The AICP has announced an expansion of its Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP) with new wrinkles that include intensive industry training, mentoring and the awarding of grants to fund spec spots. Tamika Lamison has been hired to serve as program director and will help facilitate CDDP’s growth, advancing its mission to foster greater awareness of diverse talent and to increase directing opportunities for women and other historically underrepresented groups of people.
After CDDP’s first showcase of work for promising directors back in January at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles, organizers met to assess the event, discussed ways to improve the program and to help realize its goals. What’s come out of this thorough analysis is a targeted program of outreach, mentorship and exposure. A select number of women and ethnic minority applicants will have access to three months of training and guidance, including workshops specific to the intricacies of the ad world (i.e., preparing winning treatments, the art of conference calling), hands-on mentoring by industry professionals, and networking opportunities. In addition to working with directors to become familiar with the commercial production process, program participants will be offered a grant to complete a spec commercial. This spec fare may also be screened and/or made available to the industry at large. The CDDP program is designed to help pair unsigned, talented directors with AICP member production companies.
The CDDP is now accepting applications. Click here for more info and to apply.
Lamison joins CDDP from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where she was a research consultant. She is also the founder of the non-profit Make A Film Foundation, which grants seriously ill children film-based wishes.
Created during contract talks between the AICP and the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the CDDP reflects the commitment of both organizations to increase the representation of underrepresented groups in the commercial directing ranks.
