Exclusive: Hillman Grad announces its new class for the 2023 Mentorship Lab.
Organized by three distinct tracks, this year’s emerging creatives include Aj Dinsmore, Dralla Aierken, Dylan Correa, Jair Majid Kornegay, MenuEtte Silver, Naki Franklin, and Omar Nava for the writing track; Elle Yun, Janis Peebles Valdez, Jason Armani Martinez, Josca Moore, Mark Antony Howard, Priscilla Walker, Shawn Roundtree Jr., and Simran Jehani for the acting track; and Christine Murrain, Jason Young, Reese Dizon, Sharon Xiang, and Victoria Garabedian for the executive track.
Mentorship Lab instructors Carolyn Michelle Smith (co-Director of Acting Track), Behzad Dabu (co-Director of Acting Track), and Michael Svoboda (Director of Writing Track) said, “The Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab is different because we believe that community comes first. Yes, we strive to help our mentees hone their craft and expose them to people in the industry, but at the end of the day it’s the people...
Organized by three distinct tracks, this year’s emerging creatives include Aj Dinsmore, Dralla Aierken, Dylan Correa, Jair Majid Kornegay, MenuEtte Silver, Naki Franklin, and Omar Nava for the writing track; Elle Yun, Janis Peebles Valdez, Jason Armani Martinez, Josca Moore, Mark Antony Howard, Priscilla Walker, Shawn Roundtree Jr., and Simran Jehani for the acting track; and Christine Murrain, Jason Young, Reese Dizon, Sharon Xiang, and Victoria Garabedian for the executive track.
Mentorship Lab instructors Carolyn Michelle Smith (co-Director of Acting Track), Behzad Dabu (co-Director of Acting Track), and Michael Svoboda (Director of Writing Track) said, “The Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab is different because we believe that community comes first. Yes, we strive to help our mentees hone their craft and expose them to people in the industry, but at the end of the day it’s the people...
- 3/24/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Carolyn Michelle Smith has signed with Anonymous Content.
Smith is best known for her recurring role as Shaad’s (Jason Weaver) love interest Deja in Season 5 of Showtime’s “The Chi” and for playing Alan’s (Charlie Barnett) grandmother Agnes in Season 2 of Netflix’s “Russian Doll.” Other TV credits include multiple episodes on USA Network’s “Colony,” Netflix’s “House of Cards,” OWN’s “Cherish the Day” as well as episodes on NBC’s “Law and Order,” Netflix’s “Marvel’s Luke Cage” and ABC’s “How to Get Away w/ Murder.” In film, she’s appeared in “He’s Way More Famous Than You,” “Reboot Camp,” “Sunny Daze” and “Tankhouse.” On the stage, Smith made her Broadway debut in the ensemble of “Romeo and Juliet” starring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad. Additionally, she is producing Fandomodo Films’ untitled “Calypso” project, alongside Fandomodo CEO Anthony Kaan.
Along with performing and producing,...
Smith is best known for her recurring role as Shaad’s (Jason Weaver) love interest Deja in Season 5 of Showtime’s “The Chi” and for playing Alan’s (Charlie Barnett) grandmother Agnes in Season 2 of Netflix’s “Russian Doll.” Other TV credits include multiple episodes on USA Network’s “Colony,” Netflix’s “House of Cards,” OWN’s “Cherish the Day” as well as episodes on NBC’s “Law and Order,” Netflix’s “Marvel’s Luke Cage” and ABC’s “How to Get Away w/ Murder.” In film, she’s appeared in “He’s Way More Famous Than You,” “Reboot Camp,” “Sunny Daze” and “Tankhouse.” On the stage, Smith made her Broadway debut in the ensemble of “Romeo and Juliet” starring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad. Additionally, she is producing Fandomodo Films’ untitled “Calypso” project, alongside Fandomodo CEO Anthony Kaan.
Along with performing and producing,...
- 12/14/2022
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Hillman Grad said Wednesday that its Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab, the eight-month, tuition-free program that has offered support and opportunities to marginalized creatives for the past two years, will return for a third year.
A program of the Hillman Grad Foundation, the lab was founded by Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani and Justin Riley in 2021. The one-of-a-kind program offers mentees the opportunity to enhance their creative skill-set through personalized instruction from entertainment professionals, creating pathways to bring more people from diverse backgrounds into the industry.
Committed to infusing new narratives and perspectives in front of and behind the camera, the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab provides a slate of workshops, educational resources, professional development, and networking opportunities for a cohort of diverse writers, actors and aspiring creative executives. Tracks include television writing, screen acting and executive development, with instructors including Carolyn Michelle Smith and Behzad Dabu (co-directors of Acting Track) and Michael Svoboda...
A program of the Hillman Grad Foundation, the lab was founded by Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani and Justin Riley in 2021. The one-of-a-kind program offers mentees the opportunity to enhance their creative skill-set through personalized instruction from entertainment professionals, creating pathways to bring more people from diverse backgrounds into the industry.
Committed to infusing new narratives and perspectives in front of and behind the camera, the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab provides a slate of workshops, educational resources, professional development, and networking opportunities for a cohort of diverse writers, actors and aspiring creative executives. Tracks include television writing, screen acting and executive development, with instructors including Carolyn Michelle Smith and Behzad Dabu (co-directors of Acting Track) and Michael Svoboda...
- 12/14/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Hillman Grad Productions has named the 22 creatives selected for its second annual Mentorship Lab, geared toward uplifting marginalized creatives in film and television, which launches in Los Angeles on March 18, and will wrap up with a showcase event in October.
Those participating include creative executives Andy Park, Franco Chacon, Geralyn Smith, Jocelyn Waddell and Wai Wing Lau; writers Abi Rich, Blake Williams, Charlene Little, Cydney Fisher, Emily Teerasuphaset, Luveza Mubashar, Rubén Mendive, Van Newman and Victoria George; and actors Donnevan Tolbert, Jonny Williams, Kashayna Johnson, Lanora Terraé Hayden, Lee Hubilla, Lynnese Page, Michaela Obro-Ababio and Tj Chester.
The eight-month, tuition-free program funded by Hillman Grad’s CEO and Founder Lena Waithe offers mentees the opportunity to enhance their creative skillset through personalized instruction from industry professionals, creating additional pathways to bring more people from diverse backgrounds into entertainment, both in front of and behind the camera. It provides a...
Those participating include creative executives Andy Park, Franco Chacon, Geralyn Smith, Jocelyn Waddell and Wai Wing Lau; writers Abi Rich, Blake Williams, Charlene Little, Cydney Fisher, Emily Teerasuphaset, Luveza Mubashar, Rubén Mendive, Van Newman and Victoria George; and actors Donnevan Tolbert, Jonny Williams, Kashayna Johnson, Lanora Terraé Hayden, Lee Hubilla, Lynnese Page, Michaela Obro-Ababio and Tj Chester.
The eight-month, tuition-free program funded by Hillman Grad’s CEO and Founder Lena Waithe offers mentees the opportunity to enhance their creative skillset through personalized instruction from industry professionals, creating additional pathways to bring more people from diverse backgrounds into entertainment, both in front of and behind the camera. It provides a...
- 3/16/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Lena Waithe and Rishi Rajani’s development and production company Hillman Grad Productions has announced the return of its mentorship lab which offers support and opportunities to marginalized creatives.
The Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab is an 8-month, tuition-free program that offers mentees the opportunity to enhance their creative skillset through personalized instruction from industry professionals, creating additional pathways to bring more people from diverse backgrounds into the entertainment industry.
As part of the program, mentees will participate in a variety of workshops, educational resources, professional development, and networking opportunities for a cohort of diverse writers, actors, and aspiring creative executives.
Tracks include television writing, screen acting, and executive development, instructed by Carolyn Michelle Smith (co-director of Acting Track), Behzad Dabu (co-director of Acting Track), and Michael Svoboda (director of Writing Track), among others.
Participants will also have the opportunity to work with and directly interact with notable actors, directors, casting directors,...
The Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab is an 8-month, tuition-free program that offers mentees the opportunity to enhance their creative skillset through personalized instruction from industry professionals, creating additional pathways to bring more people from diverse backgrounds into the entertainment industry.
As part of the program, mentees will participate in a variety of workshops, educational resources, professional development, and networking opportunities for a cohort of diverse writers, actors, and aspiring creative executives.
Tracks include television writing, screen acting, and executive development, instructed by Carolyn Michelle Smith (co-director of Acting Track), Behzad Dabu (co-director of Acting Track), and Michael Svoboda (director of Writing Track), among others.
Participants will also have the opportunity to work with and directly interact with notable actors, directors, casting directors,...
- 1/27/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Applications are now open for Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions’ second annual mentorship lab, which provides opportunities for Bipoc creatives in TV and film.
The development and production company founded by Waithe and Rishi Rajani is again presenting the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab, an eight-month tuition-free program focused on helping marginalized storytellers connect, grow and accelerate their entertainment careers.
In its second year, the lab will be spearheaded by program director Lacy Wright and program advisor Justin Riley, who will handle day-to-day operations under the direction of Hillman Grad CEO Waithe, president of TV and film Rajani and chief operating officer Ericka Pittman.
“Since the inception of Hillman Grad, it has been our ultimate goal to break down barriers to entry into Hollywood for new and diverse artists, while also ensuring they are paid for their art,” the Hillman Grad executive team stated.
“The program was built around the...
The development and production company founded by Waithe and Rishi Rajani is again presenting the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab, an eight-month tuition-free program focused on helping marginalized storytellers connect, grow and accelerate their entertainment careers.
In its second year, the lab will be spearheaded by program director Lacy Wright and program advisor Justin Riley, who will handle day-to-day operations under the direction of Hillman Grad CEO Waithe, president of TV and film Rajani and chief operating officer Ericka Pittman.
“Since the inception of Hillman Grad, it has been our ultimate goal to break down barriers to entry into Hollywood for new and diverse artists, while also ensuring they are paid for their art,” the Hillman Grad executive team stated.
“The program was built around the...
- 1/27/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
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