Walt Disney Television is looking to add more women, people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, individuals with disabilities, and those from other underrepresented communities behind-the-scenes. According to Deadline, the studio has introduced two new inclusive initiatives, the Executive Incubator Program and the Television Studios Intern Program, in order to broaden its off-camera talent.
Now accepting applications, the Executive Incubator Program is a two-year rotational initiative that will be held across ABC Entertainment and Freeform. The “apprentice-style pilot program” will sees participants “gain[ing] experience in all aspects of network business, including development, current, casting, and marketing with the goal of job placement within the company.” The program’s inaugural cohort is expected to begin in October.
“Our jobs allow us the privilege to nurture great storytellers and it’s imperative that these stories come from different places, with authentic points of view and varied perspectives,” said Karey Burke, president of ABC Entertainment. “It’s incumbent on us to help find and nurture the next generation of executives who will create new opportunities for storytellers. The Executive Incubator Program is another step in making our ranks more diverse and our stories more reflective of the world we live in.”
Candidates for the Intern Program “will be sourced from nonprofits including Academy Gold, Ghetto Film School, Los Angeles City College, Manifest Works, and Evolve Entertainment Fund,” Deadline details. Designed to coincide with the fall 2019 TV season, the scheme will provide participants real-world television production, post-production, writing, and casting experience.
“Our Studios program creates opportunity for underrepresented talent to access an incredible range of career opportunities at Disney Television Studios,” explained Disney Television Studios prez Craig Hunegs. “This new initiative is a win-win-win – it helps us discover talent in underrepresented areas, gives candidates real experience as they grow their careers, and ultimately leads to more diverse stories being told.”
The Executive Incubator and the Television Studios Intern Programs aren’t Disney’s only inclusion initiatives. The company is also home to Launchpad: Shorts Incubator, which offers underrepresented directors the chance to helm a Disney+ short, the Women’s Production Program, the Disney|ABC Writing and Directing Programs, and more.
