As part of its commitment to providing opportunities to talented artists of diverse backgrounds, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has announced the SPT Diverse Directors Program. The Los Angeles-based initiative will provide opportunities for highly qualified candidates to shadow established TV directors on episodes of various hour and half-hour scripted SPT series.
“This program continues our commitment to diversity at SPT,” said SPT president Steve Mosko. “The Diverse Directors Program will provide access and training to promising future directors and at the same time provide us with new, emerging talent behind the camera with various points of view.”
“We are encouraged by SPT’s commitment to increasing diversity,” said Frank Gonzalez, assistant executive director of diversity at the Directors Guild of America. “We hope that the launch of the new SPT Diverse Directors Program will result in a welcome and much-needed boost to director diversity in episodic television.”
Added Paul Martin, sr. VP and chief diversity officer for Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), “This program reflects Sony Pictures’ ongoing mission to provide our divisions with the support needed to undertake initiatives that enrich the lives of our employees, our corporate extended families and our audiences. Diversity on all levels is a central focus to many of our programs, and we fully believe that the Diverse Directors Program will not only provide access and experience to a diverse group of potential directors, but will also become a key component of Sony Pictures’ business strategy.”
Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit an online application at www.sptdiversedirectors.com beginning Friday, May 23, and ending Friday, June 6, or when a total of 500 applications are received. In addition to the completion of an application, the selection process will require the submission of a single, completed example of a past directing project as defined by the online application, letters of recommendation from entertainment industry professionals and an interview. Twenty semi-finalists will take part in an intensive episodic directing workshop and attend networking events with industry professionals. The workshop will begin in June on the Sony Lot in Culver City, and the curriculum will consist of six evenings of discussion and instruction from working directors, production personnel and entertainment professionals.
Three finalists will then be invited into the program and will have an opportunity to shadow participating TV directors on various series. Additionally, each of the three finalists will be provided a weekly stipend when actively shadowing. Participants may also have the opportunity to be invited back to direct an episode of a scripted SPT series the following season.
The director shadowing program begins in August.
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More