Fellowship/Staff Program Panel

Buy a ticket for $3 AT THIS LINK or you will NOT be RSVP'd:
https://writingpad.com/classes/fellowship-staff-program-panel-4

Panelists: Liz Kelly (Disney Writing Program), Michael Pogarian (NBCUniversal Launch), Grace Moss (WarnerMedia), Michael Svoboda (Hillman Grad), Julio Salgado (Disruptors), Anthony Grieco (Nicholl)

Breaking in as a screenwriter is hard. Fortunately, a record number of writing fellowships/staffing programs offer newbie scribes access to the big leagues through writing programs that serve as a writing staffing pools for their studio’s TV Shows and films. We’ve brought in the gatekeepers of some of the most prestigious programs: Disney, NBCUniversal, WarnerMedia, Nicholl, Hillman Grad and Disruptors to give you the skinny. Join us for a Q & A on application do's and don'ts and how to make your packet stand out from the crowd.

Grace Moss is the VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Warner Bros. Discovery. In this role, she oversees the enterprise’s global efforts to expand the pool of historically-excluded talent and break down barriers through a comprehensive suite of pipeline programs and extensive engagements with prestigious film festivals and creative conferences. Prior to Warner Bros. Discovery, Grace served as the Head of Talent Development and Inclusion for NBC Entertainment. Before that, Grace was a Development Exec at the Style Network and a freelance reality Producer and Director on a plethora of unscripted shows on a variety of networks, including MTV, VH1, TLC and NBC.

Liz Kelly is Director of Creative Talent Development and Inclusion at Disney Entertainment Television. In this role, she works with the network and studio to staff writers and directors across ABC, ABC Signature, Freeform, Disney Channel, 20th TV, FX, Nat Geo, Disney+ and Hulu’s scripted television shows. She runs the industry-leading Disney Writing Program and Disney Directing Program. Prior to Disney, she worked for 6 years at Fox, most recently as Associate Director of Production and Development Labs – Film and TV, for 21CF Global Inclusion. She managed the Fox Writers Lab, Fox Directors Lab, Fox DP Lab, and Fox Filmmakers Lab.

Michael Pogarian is an award winning producer and a Senior Manager on the TV Programming DEI team at NBCUniversal, also known as NBCU LAUNCH, where he helps oversee creative development programs for emerging TV writers, directors, and below-the-line talent. Prior to working at NBCUniversal, Michael was an Associate Creative Producer at Fullscreen where he co-created and lead the AT&T Hello Lab Mentorship Program.

Michael Svoboda has been the director of the writing track for Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab since its inception in 2020. The Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab provides opportunities for marginalized storytellers to connect, grow, and accelerate their career in television. Michael has also worked various positions on TV shows while making his way to Staff Writer. He's made numerous short films and developed television shows with major production companies.

Julio Salgado is the co-creator of The Disruptors Fellowship along with Joey Soloway (Showrunner & Creator, TRANSPARENT, I LOVE DICK), a
program at The Center for Cultural Power for emerging television writers of color who identify as trans/and or non-binary, disabled, undocumented/formerly undocumented immigrants.

Anthony Grieco was a 2015 Nicholl Fellow. He won the Nicholl with his screenplay BEST SELLERS, which became a feature film in 2021 starring
Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza.