Anita M. Cal (born October 14, 1966) is an American author,^{[1][2][3][4][5]} TV Writer, film producer,^[6][7][8] and international speaker^[9][10][11] best known for writing on the TBS family comedies, Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns. Cal first made a name for herself as the Writer/Producer of the comedy feature Kinfolks,^[12][13] developed by Showtime, Inc., starring In The House TV daughter Maia Campbell. Cal is also known as, A.M. Cal, the author of the December 2015 historical novel, Eighth Wonder: The Thomas Bethune Story, the true tale of a slave born blind, feeble, and left for dead who began playing Mozart at the age of three. The debut novel was awarded a SELF-e Highlighted Book by Library Journal and made available in libraries throughout the 50 states.^[14]

Biography

Cal was born in Seattle, Washington,^[15] the daughter of Frances O. Cal, a manager for the State Department of Transportation and Relocation, and Clarence A. Cal, Sr., an electrical engineer for the Boeing Company.^[16] Her parents, both Southern University alumni, are of African American origin, having migrated from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Tacoma, Washington, after her father, a former military officer was transferred to Fort Lewis.

Cal attended Rainier Beach High School and transferred to Chief Sealth High School. She was an off-guard for the city, district, and 5th in state championship basketball team^[15][17] graduating with honors in 1984 at the age of 17. She attended the University of Washington, and was a member of the EIP^[18][19] Early Identification Program for minorities who maintained a 3.27 GPA or higher, graduating in 1988 with a degree in Communications, Broadcasting. She also studied screenwriting at Cal State University, Northridge, winning a Best Graduate Screenwriting Scholarship from Garry Marshall^[20] and graduating with honors in 1998. In 2015, Cal became a double doctoral student at Pepperdine University,^[21] studying Organizational Leadership and Global Leadership with expected graduation dates of May 2017 and May 2018. Cal became a published scholar during her first semester of doctoral studies when the International Journal of Arts and Sciences selected her research with Dr. Leo Mallette on Celebrities and the United Nations: Leadership and referent power of global film ambassadors.^[22]

Anita Cal began using her middle initial when she began writing as a reporter intern at the Seattle Times upon graduating college. She soon was selected as a general assignment and education reporter for the Los Angeles Times through the METPRO journalist training program. Cal also covered education for the Times Mirror Greenwich Times.

References