Thirteen female executives from the six major studios will assume mentorship duties for filmmakers at the AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women (DWW).
Those women comprise the “Executive Circle,” which “will offer guidance about the studio system, how projects are greenlit, advice on taking notes, and the role of the studio executive,” according to Variety.
“This unique program to AFI is a commitment from the film and television community to lessen the gap of female directors in the moving image arts,” noted the DWW’s press release.
The members of the Executive Circle are Lauren Abrahams, VP, Sony; Amanda Brown, VP, Paramount; Daria Cercek, VP, Fox; Tonia Davis, director of development, Disney; Maradith Frenkel, VP, Universal; Niija Kuykendall, VP, Warner Bros.; Annie Laks, VP, Paramount Animation; Alana Mayo, CE, Paramount; Anikah McLaren, VP, Universal; Chantal Nong, VP, Warner Bros.; Sara Scott, Director of Development, Universal; Alison Small, VP, Paramount/Paramount Insurge; and Erin Westerman, VP, Good Universe.
Over 275 women have participated in the AFI DWW.
[via Variety]
