The inaugural Television Screenwriting Lab for Black Muslim Writers — created to open a pathway for writers who have not been represented in television — wrapped this week. The lab was led by The Blackhouse Foundation, which works to expand opportunities for Black content creators, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (Mpac) Hollywood Bureau, which strives to bring authentic, nuanced, and inclusive presentations of Muslims on screen.
Industry instructors Qasim Basir, Dma, Hanelle Culpepper and Fanshen Cox worked with the eight screenwriters to embrace their unique voices and experiences, hone their craft, refine their pitches and prepare them for careers in the industry. The sessions were held on Smashcut, a platform for online film education.
The project culminated this week with the screenwriters presenting their projects and personal stories to Participant television executives.
“Participant has been the industry standard when it comes to social impact entertainment and we are so grateful for...
Industry instructors Qasim Basir, Dma, Hanelle Culpepper and Fanshen Cox worked with the eight screenwriters to embrace their unique voices and experiences, hone their craft, refine their pitches and prepare them for careers in the industry. The sessions were held on Smashcut, a platform for online film education.
The project culminated this week with the screenwriters presenting their projects and personal stories to Participant television executives.
“Participant has been the industry standard when it comes to social impact entertainment and we are so grateful for...
- 8/18/2021
- by Lawrence Yee
- The Wrap
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Pearl Street Films and Exodus Film Group have boarded “Flash Before the Bang,” a sports drama about an all-deaf high school track team.
The film has been in development for some time and will star Troy Kotsur, who was recently seen in “Coda,” along with actress Deanne Bray and “Deaf U” host Nyle Dimarco.
“Flash Before the Bang” is a coming-of-age story inspired by the life of the film’s deaf writer and director Jevon Whetter. It follows a track and field team at the Oregon High School for the Deaf who in 1986 overcame discrimination and adversity to become state champions.
Kotsur in the film will play the team’s head coach, Dimarco an assistant coach, and Bray will portray the mother of one of the film’s young co-lead.
“Flash Before the Bang” will also now utilize an inclusion rider, which Pearl Street...
The film has been in development for some time and will star Troy Kotsur, who was recently seen in “Coda,” along with actress Deanne Bray and “Deaf U” host Nyle Dimarco.
“Flash Before the Bang” is a coming-of-age story inspired by the life of the film’s deaf writer and director Jevon Whetter. It follows a track and field team at the Oregon High School for the Deaf who in 1986 overcame discrimination and adversity to become state champions.
Kotsur in the film will play the team’s head coach, Dimarco an assistant coach, and Bray will portray the mother of one of the film’s young co-lead.
“Flash Before the Bang” will also now utilize an inclusion rider, which Pearl Street...
- 8/16/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Troy Kotsur (Coda), Nyle Dimarco (America’s Next Top Model) and Deanne Bray (Heroes) are attached to star in Flash Before The Bang, a groundbreaking sports pic from Pearl Street Films and Exodus Film Group.
The coming-of-age drama tells the true story of an all-deaf high school track & field team from the Oregon School for the Deaf. The team overcame discrimination and adversity on their way to an unprecedented victory against much larger Oregon public schools—becoming the Oregon State Track & Field Champions in 1986.
Kotsur will play the lead role of Coach Farrior, with Dimarco playing an assistant coach. Bray will portray Mrs. Warner, the mother of the film’s co-lead Jake, whose journey the film follows. Casting for other roles is currently underway, with an eye towards filming in the spring.
Flash Before the Bang showcases the Deaf experience in an unprecedented way: through the authentic lens of a...
The coming-of-age drama tells the true story of an all-deaf high school track & field team from the Oregon School for the Deaf. The team overcame discrimination and adversity on their way to an unprecedented victory against much larger Oregon public schools—becoming the Oregon State Track & Field Champions in 1986.
