Letters of Recommendation for Ezra Claytan Daniels
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From JEREMY CARVER, Showrunner, DOOM PATROL (Max):
Hi,
My name is Jeremy Carver, I'm writing in avid support of Ezra C. Daniels’ candidacy for the Rideback RISE program.
By way of introduction, I am an Executive Producer/Developer/Showrunner who has developed and/or showran shows such as Doom Patrol (Max), Supernatural (CW), Frequency (CW) and Being Human (SyFy). I am also a non-writing EP on Netflix's Dead Boy Detectives.
I had the pleasure of working with Ezra on Doom Patrol over multiple seasons and I hope to work together again, soon. I can't quite remember if Ezra started as a staff writer or story editor but that is almost irrelevant here. Quite simply, he is wonderful. A terrific storyteller, a one-in-a-million world builder, a conscientious and giving colleague and a hell of a writer. He made an impact from the moment he signed on with us.
He wrote a lot of scripts for us on Doom, showed tons of range, always pushing the physical and emotional boundaries of what an already out-there show like Doom could be. Breaking story with him was a pleasure -- he's a self-starter, agile, thoughtful and kind. A great scene partner, if you will. His scripts were funny, wildly inventive, soulful. His writing made such an impact I asked him to co-write the series finale. He accepted. After a few days of careful thought, he asked to pitch me one last idea: what if we changed the ending of the episode? Which meant, in reality, changing the ending of the series. An ending that had been tacked to a whiteboard for four years. I listened. I probably cried. I said yes. Because his ending was better and I knew he would nail it and he did.
The remarkable thing is that in all that time I worked with Ezra, it was Zoom-only, during the heart of the pandemic. We've only met once in real life, at his home, for a viewing party. He made me take off my shoes. That is the only negative re: Ezra C. Daniels that I can muster. I wholeheartedly endorse him and would humbly suggest he'd make a fantastic contribution to your program.
All my best,
Jeremy Carver
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From DAN CONNOLLY, Showrunner. NIGHT SKY (Amazon Prime):
Dear Rideback RISE,
I am writing to you, enthusiastically, in support of Ezra Claytan Daniels, a multi-talented writer, thinker, collaborator, illustrator and storyteller.
Ezra first came to my attention in early 2020 when I was introduced to his award-winning graphic novel, UPGRADE SOUL, a touching sci-fi exploration of mortality and identity.
Soon after, I met Ezra and came away impressed by his intelligence, creativity, affability, and demeanor. I then asked him to join what would become the season one writers’ room of the Amazon series NIGHT SKY, starring J.K. Simmons and Sissy Spacek. This would be his first TV writing position.
Ezra was thrown into a new creative environment that can be disorienting and tough to navigate. But he quickly picked up the flow of the room — and most importantly, the tone and aspirations of the series. And he delivered for us. Both in the room, pitching ideas and adding important context and insights, and also on the page, with consistently compelling scene and script work.
On a daily basis, Ezra set an example as a consummate professional: considerate of his colleagues, unflappable, and an all-around genial presence. And his creative instincts are varied and eclectic. He’s able to grapple with and come up with story solutions that are both emotional and, when needed, dark, subversive, and funny.
Ezra is steeped in the comic-book/graphical storytelling tradition and knows that canon supremely well. For me, this was immensely helpful as we set out to deepen the genre elements of NIGHY SKY and avoid common pitfalls. Ezra became our genre guru, able to navigate us to story points and details that serviced both the commercial and artistic sides of our show.
When NIGHT SKY was picked up for a season two room in 2022, I unhesitatingly reached out to Ezra to join us again. And true to form, he proved again his value to the series in that room with his creativity, hard work and professionalism. In fact, he came up with major story turns that helped us land the second season’s structural flow.
In that room, Ezra also exhibited an even higher level of poise, maturity and room proficiency that he likely gained working on other TV series between our first and second seasons. It was clear to me that Ezra was well on his way to a very promising future in the world of cable and streaming. In fact, I eagerly await the moment when he gets the chance to build and create his own series. It will undoubtedly be awesome.
In closing, I cannot think of a better candidate for Rideback RISE than Ezra Claytan Daniels. Without reservation, I wholeheartedly recommend him. And not just for the enrichment he will deservedly gain as a member of this prestigious program — but also for what he will bring to the program. Because, in addition his many creative talents, Ezra is one of the most genuinely kind, humble, generous, and morally centered human beings around. And in this business, that’s one of the more profound points of differentiation.
Thank you for your consideration, and please feel free to reach out to me for any additional context or questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Daniel C. Connolly
Showrunner & Executive Producer, NIGHT SKY
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From AL LETSON, Journalist (Reveal) and Screenwriter (Godzilla Monarch):
Dear Committee Members,
Before Ezra and I became friends, I was a big fan. Upgrade Soul is one of my all time favorite books. I remember the first time I read it, it had everything I look for in a near future scifi story; memorable characters, thought provoking concepts, and a story that felt like it was right around the corner from reality. What I didn’t expect, was the gentle humanity throughout the book. The tenderness with which the characters are drawn, the longing in their hearts, the heartbreak. It is a beautiful piece of work and I carry it with me, in the library in my heart.
When I met Ezra, it was in the midst of a comic con. I hogged as much of his time as I could going through his work and talking about big ideas, comics, and writing. He’s got a creative engine that fascinates me; the way he thinks of stories, the inspirations he pulls from, and then the work he commits to bringing something into the world. In that loud chaotic hall, I was impressed, I could see where the beauty and humanity in Upgraded Soul came from. His work is brilliant, but what shines brighter is the man. I watched him as fans came over and he was genuinely excited by other people’s ideas and stories. I’ve run into a lot of authors and afterwards, thought it was better to know them through their work, and not in person, but not Ezra. The more time I spent with him, the more I realized Upgraded Soul was just scratching the surface.
That convention, sealed our friendship at a very serendipitous time, we were both entering the world of Film and TV. Navigating the ups and downs of Hollywood has been intense, having someone to process things with has been a welcomed safe spot in the midst of a storm. I’ve watched Ezra grow in translating his art into film and TV. It’s a good day when I get a call from him, telling me about his latest idea. Like his print work, what Ezra creates in this medium has something to say. There is an innate sense of justice, empathy, and rage wrapped up in every idea. Ezra’s the type of artist that looks at the world around him, he sees the vulnerable, the disenfranchised and the lost. He then creates a world to give them power, voice, and dignity. This doesn’t mean all of his characters are noble and do the right thing, rather that he imbues them with a complicated humanity, that the rest of the world tries to strip away on a daily basis. From Horror, to stories about P-funk, to big scifi world building, the man is an architect of dreams and the future. Ezra Claytan Daniels is a giant among men and creators. I’m honored to call him my friend, but maybe more importantly, to write this letter of recommendation in support of him and his work.
Light,
Al Letson