INDUSTRY 101 EVENT SERIES
Finance 101:
What Screenwriters Need to Know
October 29, 2025 | 5-6:30 PM PT | Online
You’ve done it. You’re making money by writing. The studio’s check even came on time. But you’re nervous. You’re not sure what you need to know about managing your income.
Is that what a savings account is for? What are these index funds you’ve been hearing so much about? Do you need to incorporate? Doesn’t Limited Liability Company imply an Unlimited Liability Company? Wait. Should I have an LLC or something else? What does the S in S-Corp stand for? And–oh no–taxes. You didn’t do quarterly taxes. Is Uncle Sam going to be angry?
This panel conversation will cover the basic financial concerns of early-to-mid career writers. The information, content, and discussion are for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, or investment advice. The only investment advice we can give is never buy a bridge from a man in a trench coat.
PANELIST
Nik Dodani
Nik Dodani is an actor, writer, and filmmaker best known for playing Zahid in Netflix’s Atypical, with additional roles in Murphy Brown, Twisters, Escape Room, Waitress on Broadway, and several animated series. He most recently starred opposite Lisa Kudrow and Brian Cox in the HBO Max comedy The Parenting.
Nik began his writing career in stand-up comedy, making his late-night debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and in the nonprofit world, crafting campaigns for organizations like MoveOn.org and Alicia Keys’ HIV/AIDS initiative. He went on to develop scripted series for both Netflix and Disney.
Behind the camera, he wrote and directed a short film adaptation of the award-winning novel Blue Boy, currently in development as a feature, and recently completed Houston Rising, a documentary short for Amazon.
Nik also co-produced the Tony Award–winning Life of Pi on Broadway and its North American tour, and is the co-founder of The Salon, a nonprofit supporting South Asian artists and executives working in film and television.
MODERATOR
Belva Anakwenze
Founder & Principal of Abacus Financial Business Management
Belva Anakwenze is a California native and the proud Founder & Principal of Abacus Financial Business Management. Belva handles the financial affairs of entertainment professionals, creative corporate executives, and their closely-held businesses. This includes the facilitation and management of her clients’ accounting & bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, and nonprofit agencies. As the middle child of three siblings, Belva learned early on how to stand out and be different; her clients appreciate her ingenuity and aptness for managing financial matters.
