Lifetime and the AFI Conservatory Directing Workshop for Women (AFI DWW) have teamed up to, starting next year, create and offer production jobs for each graduate of the Institute’s acclaimed program throughout the A+E Networks’ portfolio of platforms.
The AFI DWW is a workshop that has, for over 40 years, committed to increasing the number of women working professionally in screen directing. As part of Lifetime’s Broad Focus initiative dedicated to cultivating and supporting women behind the camera, the alliance with AFI is all a continuation of the network’s commitment to make significant changes for women in the media industry. The goal of the program is to align the skills and career aspirations of each woman with an opportunity that begins to build solid industry experience for them, to help launch their professional careers.
"To address what seems like an endless cycle of gender inequity in media, I believe we need to think beyond what our industry has already tried to do through mentorships and internships. We need to stop talking and start moving the needle, and one solution is to simply give women jobs. Our unprecedented alliance with the AFI Conservatory Directing Workshop for Women is just a first step and I and hope it will inspire others to join our charge," stated Nancy Dubuc, President and CEO, A+E Networks.
"AFI has been a proud force in training female directors for more than four decades," said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. "Our graduates to date have seen great success and made great strides for women in the community, and we are honored to join with A+E Networks’ Lifetime in furthering the careers of the next generation of great storytellers – in a world that needs them now more than ever."
Since announcing the Broad Focus initiative, this year to date, 42% of Lifetime’s original movie directors have been women, accounting for the top five movies on the network in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Women 25-54. Lifetime movies directed by women also account for three of the top five original movies in ad-supported cable with Adults 25-54, Women 25-54, Adults 18-49 and Women 18-49.
The AFI Conservatory Directing Workshop for Women (DWW) is a hands-on training program committed to increasing the number of women working professionally in screen directing. DWW offers participants intensive training in narrative filmmaking in an innovative workshop. Each participant is required to complete a short film or series by the end of the program. DWW is open to women with three years or more of professional experience in the arts. The program is tuition-free though participants are responsible for raising the funds for their projects.
Applications for 2016 are closed. But you can visit the program’s website for details on upcoming application periods: http://www.afi.com/dww/program.aspx.