Anita M. Cal (born October 14) is an American author,[1][2][3][4] TV Writer, film producer,[5][6][7] and speaker[8][9][10] best known for writing on the TBS family comedies, Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns. She first made a name for herself as the Writer/Producer of the comedy feature Kinfolks,[11] developed by Showtime, starring Maia Campbell.
Cal was an Emmy winner as a producer on 10 Days in Watts, nominated for 5 Emmys at the 75th Los Angeles Area Emmys in July 2024, winning 1 in the Culture/History Category for the "Legacy" episode. Cal wrote the 2015 historical novel, Eighth Wonder: The Thomas Bethune Story, the true story of a slave born blind, feeble, and left for dead who began playing Mozart at the age of three. The debut novel was awarded a SELF-e Highlighted Book by Library Journal and made available in libraries throughout the 50 states.[12]
Biography
editCal was born in Seattle, Washington,[13] the daughter of Frances O. Cal, a manager for the State Department of Transportation and Relocation, and Clarence A. Cal, Sr., an electrical engineer for the Boeing Company.[14] Her parents, both Southern University alumni, are of African American origin, having migrated from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Tacoma, Washington.
Cal attended Rainier Beach High School and transferred to Chief Sealth High School. She was an off-guard for the city, district, and 5th in state championship basketball team[13][15] graduating with honors in 1984 at the age of 17. She attended the University of Washington, and was a member of the EIP[16][17] Early Identification Program for minorities who maintained a 3.27 GPA or higher, graduating in 1988 with a degree in Communications, Broadcasting. She studied screenwriting at Cal State University, Northridge, winning a Best Graduate Screenwriting Scholarship from Garry Marshall[18] and graduating with honors in 1998. She was also the Co-Writer, Co-Producer for the "Undercard" boxing drama, starring Wanda Sykes in her first ever drama. In 2015, Cal became a double doctoral student at Pepperdine University,[19] studying Organizational Leadership and Global Leadership with expected graduation dates of May 2017 and May 2018. Cal became a published scholar during her first semester of doctoral studies when the International Journal of Arts and Sciences selected her research with Dr. Leo Mallette on Celebrities and the United Nations: Leadership and referent power of global film ambassadors.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Interview with Anita M. Cal, Author of 'Eighth Wonder: The Thomas Bethune Story' | Suzanne M. Brazil". Suzannebrazil.com. November 2, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ Cal, Anita M. (October 3, 2015). Eighth Wonder: The Thomas Bethune Story. Atina Books. ISBN 978-0996842518.
- ^ Barnes & Noble. "Eighth Wonder: The Thomas Bethune Story". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ^ "author-and-speaker". Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Anita M. Cal (Author) [Exclusive Interview". TripleHQ.com. January 16, 2016. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ "Anita M. Cal profile". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ "Dead Tone by Deon Taylor |Antwon Tanner, German Legaretta". Barnesandnoble.com. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ "Anita M. Cal profile". paris2015.sched.org. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Anita M. Cal". Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Anita M. Call". IMDb.
- ^ "Kinfolks". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ^ "Anita Cal profile @ Universal Broadcasting Network". Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ a b "Anita Cal: Talented Writer/Producer Inspires Others To Reach For The Stars". August 6, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "2001 Seattle Election - Lists of Contributors - McIver - Clist Title 2". Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "1984 Chief Sealth High School Yearbook Online, Seattle WA". Classmates. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ "Job Description UW EIPMcNair GSA Position 2016" (PDF). Washington.edu Retrieved 2016-5-9
- ^ "Conference spotlights McNair, Early Identification Program scholars | UW Today". Washington.edu. April 26, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ^ "CSUN Receives Grant for Media Students". Los Angeles Times. September 24, 1996. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Anita M Cal". ResearchGate. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Celebrities and the U.N.: Leadership, status, and referent power of global film star ambassadors. (PDF Download Available)". January 3, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.