING RIGHTS CENTER | 2016 [CONTRACT, LOS ANGELES]

• AMERICAN INDIAN DANCE THEATER (LA) | 2015 [VOLUNTEER, LOS ANGELES]

DOUGLAS COLLEGE
Interim Managing Editor, EVENT MAGAZINE | Oct 2018 – Nov 2019 [1-yr leave replacement] 
Part-time. Performs editorial and all financial and administrative functions related to the production of EVENT. Inputs all materials accepted for publication and determines appropriate layout and format. Performs a number of administrative and clerical functions related to the production, promotion, distribution and administration of the magazine; ensures the distribution of EVENT; monitors the budget.

Bachelor of Performing Arts Special Appointee | May 2018 – April 2019 [CONTRACT]
Provides leadership to the Bachelor of Performing Arts program: Facilitating its operation, planning and development; representing the program, its faculty members and students as required, including on committees and via correspondence. Liaising to ensure the smooth functioning of the program with other disciplines within the faculty at both Douglas College and Capilano University. New Westminster, BC

NATIVE EDUCATION COLLEGE  |  Part-time Marketing Specialist  |  February 2015—January 2016
Lead marketing activities and organizational work including creative direction, print production management, website redesign management, graphic design, marketing strategy, social media, copywriting, budget management, and partnership development. Vancouver, BC

UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Producer  |  Brave New Play Rites  |  September 2013—May 2015
Execute and manage promotional and producing duties of the annual theatre festival; design work, creative direction, general oversight, scheduling, and production of collateral, signage, advertising, digital marketing and all social media management. Work in collaboration with professors, writers, directors, and actors. Strategize outreach and establish partnerships with arts organizations, identifying and executing cross marketing opportunities and programs with other Vancouver theatre arts organizations. Manage content on the organization’s web site; oversee campus-wide distribution of materials. //
Teaching Assistant  |  UBC Creative Writing  |  September 2013—December 2014
All teaching assistant duties for 200-level undergraduate creative writing courses in comedy writing and new media. Student liaison; handling sensitive issues, making independent decisions on scoring, grading, and feedback. Also, lecture preparation and presentation, and assisting professor with a range of responsibilities. Vancouver, BC

ACLU OF WASHINGTON  |  Publications Manager  |  July 2012—June 2013
Produce all brand identity pieces related to the non-profit organization, including all design, production, vendor management, and scheduling of quarterly membership publication. Execute design work, scheduling, and digital & print production of numerous publications, print collateral, signage, advertising, and online projects. Work alongside communication director, development director, and marketing manager to set strategic marketing goals and execute plans. Create and maintain brand guidelines. Create and design related projects including ad work for statewide referendums (I-502 and R74) and co-partnerships with other organizations. Seattle, WA

THE KITCHEN  |  Marketing Director  |  May 2010—April 2012
Produce marketing activities related to the non-profit arts institution. Design work, creative direction, general oversight, scheduling, and production of seasonal brochures, collateral, signage, advertising, digital marketing and all social media management. Work in close collaboration with the executive director, staff curators, media department, press consultants, and liase with artists for promotion of their shows across many artistic disciplines. Establish partnerships with arts organizations city-wide, identifying and executing cross marketing opportunities. Oversee all content on the organization’s web site and partner sites; oversee city-wide distribution of materials. New York, NY

SUNDANCE TV  |  Manager, Brand Marketing  |  May 2007—May 2010
Produce all marketing campaigns for print, out-of-home, and digital media. Closely develop creative with department leads, directors, agencies, and designers. Create, execute and deliver concepts, quotes, specifications and schedules for design work in-house and with creative agencies. Produce brand projects for internal clients including consumer and affiliate marketing, branded entertainment, and publicity. Lead company contact with all prepress, print and manufacturing vendors. Distribute, approve and manage all brand usage externally, including channel’s redesign. Sustainable expertise and research in paper buying; member and creative lead in parent company’s (AMC Networks’) green committee. New York, NY

BRAVO TELEVISION (NBC UNIVERSAL)  |  Print Production Manager  |  April 2006—May 2007
Produce marketing campaigns for print, out-of-home, digital, and new media. Project manage all work within the creative department, working closely with art director, marketing directors, and designers. Create and manage concepts, quotes, specifications, and schedule for all design work in-house and with creative agencies. Lead buyer and point of contact with all prepress, print and manufacturing vendors. Circulate all creative work through senior management and within consumer marketing, publicity, new media, and ad sales. New York, NY

VANITY FAIR MAGAZINE  |  Production, Editorial—Permanent Freelance  |  July 2005—April 2006
Input all editorial corrections from copy, research and editor. Conduct editorial queries. Output and route proofs through all editorial stages. Input and typeset final story and feature copy appearing in magazine. Release final art files and supply artwork instructions to prepress. New York, NY

MOTHER JONES MAGAZINE  |  Production Manager  |  September 2003—August 2005
Manage all editorial and ad files, trafficking through prepress to final product: QC artwork and ads, insure they meet quality standards and revise as needed. Work closely with managing editor and design director through every stage of magazine production. Traffic all final proofs through appropriate departments. Attend press checks for final signoff in the printing of every issue. Manage all vendor relations including financial negotiation and reconciliation. Other major responsibilities: magazine inventory management; post-consumer recycled paper expertise, create and execute annual print schedule; design and produce collateral for publicity, development, administration, advertising and marketing. San Francisco, CA

WORKING ASSETS / CREDO MOBILE  |  Production Manager, Marketing  |  May 2000—March 2003
Select print, paper, and mail vendors nationwide. Create timelines for all assigned work and manage from initial concept and copywriting stages to the finished piece. All financial reconciliation, management of mail data, and creation of print specifications for hundreds of projects. Create and maintain national vendor database. Sustainable paper and material research and purchasing. San Francisco, CA

SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ ORGANIZATION  |  Marketing Associate  |  May 1999—May 2000
Traffic graphic files and produce all SFJAZZ print material including ads, brochures, program books, outdoor displays, and signage in close collaboration with designers. Execute the organization’s festival ad campaign, design support for other departments. Create and maintain festival material archive. Coordinate distribution of all local promotional material, and hire freelance designers. (SFJAZZ Store Manager, May 1998–May 1999.) San Francisco, CA

E D U C A T I O N

M.F.A. University of British Columbia — Joint Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing & Theatre (September 2015)
B.A. Western Washington University, Fairhaven — Cultural Diversity and the Dramatic Arts