By Robert Goldrich
SHOOT's Production Outlook Survey of agency chief creative officers, creative directors, heads of production and executive producers found diversity and inclusion to be among the prominent issues of concern. Various initiatives have emerged to help spark progress on the DEI front–including on the entertainment content creation side. One such program is the inaugural Film Independent Imaginar TV Incubator for Fearless Latinx Creators launched by Film Independent and FX, a division of Disney Entertainment, in collaboration with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP).
The Incubator will sponsor six Latinx creators as they participate in workshops, conversations and individual meetings providing support, insight on the FX Networks drama programming brand and direct access to industry leaders.
Shola Ajewole, SVP creative & cultural diversity, FX, said, “This program continues our longstanding commitment to developing programming that is reflective of the world we live in, and amplifying the voices we have not yet heard from.”
Gina Balian, president, FX Entertainment, added, “By combining Film Independent’s innovative writer programs and knack for finding the next generation of creators with FX’s brand of fearless storytelling, we have been able to create a new program to engage Latinx creators in our search for the next hit series for FX.”
The first part of the two-week Incubator is a three-day intensive that will focus on workshopping selected one-hour drama pilots, deepening pitch skills, and gaining access and insights into the FX development process. Creators will pitch their original one-hour drama pilots to FX at the conclusion of the initial intensive. Over the remainder of the program, creators will have individual meetings with creative advisors and execs to develop a second original drama concept that will be pitched to FX on the final day. A $3,000 grant will be awarded to each participant, along with travel grants as required for selected creators participation.
Celebrating 30 years, Film Independent Artist Development programs support creative voices and diverse perspectives in film and television by giving filmmakers crucial resources they need to advance their projects and build sustainable careers. Alumni of Artist Development programs include Tze Chun (I’m a Virgo), Linda Yvette Chavez and Marvin Lemus (Gentified), LaToya Morgan (Duster), and Robbie Pickering (Gaslit).
The application deadline for the Incubator for Fearless Latinx Creators is February 2, with an extended deadline for Film Independent members on February 9. To apply, visit filmindependent.org.
Josh C. Kline joins Scripto as CEO
Josh C. Kline has been named the new CEO of Scripto, the innovative real-time, cloud-native platform designed for remote collaborative scriptwriting and production. Kline will steer Scripto into its next phase of growth. Plans call for Scripto to further transform collaboration throughout the writing and production stages, enabling creative teams to accelerate their workflow and enhance teamwork.
Emmy®-winning programs such as “Late Night with Stephen Colbert,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” “The Daily Show,” and the Weekend Update on “Saturday Night Live” rely on Scripto’s advanced workflow tools to allow show writers and production teams to work together seamlessly from any location.
“Late Night” host Colbert, co-founder of Scripto, said of Kline, “His deep background in entertainment technology will help take our groundbreaking platform to new heights, and also ensure we are on the winning side when the AIs finally make their move, which we all know is coming. I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together.
Kline brings a wealth of experience in technology and media. He previously served as head of media & entertainment at Box. Kline co-founded Sample Digital, where he developed Digital Dailies™, revolutionizing the review and approval process for film and TV production and earning him a Primetime Engineering Emmy Award. His entrepreneurial spirit continued with the launch of Secure Path Technology, a cloud-based content ID and metadata services company. Kline was chief strategy officer at Final Draft before joining Box as head of media & entertainment, and has consulted for major global clients including Microsoft, Avid, and Motion Picture Domain Registry.
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