Kotsur will play the lead role of Coach Farrior, with Dimarco playing an assistant coach. Bray will portray Mrs. Warner, the mother of the film’s co-lead Jake, whose journey the film follows. Casting for other roles is currently underway, with an eye towards filming in the spring.
Flash Before the Bang showcases the Deaf experience in an unprecedented way: through the authentic lens of a...
- 8/16/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The Recording Academy announced Wednesday the introduction of an inclusion rider for production on the 2022 Grammy Awards telecast, a step to ensure that the production staff on the ceremony will be diverse at all levels of the show’s production.
The inclusion rider, which generally offers provisions to insure that a film or TV production’s hiring of cast and crew will be equal and diverse and draw from a wider pool, is in development now between the Recording Academy and Color of Change and is part of the Recording Academy’s larger #ChangeMusic campaign.
The rider will be an agreement between the Recording Academy and the production company for the Grammys, which will become the first major awards show to implement one. It will require the production company to audition, recruit and hire from a diverse pool for both onstage and offstage talent who have been historically and systematically excluded from the industry.
The inclusion rider, which generally offers provisions to insure that a film or TV production’s hiring of cast and crew will be equal and diverse and draw from a wider pool, is in development now between the Recording Academy and Color of Change and is part of the Recording Academy’s larger #ChangeMusic campaign.
The rider will be an agreement between the Recording Academy and the production company for the Grammys, which will become the first major awards show to implement one. It will require the production company to audition, recruit and hire from a diverse pool for both onstage and offstage talent who have been historically and systematically excluded from the industry.
- 8/4/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
The Recording Academy has announced that the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022 will be produced with an inclusion rider, a contract addendum designed to help ensure equity and inclusion at every level of the production.
Originally developed to address systemic diversity and equity issues in film and television, inclusion riders are provisions in an actor’s or filmmaker’s contract that provides for a certain level of diversity in casting and production staff. The Recording Academy will add its rider as an addendum to a contract between itself and the production company for the Grammys Awards. According to the announcement, “This addendum is a contractual obligation for the production company to make its best effort to recruit, audition, interview, and hire on-stage and off-stage people who have been historically and systematically excluded from the industry.”
The full inclusion rider will be released publicly on Sept. 16, 2021.
The move is the latest...
Originally developed to address systemic diversity and equity issues in film and television, inclusion riders are provisions in an actor’s or filmmaker’s contract that provides for a certain level of diversity in casting and production staff. The Recording Academy will add its rider as an addendum to a contract between itself and the production company for the Grammys Awards. According to the announcement, “This addendum is a contractual obligation for the production company to make its best effort to recruit, audition, interview, and hire on-stage and off-stage people who have been historically and systematically excluded from the industry.”
The full inclusion rider will be released publicly on Sept. 16, 2021.
The move is the latest...
- 8/4/2021
- by Jem Aswad
- Variety Film + TV
Two decades before diversity in film and TV went from a minor industry concern to a mandate, Reel Works became a pioneering force in teaching underserved youth about filmmaking and bringing them into the business.
On May 26, co-founders Stephanie Walter and John C. Williams will celebrate the nonprofit’s many achievements at the Reel Works 20th Anniversary Gala. During the virtual and in-person New York City benefit event, hosted by “Hamilton’s” Bryan Terrell Clark, actress-writer-producer Issa Rae will be honored with the annual Changemaker award, and Variety will bestow its inaugural Voice of Inspiration Award on filmmaker Eddie Huang. Other honorees are playwright Fanshen Cox, lawyer Kalpana Kotagal and Endeavor Content’s Dr. Tasmin Plater. The F. John Outcalt filmmaking award will be announced at the event.
It’s all quite a leap from Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Ymca, where newlywed TV producers Walter and Williams were hired to...
