by Team TVWriter™ Press Service
Universal Pictures has announced that the studio has created an Emerging Writers Fellowship designed to identify and cultivate new and unique voices with a passion for storytelling. Emerging writers who are chosen to participate in the program will work within the studio to hone their skills and gain access and exposure to Universal executives, producers and other key industry professionals. The announcement was made by Universal Pictures Co-Presidents of Production, Peter Cramer and Jeffrey Kirschenbaum who will oversee the fellows.
Under terms approved by the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW), the Emerging Writers Fellowship will allow Universal the opportunity to expand the community of writers with whom the studio works. The Fellowship was an idea championed by Executive Vice President of Production Scott Bernstein. Bernstein brought the idea to Universal’s Diversity Council and developed it in collaboration with Arturo Barquet who is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Film Production at Universal. The Diversity Council, which is led by Universal Co-Chairman Donna Langley, has made the Emerging Writers Fellowship one of its key initiatives in expanding the number of diverse talent within Universal Pictures’ workforce both in front of and behind the camera.
“The film group is always looking for ways to bring diverse perspectives into the studio fold and this fellowship is a great way to expand our company’s pool of talent,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for NBCUniversal Craig Robinson. “These initiatives are extremely important in driving NBCUniversal’s culture of diversity and inclusion in meaningful ways.”