The Television Academy Foundation has named two new members to its board of directors: Nne Ebong, VP, overall deals, series at Netflix, and Jamila Hunter, executive VP of programming and development at Freeform, Disney General Entertainment’s young-adult network. Ebong and Hunter have been elected to three-year terms, effective immediately.
“We are thrilled to welcome Nne Ebong and Jamila Hunter to our board,” said Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy Foundation. “We look forward to implementing their collective expertise and strategic guidance in the Foundation’s future plans for educational programming and community outreach to help build a more inclusive and diverse television industry.”
As VP of overall deals, series at Netflix, Ebong is responsible for leading the development of series under creative partnerships with Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland and President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, among others.
Prior to joining Netflix, Ebong was creative lead at Wiip, a global film and television studio. During her time there she played an integral role in the studio’s efforts to identify, develop and produce projects for the cable, streaming and international marketplace, including HBO’s The White House Plumbers starring Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux, and Amazon’s The Summer I Turned Pretty created by New York Times bestselling author Jenny Han.
Ebong also headed drama development for ABC Studios from 2013-2018 where she shepherded programming from some of the industry’s top writers and producers including Rhimes, John Ridley, Guillermo del Toro and Susannah Grant. Series Ebong developed include Emmy® Award winners and nominees such as Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, American Crime, Once Upon A Time, Revenge and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Ebong has been honored by the “I Have A Dream” Foundation, Los Angeles. She serves as a Big Sister through The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles. She is also a mentor for Who’s in the Room, a program launched by Time’s Up to help diversify the executive and producer ranks throughout the industry.
As EVP of programming and development at Freeform, Hunter oversees all scripted and unscripted development and current originals for Disney General Entertainment’s young-adult network. She returned to Disney in 2020 after acting as president of Khalabo Ink Society, Kenya Barris’ production company. Prior to this, Hunter was sr. VP of ABC Comedy where she oversaw the development of all network sitcoms. Under her leadership, ABC launched the highly rated reboot of Roseanne and The Conners. Before stepping into this role, Hunter was VP of ABC Comedy where she worked on projects ranging from Emmy-nominated black-ish to Last Man Standing. Prior to joining ABC, she worked her way up the executive ranks through various roles in comedy, alternative and digital programming at NBC, Bravo, OWN and 20th Century Fox Television.
Hunter is also on the board of the Ghetto Film School and HBCU in Los Angeles, two organizations that share the Foundation’s focus on innovating ways to diversify the talent pipeline. In addition, she works with Women in Film and Arts for LA and serves as a peer group advisor for the Television Academy’s Executive Peer Group.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More