Two stunningly powerful pieces about racialized police violence set the stage for this episode with DeLane McDuffie & Steve Harper. Moderated by Lower Depth Theatre Founding Member & Artistic Associate, Veralyn Jones. This month:

• Screenwriter & playwright DeLane McDuffie and TV writer & playwright Steve Harper read from two pieces that both examine racial violence.
• DeLane delves into his interest in poetry and history, and how he combined those two passions to write his poem, “Run On”.
• Steve talks about how “What I Know” came from a play that explores contrasting perspectives on racial violence.
• Both writers chat about their favorite genres to write in.
• Steve discuss truisms & mission statements in real people translate into
• Steve compares his writing process to eating.
• DeLane explains how writing can be a catharsis and allow you to say what you need to say.
• DeLane expresses the simultaneous discomfort and excitement he feels when he doesn’t know what is coming next in the story.
• Steve & DeLane share where they will find motivation when coming out of the pandemic.
• The writers bond over dealing with characters that just stubbornly refuse to go where they want them to go.
• Both writers give advice for upcoming writers.

Pieces read:

• Run On, poem by DeLane McDuffie
• • Inspired by the string of police shootings and murders of black people in the spring of 2015.
• Monologue from “What I Know” by Steve Harper
• • One half of a play called Black Lives / Blue Lives that explores opposite perspectives on racial violence