Issue link: https://publications.tfs.ca/i/1488517
1 7 R A P P O R T À N O T R E C O M M U N A U T É 2 1 /2 2 1 7 R A P P O R T À N O T R E C O M M U N A U T É 2 1 /2 2 Award-winning playwright, screenwriter and comedian Celeste Yim '14, Emmy-nominated staff writer for Saturday Night Live (SNL) and playwright, uses their writing talent and keen wit to give minorities a voice and to address social justice issues. Their honest and empathetic representations of diverse characters on screen echo our school's mission to celebrate diversity. According to former teachers and classmates, Celeste has been using humour and empathy to shine a light on inequality, social injustice and identity since their time at TFS. Their first published work, an article entitled Do you speak Asian?, which focused on navigating their identity through experiences with systemic racism as a Korean-Canadian teen, appeared in the Huffington Post when they were in Level V. Celeste launched their career in comedy in Toronto performing at small, local venues while completing their BA at the University of Toronto. Their first big breaks were receiving the Bob Curry Fellowship at Second City, and writing for local troupe The Sketchersons' weekly SNL homage, Sunday Night Live. A full scholarship to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts brought them to New York City, where they received Celeste did not hesitate to speak up about concerns over inequali, supported others in their concerns, and worked for social justice. And they were able to do it in a way that was incredibly approachable." Lizann Kliewer, past teacher multiple prestigious awards, completed an MFA in dramatic writing, and became the only new writer hired by SNL during the pandemic. Since joining SNL, Celeste has made a stir, bringing unique Canadian flavour to the show with sketches like "Bonjour-Hi" which provided a humorous take on language tensions in Quebec, and co-writing a poignant commentary on anti-Asian sentiment in the wake of the Atlanta shooting with SNL cast-member Bowen Yang for his Weekend Update segment. Celeste's accomplishments include being named a 2021 Lambda Literary Playwriting Fellow and receiving the New York Foundation for the Arts' 2019 Canadian Women Artist's Award for playwriting. They were listed as one of "30 Canadian Women in Comedy To Watch in 2018" by Brunch Club and as one of "Canada's Top 100 Notable Women in 2017" by Flare Magazine. Celeste is also an alumnus of Theatre Masters prestigious "Take Ten" programme for American playwrights. CELESTE YIM '14 Le prix de distinction des jeunes diplômés recipient