Jonathan I. Kidd is a television producer and writer,[1]most notably known for comprising one-half of the Emmy-nominated writing duo along with his writing partner, Sonya Winton-Odamtten. Together, they are known for their work on shows like NCIS New Orleans, ABC's The Whole Truth, Fos's Touch, Amazon's Oasis, and as the Co-Executive Producers of HBO's hit show Lovecraft Country.[2]
Life and education
editKidd currently resides in California, but was born in Mansfield, Ohio. Kidd went to The University of Michigan, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in African American Studies, and English. Kidd obtained his Master's in Philosophy, and a Doctoral degree from Yale University, in African-American Studies and English.[3]
Theater
editIn 2001 Kidd helped found the non-profit theater company Adam, Eve, & Steve Productions (AES) while at Yale. They directed and produced numerous successful theater productions and took a hiatus from their studies in 2003-2004 to complete the documentary "Battleground for a New Generation," focusing on youth mobilization during the Presidential election.[4]
In 2012, Kidd's autobiographical essay, "One Day A DJ Saved My Life," was published as one of 25 essays by gay men of color to be featured in the anthology titled For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Still Not Enough: Coming of Age, Coming Out, and Coming Home, curated by Keith Boykin.[5]
Career
editKidd started his television writing career when he got accepted into the Warner Brothers Television Writers Workshop in 2010.[6][7] He achieved success with various shows, including ABC's The Whole Truth, Fox's Touch, and Amazon's Oasis. Notably, they sold several spec pilots, including: The 4th Reich (Showtime) with Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal attached to executive produce,[8] Rodeo Drive (Warner Horizon), Southern Gothic (Lifetime) and Trader (HBO) with Tika Sumpter attached to star in and executive produce.[9]
In 2016, Kidd's NCIS New Orleans episode "Rock-a-Bye-Baby" was nominated for a GLAAD Award[10][11] and in 2021, they received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series for Lovecraft Country.[12]
In 2019, Kidd signed an overall deal with HBO, continuing their work as the Co-Executive Producers of the award-winning HBO series Lovecraft Country.[13]
Kidd's ongoing collaboration with HBO has been punctuated by achievements, including being finalists of the Ray Bradbury Nebula Award for Dramatic Presentation in 2021,[14] joining the Advisory Council of WarnerMedia Access Writers Program,[15] joining the LA Theatre Works Board of Directors,[16] and securing a pilot order from HBO for their series adaptation of Octavia Butler's final novel, Fledgling, featuring Issa Rae and J.J. Abrams among the executive producers.[17] Currently Kidd is in the development, writing, and Executive Producing a new limited series, Say Their Names, inspired by the Los Angeles serial killer, the Grim Sleeper, and intricately explores the life of activist Margaret Prescod.[18]
Philanthropy
editBeyond this professional and theatric endeavors, Kidd was engaged in philanthropy initiatives, like the "Feed Black COVID-19 Health Workers Challenge." Collaborating with Frontline Foods, the duo enlisted over 40 Black Hollywood writers, extending support to healthcare workers in underserved Black communities nationwide.[19]
Kidd created "The Dr. Jonathan I. Kidd Senior Prize" to honor his educational passion. Kidd was a Walter Rodney Essay Competition winner and an AAS/English major at UM before earning a dual Ph.D. in African American Studies and English from Yale University. He utilized his pedagogical foundations to embark upon a successful career as a television writer and producer. With this prize, Kidd wishes to recognize LSA students who complete a significant senior project and to honor students enrolled in DAAS courses who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, a record of academic excellence, and a commitment to giving back to the African diaspora.[20]
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Show | Writer | Producer | Credit(s) | Episode(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Lovecraft Country | Yes | Yes | Co-Executive Producer | "Strange Case" | Season 1, Episode 5 |
| "Rewind 1921" | Season 1, Episode 9 | |||||
| 2019 | Treadstone | No | Yes | Supervising Producer | "The Berlin Proposal" | Season 1, episode 3 |
| "The Kwon Conspiracy" | Season 1, Episode 2 | |||||
| "The Cicada Protocol" | Season 1, Episode 1 | |||||
| 2018 | Trader | Yes | Yes | Executive Producer/ Creator | Sold to HBO (Undeveloped) | |
| 2017 | Oasis | Yes | Yes | Co-Executive Producer | Mini Room | (Unreleased) Based on the film |
| 2015 | Wicked City | Yes | Yes | Co-Producer | "Blizzard of Ozz" | Season 1, Episode 6 |
