Fox Global Directors Initiative Announces 16 New Fox Director Fellows to Cultivate Directors with Diverse Voices and Backgrounds
21st Century Fox Social Impact
In its ongoing endeavor to develop directors with diverse voices, backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives, Fox Audience Strategy has begun it second annual Fox Global Directors Initiative (FDI). The directors who have been named Fox Director Fellows will participate in comedy or drama apprenticeship programs and be pitched for directorial opportunities across Fox entertainment programs.
The 16 Fellows were selected after advancing through the Fox Directors Lab, an intensive three-week platform that started in July and was led by a rotation of Fox programming mentors, directors and showrunners. Nine of them will join the Comedy Apprenticeship Program (CAP) and seven will join the Drama Apprenticeship Program (DAP).
The CAP, which was created by Jason Winer, producing director of Twentieth Century Fox Television's show Life in Pieces, will give its nine Fellows the opportunity to shadow Modern Family (produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television) and Life in Pieces. Meanwhile, the seven Fellows in the DAP will shadow directors from Empire, Rosewood, Pitch, Homeland (produced by Fox 21) and several of FX Networks' shows.
"I set out to start a program like CAP, not just to form new relationships with a diverse group of young directors, but also to immerse them specifically in the shooting style and creative culture of two well-run shows," said Jason. "What I discovered in the process was that Fox had, through FDI, assembled a group that was not only wildly talented, but truly ready to take the next step."
Terence Carter, Executive Vice President, Drama Programming & Development, FOX Broadcasting Company added: "Empire, Pitch and Rosewood are all known for their diverse talent in front of and behind the camera so it was a natural fit for these shows to host Fox Director Fellows."
Eighteen of the 20 participants in the inaugural FDI class have been selected for shadowing opportunities across Fox's broadcast and cable entries.
