Chelby Joseph

2023 Black Writers In Focus Fellow
New York University

HOW TO SURVIVE PAST 18
Logline: After a virus wipes out everyone over the age of eighteen, two sisters travel to Lincoln, Nebraska to help rebuild society alongside the immature, teenage survivors of a post-apocalyptic country.

Chelby Joseph, a recent graduate from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, possesses an unwavering passion for storytelling. Growing up in Illinois, Chelby found solace in writing, especially since there wasn't much else to do in her town. With an impressive range of studies, including Dramatic Writing, Producing, and Mandarin-Chinese, Chelby is a true force to be reckoned with. Her pilot School Spirit was selected as a finalist in the prestigious 2023 Fusion Film Festival, which showcases up-and-coming talent in the entertainment industry. Additionally, her pilot How to Survive Past 18 is ranked as one of the top sci-fi scripts on Coverfly. With internship experience at entertainment powerhouses like HBO, SNL, Sony Pictures, and more, Chelby is dedicated to paving a way for herself in the industry and highlighting POC voices while she’s at it.