Tamika Lamison, executive director of the the Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP), has revealed the five new Fellows who will each be awarded $25,000 stipends, Keslow Camera packages and other resources to create a commercial during the CDDP’s 2023 cycle. The CDDP Fellows are: Megan Brotherton, Lauren Crew, Hisonni Mustafa, Angie Su and Allison Waite.

There were over 600 entries to the Program. Most of theses directors began their careers in other media--documentaries, dramatic shorts, music videos, etc.

The five 2023 CDDP Directing Fellows will participate in a six-month Program meant to provide them with experience and exposure to the inner workings of commercial and content production. The Program begins with a series of workshops where the Directors learn from industry professionals about the nuances of commercial production--from pitching treatments to working with clients on set and the post process. 

The directors have been awarded a 25k grant and paired with mentoring companies and agencies that will give them first-hand access and insight access into the process,  then work with them to produce spec spots based on scripts provided by the agencies. 

This fifth cycle of the Program has expanded to not only include mentoring production companies (Hungry Man, Florence, Furlined, Sibling Rivalry and Spears & Arrows) and agencies (Highdive, Translation, TRG, The Via Agency and Wieden+Kennedy NY) but also CDDP alumni director mentors, and CDDP Advisory Committee liaisons as part of each director's team. 

The Program culminates in an industry showcase for company owners, directors, agencies, and clients that will, hopefully, lead the Fellow directors to being signed by AICP member companie and ultimately becoming DGA members..

“The CDDP is the only program in existence that affords this kind of expansive access, support and real-world change to talented, under-represented directors. We are committed to being the change that we want to see in the commercial world,” noted Lamison. “Being inclusive while championing and nurturing unique POVs is a win-win for everyone."

In addition, several finalists have been invited to participate in the Program’s workshops in person in-person. They are: Alla Volkova, Suraj Wanvari, Julia Elihu, Tanmay Chowdhary, Christopher Guerrero, Rachel Rinehardt, Felicia Manning, Christopher Malcom, Tara Motamedi, Carlos Asse, Desmond Faison, Carlos Garcia, Jennell Lewis, Stephanie Martin, Danielle Shapira, Boson Wang, Alejandro Lalinde,, Joseph Le, Rachel Myers, Robin Cloud, Emil Gallardo, Tricia Lee, Maeyen Bassey, Okema T. Moore, Sana Malik, and April Moreau. 

Semi-finalists can join virtually.

Last year the program launched five Fellows: LJ Johnson (signed by Hungry Man), Alexander Gilbert (signed by Revery), Grace Evangelista, Rhym Guissé and Andrew Rhee--all of whom are becoming mainstream commercial/conent directors.

The CDDP’s mission is to foster awareness and increase opportunities for women and other under-represented directors in the commercial production industry through a targeted program of outreach, mentorship, and exposure. The Program works to pair unsigned directors with AICP member production companies.  In addition to receiving a grant to create a spec commercial, the Program includes an industry showcase of the directors’ work, workshops specific to the intricacies of the ad world, mentoring, and shadowing with commercial production companies. 

For information on the program and how and when to apply visit here or contact Lamison.