Joshua Paolino is a film and television writer based in Los Angeles, California.

I write intimate, character-driven stories about identity, survival, and the moments that force us to become who we are, often through a Latino lens. After teaching in Miami public schools, I began writing stories inspired by the lives I witnessed every day—including students, families, and educators navigating systems that rarely make things easy. My work spans film and television and focuses on young people at emotional crossroads, whether it’s a shy teenage girl from 1999 confronting first love on a road trip (SID & AMY) or a rookie teacher learning what it truly means to lead in a modern public school (LESSONS). I’m drawn to stories where connection is hard-earned, growth is messy, and hope comes from showing up…again and again.