Want to keep up with Kirby?

Kirby’s Substack (Kirbside Chat) is part blog, part writing and filmmaking resource. She’s been teaching what she knows since elementary school, back when she taught her friend to read at her brother’s basketball games and got in trouble for helping another student during a math test. (True story; I’ll tell you about it sometime.)

You can also find Kirby on social media by clicking below!

About Kirby

Kirby Marshall-Collins is a Black TV writer and director who amplifies voices of color through ambitious, genre-bending stories. She’s drawn to shows that foster community and inspire hope, even in the bleakest of environments. Her love of character carries her through everything from supernatural dramas to network procedurals to fun and fantastical coming-of-age stories with a theme of self-advocacy.

Regardless of scale, Kirby’s strengths lie in her empathetic approach to character, her pattern recognition/strong grasp of story structure, and her ear for dialogue. (Thank you many years in theater!) She’s a pleasure to have in class any writers’ room, and specifically will strengthen and advocate for the stories of traditionally de-centered and underrepresented communities, and yes, that includes the kids.

She recently locked picture on her debut short film, Ways to Fly, which follows a neurodivergent Black girl who wants to fly like a ballerina, but her barrettes keep getting in the way. Follow along on our Ways to Fly Instagram or subscribe to Kirby’s newsletter!

Notable Highlights:

• Disney Entertainment TV Writing Program Fellow (2023) — chosen from thousands for the highly competitive TV staffing program. In it, Kirby’s written an amazing pilot in six weeks, landed general meetings and staffing meetings with executives and showrunners across the many Disney Entertainment Television brands, and gone to Disneyland more times than her bank account should allow.

• Writers’ Assistant on Nancy Drew S4 on The CW — big wins include some of her pitches and written copy making it to air (shout out to Ep 4x08 in particular), writing two scenes (including one for our series finale), and she tripled fan engagement across the Writers’ Room socials all throughout the WGA Strike.

• “Ways to Fly” won a Panavision New Filmmaker Program Grant! Securing top of the line industry camera equipment for production!

Kirby is currently available for TV staffing. She is interested in one-hour dramas, teen/YA soaps, all things supernatural and fantastical, and half-hours with heart. Please reach out to chat!