Fox Inclusion today announced the participants in its sixth annual Fox Writers Lab (formerly known as the Fox Writers Intensive), the company’s writers’ platform is designed to nurture experienced writers who have diverse voices, backgrounds and life experiences, as well as create a strong pipeline of well-rounded talent for potential staffing on Fox television, feature film and digital entertainment productions.
The participants will spend 14 weeks honing their crafts and establishing deeper connections with a wide range of Fox staff writers, showrunners, screenwriters, directors and creative executives.
The initiative offers writers a rigorous, four-month curriculum focused on 1) developing original material; 2) learning and honing writing skills for multiple mediums; and 3) exploring the business of media and entertainment.
Selected writers will have the opportunity to receive detailed feedback and guidance on their scripts through interactive “master classes” and will engage in intimate guest speaker sessions with experienced writers, showrunners, executives and directors to discuss case studies of their films and television shows, and learn about their writing processes. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive priority staffing meetings for the established Fox Writers Lab Staff Writer position on Fox entertainment productions.
In addition, at the conclusion of the intensive, one finalist will be named the 2017 Fox Writers Lab Fellow who would be awarded the following: either a purchase and development deal on his/her original script; or a “first-look” deal from Fox Broadcasting Company or any of its affiliated entities; an announcement across all Fox entertainment businesses and through entertainment trade publications; one-on-one creative meetings with network and other Fox entertainment business heads, as well as senior cross-divisional current and development executives; and priority staffing efforts across Fox entertainment properties.
All lab participants will receive staffing meetings for current Fox entertainment series and a first-look agreement to option their original and new scripts.
This year’s Fox Writers Lab writers/teams and their respective representatives are:
· Arielle Diaz (CAA)
· Brad Marques (Laurelmont Management Group)
· Elizabeth Oyebode (Independent)
· Erick Castrillon and Esteban Arango (Valor Entertainment)
· Jennifer Graham Imada (Independent)
· Keely MacDonald (Grandview)
· Lauren Tyler (Art/Work Entertainment)
· Mellori Velasquez (Independent)
· Nicky Young (Independent)
· Pilar Valdés (Independent)
· Tania Lotia (CAA & Laurelmont Management Group)
· Yasemin Yilmaz (Independent)
Regarding the Fox Writers Lab, Ildy Modrovich, executive producer and co-showrunner on Fox’s drama, “Lucifer,” said, “Coming into our second season, we decided to re-hire our entire writing staff. We did, however, have space for a couple more. Being incredibly happy with the chemistry of our room, we knew we had to choose wisely and could not have been luckier to find Julia Fontana from the Fox Writers Lab. I am blown away by her positive attitude, collaborative skills, unique POV and, man, can she write.”
Tom Donaghy, co-creator and executive producer of “Star,” added, “Lee Daniels and I wanted the ‘Star’ writers’ room to be as inclusive as possible. We also wanted to find strong female voices who could write honestly for our young characters. When Jamila Daniel came to us through the Fox Writers Lab, we knew immediately how much she would bring to the project. Her history as a music journalist was an added bonus. We were lucky the Lab was there when we were hiring, and doubly lucky to hire Jamila.”
Terence Carter, Executive Vice President, Drama Programming, Development and Event Series, for Fox, said, “Having been closely involved with Fox Writers Lab, it has been wonderful to see the impact its participants have made on a number of our dramas. While learning from the best auspices in the business, they bring new and fresh ideas to the writing room and bolster a creative process that thrives on diverse perspectives.”
Suzanna Makkos, Fox’s Executive Vice President, Comedy Development and Programming, noted, “There’s a deep well of untapped talent that deserves to be discovered, developed and empowered to tell their stories. Fox Writers Lab is a great tool to open the door and create meaningful opportunities for these future writers, producers and creators, and I’m looking forward to working with the members of this year’s class.”
Once again, Fox Writers Lab has partnered with the Young Storytellers, which is dedicated to inspiring young people to discover the power of their own voices. As part of their Fox Writers Lab experience, this year’s finalists will mentor elementary school students who are participating in the Young Storytellers’ “Script to Stage” program, a semester-long program in which students write their own original short script, then see it performed live by professional actors.
Fox Inclusion is a department within the Fox Entertainment Group designed to identify programming and operational opportunities that reflect diverse perspectives across all of its entertainment platforms.
