by Team TVWriter™ Press Service
Disney/ABC Television Group has chosen eight scribes for its 2014 Writing Program. Chosen from a field of nearly 2,000 applications, this year’s participants are comedy writers Lucas Brown Eyes (Pine Ridge Agency, SD), Lewaa Nasserdeen (Alberta, Canada) and Devanshi Patel (Pittsburgh, PA). On the drama side are Tamara Carter (Brooklyn, NY), April Fitzsimmons (Helena, MT), Nancy Kiu (Boston, MA), Ubah Mohamad (Queens, NY), and Davy Perez (Los Angeles, CA).
Tim McNeal, Vice President, Creative Talent Development Strategies said, “We’re looking forward to the unique contributions our newest group of writers will make to the creative process. Collectively these writers have intriguing backgrounds and life experiences that are sure to prove valuable in the writers’ room. Among the group include an Air Force Veteran, a bestselling author and a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe.” McNeal added, “These are writers who truly have TV production knowledge and are on the cusp of breaking through and this program will greatly aid in providing access and strategies that would not otherwise be available to them.”
Kimberly Myers, Director of Diversity, Writers Guild of America, West said, “These writers are the next generation of Writers Guild members, selected for their writing talent and the originality of their voices. This unique program has proven to be an excellent launching pad for successful television writing careers through its combination of mentoring and hands on experience.”
Established in 1990, the program’s alumni include George Mastras, Breaking Bad, Veena Sud, The Killing, Jane Espenson, Once Upon A Time In Wonderland and Saladin Patterson Psych. This year’s judges include producers from series such as ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, Suburgatory and The Goldbergs as well as ABC Family’s Melissa & Joey and Ravenswood and Disney Channel’s Liv And Maddie.