Please contact a GDA agent for information.
Topics
- Abuse / Domestic Violence
- Activism / Philanthropy / Civic Engagement
- Children and Youth Health
- Inspiration / Achievement
Click on the topic name to see other speakers tagged with this topic.
Antwone Fisher Best-Selling Author & Screenwriter
Born in an Ohio prison to a teenage mother, Antwone became a ward of the state and was placed in foster care. He lived two years in a caring foster home but was removed and suffered twelve years of abuse at the hands of his new foster family. Unable to land another home for him, at age 14, he was relocated to a penal institution for teenaged boys in western Pennsylvania where he remained until he graduated high school at 17. Emancipated from foster care, he found himself in the world alone and homeless, living on the streets of Cleveland, Ohio.
Antwone set on a path of healing when he entered the United States Navy, where he served his country for eleven years; nine years at sea, two ashore, four deployments and one forward deployment duty, stationed aboard the USS St. Louis LKA 116. Antwone was awarded or earned the following ribbons and medals while serving on active duty: Navy E Ribbon, Two (2) Navy Good Conduct medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with three Bronze Stars. Antwone received a secret security clearance while assigned duty at NAVCAMS EASTPAC Wahiawa, Hawaii. A U.S. Navy veteran, Antwone Fisher was appointed to the honorary rank of Chief Petty Officer by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Navy, on October 5, 2009.
After his honorable discharge from the u.s. military at the rank of E-5 (SH2), Antwone became a Federal Correctional Officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and after three years of service, he took a job with Sony Pictures Studios and worked as a Sony Security Officer for eight months before he began writing the screenplay for his own story.
Antwone has worked in Hollywood as a screenwriter for more than thirty years with an impressive fifteen film writing projects, script doctoring or script consultant assignments with the major studios. Among those film projects are, Rush Hour, ATL and the classic feature film, ANTWONE FISHER, directed by and starring Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington.
Antwone garnered numerous nominations and awards for his screenplay, ANTWONE FISHER, including, NOMINATION Writers Guild of America West (Screen) Best Original Screenplay, 'Antwone Fisher.' WINNER Humanitas Prize, 'Antwone Fisher.' WINNER AFI Movie of the year, 'Antwone Fisher.' WINNER ShoWest Screenwriter of the year, National Association of Theater Owners, 'Antwone Fisher.' WINNER Christoper Award, 'Antwone Fisher.' WINNER NAACP Award, Outstanding Motion picture Award, 'Antwone Fisher.' The film, ANTWONE FISHER, is part of the national film registry at the U.S. Library of Congress.
In 2005 Antwone was listed among Fade In Magazine’s “100 People in Hollywood you need to know.” On April 23, 2013. Antwone testified before the Senate Finance Committee. The hearing titled: The Antwone Fisher Story as a Case Study for Child Welfare. Antwone’s first book, Finding Fish: a memoir, chronicles his inspiring story became a New York Times and National Bestseller. Antwone has taught in the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television as well as UCLA Extension Writers Program. On May 10, 2003 Antwone Fisher L.H.D. received an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters from Cleveland State University.
His collection of poetry, Who Will Cry for the Little Boy? A national bestseller creatively reveals the road from his tumultuous childhood to the man he is today. His poem Who Will Cry for the Little Boy is featured in Nikki Giovanni's book, "Hip Hop Speaks to Children," Antwone's third book, A Boy Should Know how to tie a tie, won the award for best Literary Work- Instructional from the 2011 NAACP awards.
Antwone made his film directing debut with the award-winning short film, "My Summer Friend." He produced wrote and directed the 2013 documentary, This Life of Mine, The Leon T. Garr Story. Antwone continues as a prolific writer with his stage project, ANTWONE FISHER: A PLAY; Antwone and 20th Century Fox are in partnership with this play. Antwone's present screenwriting project is with Columbia Pictures.