On May 26, co-founders Stephanie Walter and John C. Williams will celebrate the nonprofit’s many achievements at the Reel Works 20th Anniversary Gala. During the virtual and in-person New York City benefit event, hosted by “Hamilton’s” Bryan Terrell Clark, actress-writer-producer Issa Rae will be honored with the annual Changemaker award, and Variety will bestow its inaugural Voice of Inspiration Award on filmmaker Eddie Huang. Other honorees are playwright Fanshen Cox, lawyer Kalpana Kotagal and Endeavor Content’s Dr. Tasmin Plater. The F. John Outcalt filmmaking award will be announced at the event.
It’s all quite a leap from Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Ymca, where newlywed TV producers Walter and Williams were hired to...
- 5/26/2021
- by Gregg Goldstein
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Prime Video announced that the final season of “Bosch” will premiere on June 25.
All eight episodes will launch at once. Based on the best-selling Michael Connelly novels, the show has been the streamer’s longest running series so far.
The new season kicks off when a 10-year-old girl dies in an arson fire, prompting Detective Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) to risk everything to bring her killer to justice despite opposition from powerful forces.
The cast also includes Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Madison Lintz and Lance Reddick. “Bosch” is executive produced by Welliver, Elle Johnson, Pieter Jan Brugge, Henrik Bastin, Michael Connelly and Eric Overmyer.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
Partnerships
The Atx Television Festival announced the additions of HBO’s upcoming new series “The White Lotus” and “In Treatment,” as well as HBO Max’s new comedy “Hacks,” a Season 3 discussion of “Titans” and a theme panel...
All eight episodes will launch at once. Based on the best-selling Michael Connelly novels, the show has been the streamer’s longest running series so far.
The new season kicks off when a 10-year-old girl dies in an arson fire, prompting Detective Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) to risk everything to bring her killer to justice despite opposition from powerful forces.
The cast also includes Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Madison Lintz and Lance Reddick. “Bosch” is executive produced by Welliver, Elle Johnson, Pieter Jan Brugge, Henrik Bastin, Michael Connelly and Eric Overmyer.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
Partnerships
The Atx Television Festival announced the additions of HBO’s upcoming new series “The White Lotus” and “In Treatment,” as well as HBO Max’s new comedy “Hacks,” a Season 3 discussion of “Titans” and a theme panel...
- 5/13/2021
- by Haley Bosselman
- Variety Film + TV
RespectAbility Entertainment Lab 2020 wrapped July 16, after 15 sessions intended to create an industry pipeline of professionals with disabilities behind the camera.
The five-week program is sponsored by the nonprofit RespectAbility and is run by four women with disabilities: Lauren Appelbaum, Tatiana Lee, Nasreen Alkhateeb and Leah Romond.
The program targets individuals who are interested in such jobs as writing, directing, producing, editing, sound and animation work.
It featured 30 participants, all of whom have experience in the entertainment industry prior to the Lab; however, most found they were stuck in assistant-level positions. The Lab is structured with two tracks: One for emerging talent and mid-career.
Speakers included reps from Bunim/Murray Prods., Film Independent, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Studios, the Walt Disney Studios, ViacomCBS and others.
The program is important because people with disabilities are frequently overlooked in Hollywood’s discussions about inclusion; their presence behind the camera is even rarer.
Lab members...
The five-week program is sponsored by the nonprofit RespectAbility and is run by four women with disabilities: Lauren Appelbaum, Tatiana Lee, Nasreen Alkhateeb and Leah Romond.
The program targets individuals who are interested in such jobs as writing, directing, producing, editing, sound and animation work.
It featured 30 participants, all of whom have experience in the entertainment industry prior to the Lab; however, most found they were stuck in assistant-level positions. The Lab is structured with two tracks: One for emerging talent and mid-career.
Speakers included reps from Bunim/Murray Prods., Film Independent, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Studios, the Walt Disney Studios, ViacomCBS and others.
The program is important because people with disabilities are frequently overlooked in Hollywood’s discussions about inclusion; their presence behind the camera is even rarer.
Lab members...
- 7/17/2020
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
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