| NCIS New Orleans | Yes | No | Executive Story Editor | "Rock-a-Bye-Baby" | Season 1, Episode 20 | |
| "La Carnaval De la Mort" | Season 1, episode 15 | |||||
| 2014 | "Chasing Ghosts" | Season 1, Episode 9 | ||||
| Killer Women | Yes | No | "In and Out" | Season 1, Episode 5 | ||
| 2013 | The 4th Reich | Yes | Yes | Co-Executive Producer | Written on Spec "Pilot" | Sold to Showtime (Undeveloped) |
| 2012 | Touch | Yes | No | "Story By" Credit | Season 1 | |
| 2011 | Memphis Beat | Yes | No | "Written by" | "Body of Evidence" | Season 2, Episode 7 |
| 2010 | The Whole Truth | No | No | "Story By" Credit | "The End" | Season 1, Episode 13 |
| Yes | No | "Written by" | "Perfect Witness" | Season 1, Episode 10 | ||
| Yes | No | "Teleplay" Credit | "When Cougars Attack" | Season 1, Episode 5 |
Theater
edit| Title | Playwright | Directed | Produced |
|---|---|---|---|
| There Must Be a God Somewhere | Yes | No | Yes - (Adam, Eve, and Steve Productions) |
| Shaka | Jan Henson Dow and Robert Schroeder | No | Yes - (Adam, Eve, and Steve Productions) |
| Matri-focal Concentric Zones of Violence Revisited: Part One | Sonya Winton-Odamtten | Yes | Yes - (Adam, Eve, and Steve Productions) |
References
edit- ^ "Dr. Jonathan I. Kidd Senior Prize | U-M LSA Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS)". lsa.umich.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ Unknown (12 October 2020). "Lovecraft Country: The Craft - Co-Executive Producers, Sonya Winton-Odamtten & Jonathan Kidd". Youtube.com. Retrieved Oct 12, 2020.
- ^ "Yale in Hollywood Black Filmmakers Series | Yale Alumni Association". alumni.yale.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ Internaltional, Institute. "Film Screening of Battleground for a New Generation Revisited". UCLA.Edu. UCLA. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
- ^ Noble, Barnes &. "For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Still Not Enough: Coming of Age, Coming Out, and Coming Home|Paperback". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ Warner, Brothers. "Warner Brothers 2010 Writers Workshop". Warner Brothers Television workshop. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ Warner, Brothers. "Warner Brothers 2010 Writers Workshop". Warner Brothers. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ Nellie, Andreeva (23 January 2013). "Neo-Nazi Drama Produced By Robert De Niro & Jane Rosenthal In The Works At Showtime". Deadline. Deadline.com. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ^ "Jonathan I. Kidd | Producer, Additional Crew, Writer". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ Newsdesk (29 March 2016). "Exclusive interview with Hollywood writing team nominated for GLAAD Media Award". Out News Global. Retrieved 6 December 2023.<ref name="OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL EPISODE NCIS New Orleans"
- ^ Khatchatourian, Maane (27 January 2016). "GLAAD Media Awards Nominations". Variety.com. Variety E-magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ Cephas Jones, Ron, Jasmine. "Outstanding Drama Series - Lovecraft Country - 2021 Emmy Nominee". Emmys.com. The Television Academy Emmys. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Nellie, Denise, Andreeva, Petski (9 April 2019). "'Lovecraft Country' Co-EPs Jonathan Kidd & Sonya Winton-Odamtten Ink Overall Deal With HBO". Deadline.com. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ SFWA, Nebula Award (16 March 2021). "SFWA Announces the 56th Annual Nebula Award® Finalists". nebulas.sfwa.org. SFWA.Org. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ "Sonya and Jonathan join Advisory Council of WarnerMedia Access Writers Program to Amplify Underrepresented Voices in TV 2021". press.wbd.com. Warner Brothers Press. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ Cristi, A.A. "Emmy-Nominated Writer-Producer Team Jonathan Kidd, Sonya Winton-Odamtten Join L.A Theatre Works Board Of Directors". BroadwayWorld. BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ White, Peter (28 July 2021). "Sonya Winton-Odamtten & Jonathan I. Kidd Score HBO Pilot Script Order For Series Adaptation Of Octavia Butler's 'Fledgling'; Issa Rae & J.J. Abrams To EP". Deadline.com. Deadline. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ Dino-Ray, Ramos (18 December 2020). "Jonathan I. Kidd & Sonya Winton-Odamtten Reup Overall Deal With HBO; Set Grim Sleeper Limited Series 'Say Their Names'". Deadline. Deadline.com. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (8 June 2020). "'Lovecraft Country's Sonya Winton-Odamtten And Jonathan Kidd Talk Disproportionate Impact Of COVID-19 On People Of Color, #FeedBCHW Challenge". Deadline.com. Deadline. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ "Dr. Jonathan I. Kidd Senior Prize | U-M LSA Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS)". lsa.umich.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-11.