Warner Bros. Creates Directors Workshop to Address Diversity

Warner Bros. Pictures is continuing its efforts to tackle Hollywood’s diversity problem by launching an emerging film directors workshop, a talent incubator designed to give access and voice to new and underrepresented talent.

The studio will begin accepting applications next month and hopes to have the workshop up and running by the end of the third quarter.  The Warner Bros. Emerging Film Directors Workshop is intended to give aspiring directors a chance to develop their skills in a nine-month intensive fellowship program.

Designed to re-create the features production process on a micro level, the workshop will have participants pitch, write or work with a screenwriter, and develop a script for a short film that’s three to 10 minutes long and budgeted at $100,000. Once they have a final screenplay, filmmakers will work with physical production to prep, create a budget, cast, shoot on the lot and edit with a full post-production process.

Warner Bros. will cover all production costs and salary for filmmakers for the duration of the workshop.  The workshop will culminate in a film festival showcasing the directors’ work that will be held for agents, managers, producers and film executives from across the industry. More information on the program and the application process can be found here.

Warner Bros. also sponsors the Warner Bros. television workshop, which features both a writers and directors workshop.

For more information, read the Borys Kit article in The Hollywood Reporter by clicking here, or the Justin Kroll article in Variety by clicking here.