Gabriela Amaral is a screenwriter with over 20 years of experience. Passionate about storytelling and exploring diverse universes, she has always aimed to write for a wide range of audiences — children, teens, and adults — while navigating the different languages of theater, film, digital media, and television. On TV, she has written across genres, from drama to comedy, and worked on various formats such as one-off specials, weekly series, and daily scripted shows. She spent 18 years as a staff writer at Rede Globo, where she was nominated for an International Emmy as Head Writer of the sketch comedy show Zorra. She contributed to the writing teams of numerous programs, including Sítio do Picapau Amarelo, Malhação, and Cine Holliúdy.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Communication / Editorial Production – UFRJ
- Master’s degree in Theater – Study and History of Theatrical Texts – UniRio
- Bachelor’s degree in Law – UERJ (incomplete)
Filmography
- “VIDEOCAST PAR OU ÍMPAR COM MARIA RIBEIRO” (2023) – Script and content development. Globoplay
- “CINE HOLLIÚDY” (2021–2022) – Staff writer. Globo
- “ZORRA” (2014–2020) – Head Writer. Nominated for Best Comedy at the 44th International Emmy Awards. Globo
- “FILHAS DE EVA” (2019) – Writer during development of Season 2. Globo
- “MALHAÇÃO – CASA CHEIA” (2013–2014) – Staff writer for daily drama. Globo
- “OS CARAS DE PAU” (2011–2012) – Writer. Globo
- “MALHAÇÃO – CIDADE PARTIDA” (2010–2011) – Writer. Globo
- “ALINE” and “SOS EMERGÊNCIA” (2008–2009) – Writer. Globo
- “MALHAÇÃO” (2008) – Writer. Globo
- “CASOS E ACASOS” and “GERAL.COM” (2007) – Writer for primetime and teen series. Globo
- “SÍTIO DO PICA-PAU AMARELO” (2006) – Writer and storyliner. Globo
- “SOB NOVA DIREÇÃO” (2005) – Writer. Globo
- “ZORRA TOTAL” (2004) – Writer. Globo
- “ZUZUBALÂNDIA” (1999) – Writer for children’s animated series. Rede TV!
- “TALK ASTRAL SHOW” (2022–2023) – Creator of the webseries and writer of branded digital content (Ubisoft, Evoluna)
Other Projects & Workshops
- Canal Futura (2000–2004) – Writer and format creator for shows such as Tempo de Escola (with Serginho Groisman), Família S/A, Ao Ponto (with Jairo Bauer), Passagem Para, Mojubá, and Heróis de Todo Mundo (A Cor da Cultura project)
- Instructor – Roteiraria’s Humor Screenwriting Program (2023), modules on Series and Sketches
- Coordinator – Globo’s Humor Writers’ Workshop for Black and marginalized writers (2018–2019)
- Mentor & Script Consultant – Lanani (Black and Indigenous Story Lab, 2020–2021)
- Guest Speaker – Rota Festival Lab (2023), The Comic Hero’s Journey
- Guest Speaker – Primeiro Tratamento Lab (2023), The Three Journeys: Comparing the Hero’s Journey, the Comic Hero’s Journey, and the Heroine’s Journey
- Editor – Expedições documentary series (1999–2000), TV Cultura
Theater & Film
- For film, Gabriela wrote the short Você Sabe Quem (winner of Best Short Film at the 1st Santa Maria da Feira Film Festival, Portugal), Retrato Falhado (Hors-Concours Award at Fest Rio 2013), and the feature film Xuxa em O Mistério de Feiurinha, which drew over 1 million viewers and was nominated for the Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro for Best Children’s Film (2009).For theater, she wrote Lorena Livre, Agora Vai – Episódio Fryer vs Fryer, Testosterona, Tem Gente? (winner of the Rio Jovem Artista Award from RioArte), and Apesar de Você. She also co-produced the play O Baterista and the musical short Bula na Cumbuca.