#OscarsSoWhite has come and gone, but Hollywood is still scrambling to find diverse talent.
Warner Bros., a major film studio, is attempting to address the problem through its Emerging Film Directors Workshop, a “talent incubator designed to give access and voice to new and underrepresented talent.”
The program was announced on Thursday by Greg Silverman, the studio’s president of creative development and worldwide production, and it will launch later this year.
Through the program, minority filmmakers will undergo a nine-month intensive fellowship at the studio, after which they will have the opportunity to showcase their work to the film community. Throughout the fellowship, each aspiring director will be paired with an executive mentor from WB who will coach them through the entire filmmaking process, from pitch to production to premiere.
Warner will pay $100,000 in production costs and provide participants with a salary, reports the New York Times.
“There are so many bright, creative individuals at the threshold, who just need access to bring their vision and voice to a bigger audience,” said Silverman in a statement. “By providing that access, as well as a professional network and funding for a short film, Warner Bros. will play a small part in developing the next generation of great storytellers.”
