{"id":5300,"date":"2025-05-08T11:59:33","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T15:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/?p=5300"},"modified":"2025-05-12T14:31:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T18:31:12","slug":"a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cA world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary\u201d: Jonaz McMillan on Writing, Representation, and Sundance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Living in Los Angeles after spending most of his life in Washington, D.C., Jonaz McMillan, a May ’25 graduate from Emerson’s Writing for Film and TV program<\/strong><\/a>, reflects on how his program has helped him make an impact in the screenwriting industry and beyond. As a member of the culturally Deaf community, he brings an essential perspective to the screenwriting world\u2014one that challenges norms and deepens representation. With three projects featured at the Sundance Film Festival and a co-authored children\u2019s book under his belt, Jonaz is committed to highlighting stories with emotional depth that defy the status quo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What first drew you to screenwriting, and how has your perspective as a Deaf writer shaped your journey in the industry?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"Black
Headshot by Chad Unger.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m big on healing and paradigm shifts. I believe that people\u2019s will to change comes from within, and the future of our world depends on it. This has always been my lighthouse, my guidepost ever since I was a kid. It\u2019s like\u2026 this deep calling. I always went where my purpose felt aligned. I went where it felt right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m a non-traditional student. I just turned thirty-eight. I received my master\u2019s degree ten years ago and spent years teaching at Gallaudet University as a lecturer with the Communication Studies department. During that time, I knew that change needed to happen on a much larger scale. I\u2019ve always been drawn to creativity, writing, and the arts. I knew I had to write. I\u2019ve always wanted to write. I have boxes of writing here and there, from when I traveled, a bunch of my notes, words, and healing thoughts on how to make the world a better place. As I write this, the box sits on the floor next to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight before the pandemic, I applied to a Creative Writing MFA program at a different college. Then the pandemic hit. During that time, I wrote a book and my partner got a postdoctoral opportunity at UCLA. We both knew we would leave DC, so we relocated\u2026 mostly for him. But I never knew how much of my calling I would find here. How many of the teachings I carried could actually take place on screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI started asking myself hard questions. If I wanted to promote paradigm shifts and reach people on the opposite side of whatever belief systems I had\u2026 what would reach them faster? A movie or a book? I knew it was the former. And I realized I had no idea what to do next. So I left my previous career and dove right into the industry. I\u2019ve had multiple jobs here and there in film. It\u2019s been four solid years of nothing but this, and it naturally led me to pursue an MFA in screenwriting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy perspective as a Deaf writer is that much of my writing takes place in ASL first, before being translated into English. Screenwriting<\/strong><\/a>, especially in ASL, has a unique cinematic quality and sophistication. However, when it comes to translating and rendering it into English, it often feels somewhat watered down. After all, English is a linear language. I\u2019ve had many discussions about this with fellow Deaf writers and storytellers, as we process the challenges and nuances together. Through the stories I write, I want to ensure that Deaf representation on screen is portrayed through a cultural lens, not a medical one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did you choose Emerson\u2019s MFA in Writing for Film and Television, and how has the program influenced your writing and career trajectory?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI decided that a low-residency program would best fit my schedule because of all the projects I was working on. I was still unsure, until the month I got accepted. That same year, Everything Everywhere All at Once<\/em> swept the Oscars, and Emerson was ranked #1 for the most Oscar wins by alumni<\/strong><\/a>. That was the final confirmation I needed to choose Emerson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter starting the program, I began meeting so many Emerson alumni already working in the industry. I had no idea the campus was right across from Boston Common. I remember being at the pond with three dear friends in 2012 when I worked at Boston University, and told them, \u2018I feel called to write, I just know I have to write.\u2019 But I wasn\u2019t sure what, when, how, or even why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho knew that eleven years later, I\u2019d begin my writing residency in a classroom overlooking that very same pond. It felt like one long detour. It began in 2012 when I knew I had to write. The journey finally started in 2023, with a trail of written ideas in between. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd now, as I write this, I\u2019m about to graduate in a week. It feels like a full-circle moment. I\u2019m so excited. This program has influenced my writing profoundly. I feel prepared to structure my stories in ways I didn\u2019t know how before. I\u2019m just incredibly grateful and excited for what\u2019s next. So much is coming up\u2026 please stay tuned!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You worked on multiple projects that were featured at the Sundance Film Festival! Can you tell us about those projects and that experience?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBefore starting the program, I worked on various film and television projects, including The Tuba Thieves<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, created and directed by Alison O\u2019Daniel, which premiered at Sundance<\/strong><\/a> in 2023. I met some Emerson folks there and soon after applied to the program. I\u2019m forever grateful I did.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Outside
