A champion of inclusion and equity in the film and television industry, Evette Vargas is an inspiring and celebrated character. As a Latina writer who never quite felt she belonged, her rise to success has moved countless individuals to follow in her footsteps.
From sharing stories on the dinner table to writing for some of Hollywood’s biggest productions, Evette Vargas has come a long way.
Named by the New York Times as an “Artist to Watch,” Evette is a highly-decorated writer, director, producer, and immersive storyteller. However, her influence is not only limited to the screen and the flurry of activity behind it but its community, as well.
A first-generation Puerto Rican Latina growing up in a new environment, the young creative’s childhood was a drawn-out experience of struggling to fit in.
“I was a Latin growing up in white suburbia and eventually wanted my name to be Jenny,” she recalls. “I wasn’t white enough for my white friends, and after losing my hood accent, I wasn’t Latina enough for the Latinos.”
With hardly any friend in sight, she turned to art. “I grew up drawing, painting, writing, and dancing and my creative gifts are what got me through it and eventually what helped me find my voice and made me stand out.”
Finding herself in her newfound passion, Evette Vargas began to expand. She pursued potential in graffiti and deejaying and soon began telling awe-inducing stories at the dinner table. Soon, these stories would include her experience as a graphic and fashion design student at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).
Evette’s lauded portfolio starts with experience as a fashion designer for Calvin Klein and Donna Karen. Although her work was always exciting, she realized she wanted to take her stories beyond the dinner table. So, she studied film.
As an NYU Tisch student, Evette directed music videos, commercials, worked as an advertising director, and crafted a stunning senior thesis film that marked a brilliant career in the industry. Shortly after graduating, she became a sought-after artist in big studios such as Universal, Disney, and Sony before launching a digital production company with her husband. On it, she clasped hands with dozens of influential stars such as Madonna, Snoop Dog, and Wu-Tang Clan, to name a few.
While developing her business, Evette also grew as an award-winning creator after her digital series “Dark Prophet,” starring Henry Rollins, ended up being in contention for two Emmys in the interactive category. The road beyond that was paved with gold.
Her work heavily carries her activism for inclusion and equity has transcended beyond the screen and into the film and television community. Bringing the conversation back to the dinner table, Evette recently organized a table of phenomenal writers who wowed twenty actors with their writing of an episode of a season arc of “Killing Eve.”
The response was such that the brilliant artist felt moved to utilize her format for mentoring storytellers who dream of taking their imagined worlds to television. Thus, The Writers Room 5050 was born.
“My intention is to provide storytellers with the tools, experience, and confidence they need to sell their shows, write pilots that garner attention, and thrive in the writer’s room. As a result, the storytellers are empowered and in control of their careers.”
Offering three different labs, Pitching the TV Series, Writing the TV Pilot, and Running the Room, Evette Vargas is slowly expanding her impact as an authority and an influence in the art industry. Her mentorship has welcomed creatives from the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled groups.
With strong connections to studios, producers, and executives, Evette ensures her alumni’s future in the industry. To date, eight of her students have been hired, and ten of the pitched projects in the Pitching the TV Series Lab have moved forward. Pushing stories past the dinner table and into the screen, the ingenious artist shares, “I may have accidentally started a company, but it was meant to be.”
Everyone is welcome. Learn more about the wildly talented Evette Vargas and The Writers Room 5050 Foundation, Inc. on Instagram and its official website.
