The Producers Guild of America (PGA) is now accepting applications for its eleventh annual “Power of Diversity” Producing Workshop. Applications will be accepted until Monday, April 13, 2015 at noon/PDT. Ten applicants will be selected to take part in this multi-session intensive workshop, which will be held one or two evenings per week beginning Thursday, June 11th. The “Power of Diversity” workshop is designed to foster the development of producers and projects that embody and promote diversity in film, television, documentary, and new media.
You do not need to be a PGA member to apply.
“Lately, there’s been a rallying cry to motivate the entertainment community to accurately reflect our world in its storytelling. As the PGA enters its second decade nurturing new voices through our ‘Power of Diversity’ workshop, we are proud that promoting diversity in the top ranks of film, television, and digital production continues to be a top priority for the Guild,” said PGA Diversity Committee Chair Deborah Calla.
The PGA’s annual workshop gives ten selected participants unique access to some of the most successful producers in the industry through master classes, as well as giving participants the opportunity to learn from experienced producers in one-on-one mentoring sessions. The topics are tailored to the participants and their individual projects, including aspects of producing such as story development, pitching, packaging, financing, marketing, and new media opportunities.
Said Charles Howard, PGA Diversity Committee Chair, “We look forward to working with our class of 2015 ‘Power of Diversity’ workshop participants, who have the potential to become new and powerful voices within the next generation of producers.”
Past mentors of the PGA’s “Power of Diversity” workshop have included top producing talents such as Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice”), Bruce Cohen (SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, AMERICAN BEAUTY), Ali LeRoi (“Everybody Hates Chris,” ARE WE THERE YET?), Luis Barreto (“America’s Next Top Model,” “LA Ink”), Bonnie Arnold (HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. TOY STORY), Mark Gordon (“Ray Donovan,” SAVING PRIVATE RYAN), Nina Yong (“DOPE”, “FRUITVALE STATION”) Lori McCreary (INVICTUS, “Madam Secretary”), Marshall Herskovitz (THE LAST SAMURAI, “thirtysomething”), Caryn Mandabach (“Nurse Jackie,” “That 70s Show”), Damon Lindelof (“Lost,” STAR TREK), Ralph Winter (X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR), among many others.
Past workshop participants who have gone onto produce successful films and television series include Ben Lobato (“The Unit,” “Justified”), Aaron Rahsaan Thomas (“Southland”), Sarah DeLio (BLESS ME, ULTIMA) and Holly Overton (“The Client List”).
Information and application forms for the PGA’s “Power of Diversity” workshop are at: http://www.pgadiversity.org.
The Producers Guild of America (PGA)
The Producers Guild of America is the non-profit trade group that represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and new media. The Producers Guild has more than 6,900 members who work together to protect and improve their careers, the industry and community by providing members with employment opportunities, seeking to expand health benefits, promoting fair and impartial standards for the awarding of producing credits, as well as other education and advocacy efforts such as encouraging sustainable production practices.
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