SCA alumnus Jonathan Curtiss.
A Neighborhood Gift to Film Lovers: SCA Graduate Works to Create a Space for Screenings and Discussions
by Desa Philadelphia
Jonathan Curtiss ’18 grew up in South Central LA, passing USC’s campus regularly. However, like many kids from the neighborhood, he convinced himself he didn’t belong at the university and instead enrolled in an undergraduate Civil Engineering program at Boise State University. An elective playwriting class planted a seed and Curtiss eventually applied to the MFA program in the John Wells Division of Writing for Screen & Television. In October he screened his short film Boy No Fear at SCA, and answered students’ questions about how he turned to the relationships he made as a Taco Bell Live Màs scholarship recipient when looking for financing for the film. A beautifully shot adventure about the benefits of feeling and acknowledging fear, the film is currently looking for distribution.
In the meantime, Curtiss is hard at work on a special project, a gift of sorts to the community. It also has the potential to encourage South LA’s next generation to take a chance on the university they pass regularly, including the School of Cinematic Arts.
In Motion asked him about his project to create a gathering space in the neighborhood for film lovers.
Word of Life bookstore in South LA. (Courtesy of Jonathan Curtiss)
IM: Your Grandparents own one of the oldest bookstores in Los Angeles. Tell us about it.
JC: My grandparents opened Word of Life Bookstore in the heart of South LA in 1960, and it holds the distinction of being the oldest Black-owned bookstore in Los Angeles. It’s truly a gem, having touched the community through every era and witnessed the city’s many transformations: from the Civil Rights Movement to the LA Riots, and until today. It was my first job and felt like a second home growing up. The shelves are filled with stories that have impacted countless lives, and the space itself has always been a hub for connection—a place where people trade stories as a currency for hope. So, it’s more than just a bookstore; it’s a living piece of L.A. history. Being surrounded by that environment shaped me in profound ways, inspiring my journey as a storyteller
IM: You want to turn the gathering space in the bookstore into a community screening room. Why?
The bookstore has always been a place for the community to connect, so transforming it into a screening room feels like a natural evolution. Film, like books, has this unique ability to bring people together, but it adds another layer of emotion and shared experience. I see it as an opportunity to highlight diverse voices and create a space where the community can come together to watch films that inspire, educate, and spark conversations. It’s a way to keep the bookstore’s legacy alive while also creating a space for more artforms to be experienced in the heart of South LA.
Curtiss and crew on location in Uganda. (Courtesy of Jonathan Curtiss)
IM: In addition to this project, you’re also continuing to pursue your career as a screenwriter and director. What are the most exciting things you’ve done as a filmmaker since leaving SCA?
Since leaving SCA, I’ve been fortunate to write on shows like Grownish and Paramount's Long Slow Exhale. But I've also been directing, and one highlight has been Boy No Fear, which I shot in Uganda, East Africa. It was my first time directing an international film, and it was such a rewarding experience. Collaborating across borders and seeing the film resonate with audiences in sold-out theaters in Uganda was unforgettable. It reminded me how universal storytelling is. Beyond that, I’ve been gearing up to direct my first feature film. And each project has been an important step in growing as a storyteller.
IM: How can your SCA family help you achieve your goals to open the community screening room?
JC: If anyone has a rich uncle, feel free to find me on instagram at @Lov3Curtiss. On a serious note, spreading the word means everything—we’re currently accepting donations of projectors, sound equipment, and seating. I’m so thankful for all the love and support I’ve already received. I’m truly grateful. Together, we have the power to not only shape our reality but to impact the lives of others in meaningful ways.
Learn more about Jonathan and his projects here.