Photo provided by Sundance Institute. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cDuring the MFA program, I worked with Concordia Studio<\/strong><\/a> as a cultural consultant for Deaf President Now!, <\/em>directed by Nyle DiMarco, which premiered at Sundance 2025. I also worked with Actual Films<\/strong><\/a> as a cultural and community consultant for Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore<\/em>, directed by Shoshannah Stern, which also premiered at Sundance 2025. Both projects were led and directed by Deaf directors who are members of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), and they remain deeply meaningful to me, knowing how authentically both stories were told. These experiences allowed me to witness the expanding landscape of Deaf storytelling on screen. Both of them happen to also be dear friends of mine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe experience was transformative and promising. It affirmed that this is exactly where I need to be. Culturally Deaf people are often excluded from spaces like that, so it was meaningful to return to the festival and continue taking part. Every time I do this work, I\u2019m thinking of all the Deaf children out there. I come from a big Deaf family. I\u2019m multi-generationally Deaf. It\u2019s a cultural thing for me, for my family, and for my community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also published a book last summer with Karen Kane called Monster Hands<\/em>. Can you tell us about that process and what it means to you to not only have published a children\u2019s book, but one that highlights ASL?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was such a meaningful journey. The writing of Monster Hands<\/strong><\/em><\/a> started during the pandemic while I was teaching online at Gallaudet, and it quickly became a creative lifeline for me. Karen Kane<\/strong><\/a> and I co-authored the book with a clear intention of celebrating Deaf characters in the story<\/strong><\/a>. We didn\u2019t want another narrative where being Deaf was treated as a problem to solve. We wanted to center a universal story, something every kid could relate to, and let the Deaf characters simply exist. No pity. No savior arcs. Just joy, imagination, and empowerment. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Sample
Photo provided by Amazon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cWe built the story around something visual and culturally rich: ASL and shadow puppetry. These traditions come together in a tale about two Deaf kids facing a bedtime fear, the imaginary monster. They use flashlights and ASL to create shadow puppetry to conquer that fear on their own terms with the tools they had. That shift in framing was everything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCulturally Deaf people aren\u2019t defined by the absence of sound. We experience the world through light, language, community, and culture. Working with Dion MBD<\/strong><\/a>, the illustrator based in Indonesia at the time, added another layer of care. We collaborated closely to ensure ASL was represented accurately. It was important to me that Deaf kids could see themselves on the page, not just in the characters, but in the language throughout the story. Since its release, Monster Hands<\/em> has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly<\/strong><\/em>,<\/a> Kirkus<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, The Horn Book<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, and School Library Journal<\/strong><\/em><\/a>. It\u2019s also been honored as an Amazon Best Book of the Month (May 2024), a Junior Library Guild Selection, a 2024 Booklist Editors\u2019 Choice Pick, a Horn Book<\/em> Fanfare Best Book of 2024, an ALSC 2025 Notable Children\u2019s Book<\/strong><\/a>, and a Schneider Family Book Award Honor<\/strong><\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you see the industry evolving in terms of accessibility and representation for writers who are Deaf or have other disabilities?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe industry is definitely evolving and it\u2019s been encouraging to witness. Personally, I haven\u2019t faced many barriers. Most of the people I\u2019ve worked with have been open, motivated, and willing to learn. I often describe the process as similar to traveling to a new country. You are learning a new language, a new rhythm, and a new way of communicating. When people approach it with that mindset, it becomes an exciting journey of collaboration. That\u2019s where the real magic happens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me, the fire in my heart keeps me going. Whenever I encounter discrimination or misunderstanding, the fire in my heart is actually brighter. I try to move past those moments quickly because my focus is on the work, the joy, and the impact. I\u2019m grateful to be in an industry that\u2019s making space for more Deaf and disabled storytellers, and I hope we continue moving toward access, equity, and creative freedom for all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You like to occasionally \u201cwrite from the heart on napkins and leave them in public places, hoping they resonate with strangers.\u201d Why is this practice important to you? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAww\u2026 I\u2019ve been leaving loving messages on napkins around the world since 2003, back when I was in high school. One late night, my Deaf friends and I went to Denny\u2019s. We were being our typical high-school selves. Our waitress looked overwhelmed, not just by us, but also by the communication barrier. This was before smartphones, before typing on a screen became the norm. Back then, we\u2019d scribble on blank receipts or napkins to place our orders or ask for basic things.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
