MACRO and The Black List along with Lena Waithe and Eva Longoria are launching a new lab for people of color to develop and produce an original digital or television pilot script.

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The MACRO Episodic Lab Powered by The Black List’s mission is to “discover episodic storytellers of color, empower them with creative tools and resources to help launch their careers and provide industry support to writers from a wide range of backgrounds who typically do not have access to the traditional Hollywood system.”

“We are elated to partner with Franklin Leonard of The Black List, Lena and Eva to further our mission of bolstering fresh voices of color.  They are all leaders of the current shift towards equitable representation and we are thrilled to join forces as MACRO continues to produce and champion work that is rooted in authenticity, creativity and excellence,” said Charles D. King, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, MACRO and Aaliyah Williams, Chief Content Officer, MACRO Digital Studio.

“I am a longtime fan of everyone involved in this process, from Charles D. King and Aaliyah Williams at MACRO to Lena Waithe and Eva Longoria, whose commitment to replicating their success for others speaks for itself at this point. It is a true joy to partner with them in a process that will identify the next generation of Lenas, Evas, Charleses, and Aaliyahs.  I look forward to sitting back on my couch in the not too distant future and enjoying the episodic fruits of their labor,” said Franklin Leonard, Founder, The Black List.

Applicants are invited to submit their ideas to be reviewed by MACRO and the Black List team.  Semi-finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their projects to a group of representatives from MACRO, The Black List, Waithe and Longoria. Up to three winners will receive development support and a pilot presentation or sizzle at a budget of up to $30,000 each.

“I’m super excited to find some fresh new voices.  By working with MACRO and The Black List it’s a great way for me to find scripts that otherwise wouldn’t reach my desk,” said Lena Waithe.

“UnbeliEVAable’s mandate and mission has always been to nurture and foster diverse voices so, when MACRO and The Black List presented us with the opportunity to participate in the episodic lab, we knew this was the perfect partnership. Discovering emerging voices is one of the most thrilling parts of producing and we can’t wait to bring these stories to screen alongside Lena and the team,” said Eva Longoria.

Applications, including fresh and culturally relevant concepts that push boundaries and challenge ideas, are being accepted at http://episodiclab.staymacro.com from June 6, 2018 – August 6, 2018. The winners will be announced in December 2018.