Screenwriter

 Academy Award Nominee for "King Richard"

“At Hopkins, Film and Media Studies is much more than an academic program—it’s a thriving, collaborative, artistic community. When I was a student there (twenty years ago!) I met amazing teachers and advisers who taught me, not just how to think critically (and creatively) about film, writing, and story, but gave me the support, skills, and courage to pursue a real career in film development and production. The film community at Hopkins, and wonderful teachers and mentors like Lucy Bucknell, John Mann, and Linda DeLibero introduced me to films and techniques I still rely on and return to in my work today. Through classes and special events, I met amazing filmmakers like John Waters and Guinevere Turner and explored the unique, thriving, independent art and cinema scene in Baltimore. For a young filmmaker, or for anyone just inspired by cinema and story, FMS at Hopkins is an incredibly nurturing community I’m proud to be a part of.”

Zach Baylin is a Los Angeles-based screenwriter and co-founder of Youngblood Pictures. His script, King Richard, about the father of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams, was #2 on the 2018 Blacklist and was nominated for an Academy Award after its theatrical release in 2021. He is currently co-writing Creed III with Keenan Coogler from a story they co-wrote with Ryan Coogler. In addition, Baylin has written projects for Lionsgate, Imagine, and TNT, and for filmmakers James Grey, Jeremy Saulnier, Francesco Munzi, and Jonathan Levine, among others. A father of two, Zach also worked in the props and art department on dozens of film and television projects in New York, including Boardwalk Empire, Mildred Pierce, The Blacklist, A Walk Among the Tombstone, Gossip Girl, Side Effects, and Dave Chapelle’s Block Party. A two-time Academic All-American on the JHU football team, he is represented by Grandview Management and CAA.