Photo from @jonazmcmillan<\/a><\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cThat night, I noticed the waitress had probably had a long day. I decided to write a thank-you note on a napkin, not just for the service, but for her patience and presence. I couldn\u2019t find her before we left, so I tucked the napkin with our tip. As we walked out, I looked back through the window and saw her reading it. She sat down for a moment. Holding the napkin. That was the first time I truly saw the ripple effect of something so small\u2026 and so sincere. I\u2019ve been doing it ever since. If I had an extra napkin on the table, I write something on it, and leave it behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been about twenty-two years now. Leaving napkin notes wherever I go. In 2019, a friend suggested I start taking photos of the napkins and posting them on Instagram, so people who found them could find me. I gave it a try, and sure enough\u2026 some of those napkins led to real connections and heart-to-heart conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something I love. Something from the heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat ritual inspired a feature film I wrote in the MFA program. We\u2019ll see where the story goes. This world needs more of it. Real love. More healing. More paradigm shifts. A world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary. A world where softness isn\u2019t rare, you know? The love. The real kind.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Living in Los Angeles after spending most of his life in Washington, D.C., Jonaz McMillan, a May ’25 graduate from Emerson’s Writing for Film and TV program, reflects on how his program has helped him make an impact in the … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3410,"featured_media":5302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"kt_blocks_editor_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[203,20,395,32],"tags":[299,683,684,68,680,681,682,147,685,177],"class_list":["post-5300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-emerson-masters-programs","category-project-spotlight","category-why-emerson","category-writing-for-film-tv","tag-accessibility","tag-childrens-literature","tag-culturally-deaf","tag-emerson-college","tag-jonaz","tag-jonaz-mcmillan","tag-monster-hands","tag-screenwriting","tag-sundance-film-festival","tag-writing-for-film-and-television"],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cA world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary\u201d: Jonaz McMillan on Writing, Representation, and Sundance - The Emerson Grad Life Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As a member of the culturally Deaf community, Jonaz brings an essential perspective to the screenwriting world that challenges norms.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u201cA world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary\u201d: Jonaz McMillan on Writing, Representation, and Sundance - The Emerson Grad Life Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As a member of the culturally Deaf community, Jonaz brings an essential perspective to the screenwriting world that challenges norms.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Emerson Grad Life Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/emersongradprograms\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-08T15:59:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-12T18:31:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/05\/jonaz-headshot-e1746720042999.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lizzy DiGrande\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@emersongradlife\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@emersongradlife\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lizzy DiGrande\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Lizzy DiGrande\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/82836e5b665e90f99b47efcc9a207f81\"},\"headline\":\"\u201cA world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary\u201d: Jonaz McMillan on Writing, Representation, and Sundance\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-08T15:59:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-12T18:31:12+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2001,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/37\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/jonaz-headshot-e1746720042999.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"accessibility\",\"Children's Literature\",\"Culturally Deaf\",\"Emerson College\",\"Jonaz\",\"Jonaz McMillan\",\"Monster Hands\",\"screenwriting\",\"Sundance Film Festival\",\"writing for film and television\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Emerson Masters Programs\",\"Project Spotlight\",\"Why Emerson?\",\"Writing for Film and Television\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/\",\"name\":\"\u201cA world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary\u201d: Jonaz McMillan on Writing, Representation, and Sundance - The Emerson Grad Life Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/37\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/jonaz-headshot-e1746720042999.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-08T15:59:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-12T18:31:12+00:00\",\"description\":\"As a member of the culturally Deaf community, Jonaz brings an essential perspective to the screenwriting world that challenges norms.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/37\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/jonaz-headshot-e1746720042999.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/37\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/jonaz-headshot-e1746720042999.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":920},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/08\\\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"\u201cA world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary\u201d: Jonaz McMillan on Writing, Representation, and Sundance\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Emerson Grad Life Blog\",\"description\":\"Graduate Programs in Arts and Communications\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Emerson College Graduate Programs\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/37\\\/2022\\\/02\\\/CollegeLockupStacked-2.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/37\\\/2022\\\/02\\\/CollegeLockupStacked-2.png\",\"width\":2400,\"height\":1500,\"caption\":\"Emerson College Graduate Programs\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/emersongradprograms\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/emersongradlife\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/emersongradprograms\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/emerson-college-graduate-programs\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/EmersonCollege\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/82836e5b665e90f99b47efcc9a207f81\",\"name\":\"Lizzy DiGrande\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/93fd4221446b203a23d472f09c31ccfea86074f4a9cdec3f90c842febc3a3046?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/93fd4221446b203a23d472f09c31ccfea86074f4a9cdec3f90c842febc3a3046?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/93fd4221446b203a23d472f09c31ccfea86074f4a9cdec3f90c842febc3a3046?