Sony Pictures Television (SPT) announced its Los Angeles-based Diverse Directors Program on Monday.
Following an application process, 20 semi-finalists will take part in a June episodic directing workshop and attend networking events and lectures with industry professionals on the Sony Lot in Culver City, Calif.
Three finalists will then be invited into the program to shadow participating TV directors on various series. Participants may even get the opportunity to direct an episode of an SPT series next season.
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“This program continues our commitment to diversity at SPT,” Sony Pictures Television President Steve Mosko said in a press release. “The Diverse Directors Program will provide access and training to promising future directors and at the same time provide us with new, emerging talent behind the camera with various points of view.”
“We are encouraged by SPT’s commitment to increasing diversity,” said Frank Gonzalez, assistant executive director of diversity at the Directors Guild of America. “We hope that the launch of the new SPT Diverse Directors Program will result in a welcome and much-needed boost to director diversity in episodic television.”
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Added Paul Martin, senior vice president and chief diversity officer for Sony Pictures Entertainment: “This program reflects Sony Pictures’ on-going mission to provide our divisions with the support needed to undertake initiatives that enrich the lives of our employees, our corporate extended families and our audiences. Diversity on all levels is a central focus to many of our programs, and we fully believe that the Diverse Directors Program will not only provide access and experience to a diverse group of potential directors, but will also become a key component of Sony Pictures’ business strategy.”