TFS Grad Obata Oriuwa Joins Anthony Q. Farrell’s Diversity Showrunner Bootcamp

Obata Oriuwa

Toronto Film School alumnus Obata “Obie” Oriuwa was recently selected to participate in Anthony Q. Farrell’s prestigious Diversity Showrunner Bootcamp.

At first, I didn’t think I would be accepted, as the program was for people a little more experienced than me,” said the Class of 2023 Writing for Film & Television grad, “but, I was on my way and with a bit of a candid approach and a dash of humour, I thought maybe he would give a ‘brother trying to thrive’ a chance, and I’m glad he did!”

First launched by Farrell in 2021, the Diversity Showrunner Bootcamp aims to bridge the knowledge gaps that exist in the creative industries by providing select BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour), persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+ participants with a series of eight, three-hour virtual training sessions run by industry leaders.

Anthony Q. Farrell
Canadian comedian, screenwriter and show runner Anthony Q. Farrell first launched the Diversity Showrunner Bootcamp in 2021.
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Shortly after its launch three years ago, Farrell told the Hollywood Reporter that the entire aim of the program, which he co-designed with writer and executive producer Jinder Oujla-Chalmers, is to train mid-and upper-level writers to make the jump to showrunning so that they can “avoid the pitfalls of a Canadian TV industry too reliant on white gatekeepers.”

“They (BIPOC creators) might be a great writer, but now (as a showrunner) you have to be the manager of other writers, you have to answer questions to different departments, be part of postproduction — you have a lot of things happening which you have not been trained for as a writer,” the Shelved creator and longtime writer on The Office told the magazine in 2021.

For Oriuwa, learning that Farrell had relaunched a new edition of the bootcamp in 2025, with sponsorship from Warner Bros Discovery Access Canada, proved a no-brainer – he knew he had to “shoot my shot” right away.

Now nearing the end of his bootcamp experience, which kicked off in November 2024 and wraps up later this month, Oriuwa reflected back on the program as an “extremely eye-opening” one.

“Our cohort has been delving deeper into the showrunner’s role from show development to all facets of production and post, while deconstructing their important partnerships with line producers and execs along the chain of command,” he said.

Obata Oriuwa BTS
Behind the scenes on the filming of a short film Obata Oriuwa produced alongside fellow TFS students.
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A lifelong storyteller, the self-described wanderer said he tried out many other roles – from world traveller, to barkeep, to machine operator, to teacher – before ultimately deciding to pursue his passion for screenwriting at Toronto Film School. “The one thing that has remained steadfast is my affinity towards storytelling.”

Living in Toronto, Oriuwa said when he finally made the decision to work towards actualizing his passion for the written word, he quickly realized the city’s expanding contemporary film industry and culturally defining works made it the perfect place from which to embark on that journey.

“That’s what drew me to the industry-leading Toronto Film School, and from the onset of my application, I met cool staff and professors who helped broaden my skillset of storytelling from predominantly prose to screenwriting and the intricacies of filmmaking as a medium,” he said.

“My time spent learning at TFS inspired me so-much-so that I offered to volunteer as a TA after my graduation to hopefully impart some of my passion and gratitude onto others,” he added, noting that the position was also a self-serving one. “The wheels were in motion and I wanted, even needed, to keep the momentum of creating, community building and learning going.”

Learn more about the 2025 Diversity Showrunners Bootcamp at https://deadline.com/2024/10/anthony-q-farrell-diverse-showrunner-bootcamp-2024-1236107474/

Cynthia Reason

Cynthia Reason (she/her) is a former newspaper journalist turned communications professional who currently works as Toronto Film School’s Manager of Communications. Prior to joining TFS, she spent 13 years working as a reporter for Torstar/Metroland Media Toronto, writing for publications including Toronto.com, the Etobicoke Guardian, and the Toronto Star, among others. Her byline has also appeared in the National Post. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Guelph and Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism from Humber College.

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