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Lizzy DiGrande\"},\"description\":\"Lizzy is a second-year student in Emerson's Publishing and Writing MA program. While originally from New Jersey, Lizzy has been embracing everything Boston has to offer, from strolls on the Harborwalk to studying in local coffee shops. When she's not writing blog posts, Lizzy can be found checking out books from the Boston Public Library, trying new restaurants, or writing articles for Spoon University.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/word.emerson.edu\\\/fall24pb692-02-digrande\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/lizdigsbooks?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/elizabeth-digrande\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/websites.emerson.edu\\\/grad-life\\\/author\\\/elizabeth-digrande\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\u201cA world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary\u201d: Jonaz McMillan on Writing, Representation, and Sundance - The Emerson Grad Life Blog","description":"As a member of the culturally Deaf community, Jonaz brings an essential perspective to the screenwriting world that challenges norms.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\u201cA world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary\u201d: Jonaz McMillan on Writing, Representation, and Sundance - The Emerson Grad Life Blog","og_description":"As a member of the culturally Deaf community, Jonaz brings an essential perspective to the screenwriting world that challenges norms.","og_url":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/","og_site_name":"The Emerson Grad Life Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/emersongradprograms\/","article_published_time":"2025-05-08T15:59:33+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-12T18:31:12+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":920,"url":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/05\/jonaz-headshot-e1746720042999.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Lizzy DiGrande","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@emersongradlife","twitter_site":"@emersongradlife","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Lizzy DiGrande","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/"},"author":{"name":"Lizzy DiGrande","@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/#\/schema\/person\/82836e5b665e90f99b47efcc9a207f81"},"headline":"\u201cA world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary\u201d: Jonaz McMillan on Writing, Representation, and Sundance","datePublished":"2025-05-08T15:59:33+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-12T18:31:12+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/"},"wordCount":2001,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/05\/jonaz-headshot-e1746720042999.jpg","keywords":["accessibility","Children's Literature","Culturally Deaf","Emerson College","Jonaz","Jonaz McMillan","Monster Hands","screenwriting","Sundance Film Festival","writing for film and television"],"articleSection":["Emerson Masters Programs","Project Spotlight","Why Emerson?","Writing for Film and Television"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/","url":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/","name":"\u201cA world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary\u201d: Jonaz McMillan on Writing, Representation, and Sundance - The Emerson Grad Life Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/05\/jonaz-headshot-e1746720042999.jpg","datePublished":"2025-05-08T15:59:33+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-12T18:31:12+00:00","description":"As a member of the culturally Deaf community, Jonaz brings an essential perspective to the screenwriting world that challenges norms.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/05\/jonaz-headshot-e1746720042999.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/05\/jonaz-headshot-e1746720042999.jpg","width":1000,"height":920},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/05\/08\/a-world-where-chasing-butterflies-isnt-scary-jonaz-mcmillan-on-writing-representation-and-sundance\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"\u201cA world where chasing butterflies isn\u2019t scary\u201d: Jonaz McMillan on Writing, Representation, and Sundance"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/#website","url":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/","name":"The Emerson Grad Life Blog","description":"Graduate Programs in Arts and Communications","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/#organization","name":"Emerson College Graduate Programs","url":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/02\/CollegeLockupStacked-2.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/02\/CollegeLockupStacked-2.png","width":2400,"height":1500,"caption":"Emerson College Graduate Programs"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/emersongradprograms\/","https:\/\/x.com\/emersongradlife","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/emersongradprograms\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/emerson-college-graduate-programs","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/EmersonCollege"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/#\/schema\/person\/82836e5b665e90f99b47efcc9a207f81","name":"Lizzy DiGrande","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/93fd4221446b203a23d472f09c31ccfea86074f4a9cdec3f90c842febc3a3046?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/93fd4221446b203a23d472f09c31ccfea86074f4a9cdec3f90c842febc3a3046?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/93fd4221446b203a23d472f09c31ccfea86074f4a9cdec3f90c842febc3a3046?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Lizzy DiGrande"},"description":"Lizzy is a second-year student in Emerson's Publishing and Writing MA program. While originally from New Jersey, Lizzy has been embracing everything Boston has to offer, from strolls on the Harborwalk to studying in local coffee shops. When she's not writing blog posts, Lizzy can be found checking out books from the Boston Public Library, trying new restaurants, or writing articles for Spoon University.","sameAs":["https:\/\/word.emerson.edu\/fall24pb692-02-digrande\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lizdigsbooks?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/elizabeth-digrande\/"],"url":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/author\/elizabeth-digrande\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3410"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5300"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5315,"href":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5300\/revisions\/5315"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}