CBS Announces Writers for Its 2017-2018 Writers Mentoring Program Initiative

Krystal Banzon, Drama Writer

Krystal Banzon was raised in Fontana, Calif., by Filipino immigrant parents. She received a BA from Smith College in women's studies, a master's degree in new media from NYU Tisch and a Fulbright fellowship to study theater in the Philippines.

Ashley Charbonnet, Drama Writer:

Ashley Charbonnet is a screenwriter from the 9th ward of New Orleans whose family roots in the Crescent City date back to the early 1800s. She holds an MFA in film from Columbia University, and her work has received honors and inclusions in programs such as the Independent Filmmaker Project's (IFP) Emerging Narrative Initiative and the SAG Indie Reading Series.

Gil Hizon, Comedy Writer:

Gil Hizon was born and raised in the Philippines and earned BA degrees in theater and psychology from Fairfield University and TV writing/producing from Columbia College Chicago. Gil's romantic comedy feature, "Finding James," was recently optioned.

Naomi Iwamoto, Comedy Writer:

Naomi Iwamoto grew up in Los Angeles and Tokyo. Naomi holds an MFA in production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BA from UCLA in political Science and Asian American studies. She recently completed the Ryan Murphy Television Half Foundation's directing mentorship program.

Munis Rashid, Drama Writer:

Munis Rashid grew up in Sugar Land, Texas and attended the University of Texas, Austin. He spent the summer of 2014 on a cross-country bicycle ride from Texas to Alaska to raise money for cancer research. Munis graduated from the American Film Institute with an MFA in screenwriting in 2016. He recently received the Grand Prize of the American Zoetrope Screenplay CONTEST and the Carol Mendelsohn College Drama Fellowship at the 2017 Humanitas Prize.