Walt Disney Television Announces New Programs for Individuals From Underrepresented Backgrounds

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Walt Disney Television has announced the launch of two new initiative programs for aspiring television executives and producers.

What’s happening: 

  • Walt Disney Television has announced two new initiatives designed to create opportunities for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds:
    • The Executive Incubator Program
    • Walt Disney Television Studios Intern Program
  • The Executive Incubator Program is intended to create a pipeline of next-generation network executives while the Walt Disney Television Studios Intern Program will offer a career path for diverse talent behind the camera.
  • These new programs continue Disney|ABC’s commitment to expand its diverse talent workforce and better reflect the audiences it serves, and will seek out talent with diverse and varied perspectives aspiring to hold network executive roles and production positions across the Walt Disney Television studios. This commitment includes:
    • Women
    • People of color
    • The LGBTQ+ community
    • Military veterans
    • People with disabilities

Executive Incubator Program:

  • The apprentice-style Executive Incubator Program will expose participants to all aspects of network business, including development, current, casting and marketing, with the goal of job placement within the company at the end of the two-year rotational program.
  • The program—which will operate across ABC Entertainment and Freeform—is accepting applicants now, with the first cohort expected to join the program in October.
  • Visit DisneyCareers.com for additional information.

Walt Disney Television Studios Intern Program:

  • Participants in the Walt Disney Television Studios Intern Program will work with the Studios’ production, post production, writing and casting teams to develop their skills and gain real job experience as they embark upon careers in the entertainment industry.
  • Qualified candidates will be sourced from nonprofits including:
    • Academy Gold
    • Ghetto Film School
    • Los Angeles City College
    • Manifest Works
    • Evolve Entertainment Fund
  • The initiative is scheduled to begin in time for the 2019 fall season.

What they’re saying:

  • Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment: “Our jobs allow us the privilege to nurture great storytellers and it’s imperative that these stories come from different places, with authentic points of view and varied perspectives. It’s incumbent on us to help find and nurture the next generation of executives who will create new opportunities for storytellers. The Executive Incubator Program is another step in making our ranks more diverse and our stories more reflective of the world we live in.”
  • Tom Ascheim, president, Freeform: “The Executive Incubator Program gifts us with the opportunity to continue to create a culture in which the storytellers of tomorrow are given a foundation for a more inclusive and diverse television landscape. Some of the richest storytelling is yet to be found, from perspectives that we haven’t yet seen or heard, and we are truly looking forward to welcoming in a new generation of leaders who will open the door to these voices on- and off-screen.”
  • Craig Hunegs, president, Disney Television Studios: “Our Studios program creates opportunity for underrepresented talent to access an incredible range of career opportunities at Disney Television Studios. This new initiative is a win-win-win—it helps us discover talent in underrepresented areas, gives candidates real experience as they grow their careers and ultimately leads to more diverse stories being told.”

More about Walt Disney Television:

  • Walt Disney Television continues to be an industry leader in championing inclusion and diversity, through long-running programs that include:
    • ABC Discovers
    • Disney|ABC Writing Program
    • Disney|ABC Directing Program
    • Women’s Production Program
    • National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) TV Writers Program
  • To learn more about the Los Angeles-based program, as well as how Walt Disney Television’s Creative Talent Development & Inclusion connects writers, producers, directors and other members of the creative community to opportunities across Walt Disney Television and beyond, visit DisneyABCTalentDevelopment.com.

ICYMI:

  • As part of the Walt Disney Television Writing Program, today Disney Channel announced it has established The Eunetta T. Boone Comedy Writer’s Scholarship.
  • This scholarship will provide dedicated funds to hire emerging and diverse writers who are pursuing careers in comedy writing for television.
  • The scholarship honors the trailblazing writer and producer who was executive producer and showrunner of Disney Channel’s comedy series Raven’s Home when she passed away in March 2019.
  • Boone’s credits include:
    • One on One
    • Cuts
    • My Wife & Kids
    • The Hughleys
    • Living Single
    • The Parent ‘Hood
    • The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
  • Nancy Kanter, executive vice president, Content and Creative Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide: “Eunetta loved the craft of writing, she was proud of her art both as a reflection of our world and as a way to shape culture. She had a keen appreciation of true talent and mentored many young diverse voices throughout her career. As a showrunner, she was also an inspiring leader who steered sitcoms with tremendous wit and wisdom. We miss her and are proud to begin this scholarship that will carry on her legacy of encouraging future generations of writers.”