Mike Gauyo (Insecure, Ginny & Georgia) and industry-leading training platform Stage 32 open submissions to the Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative under the Black Boy Writes Media banner. (Read the full Deadline article here.)
The initiative, which launched at the top of 2021, focuses on supplying industry access and resources to preWGA Black screenwriters. In partnership with Stage 32, admissions for the 2022 class will open November 15th 2021 and close December 15th 2021. The first round of the application will require a bio, 1-hour or half-hour original script (of any genre), and a short essay. Those chosen to move to the second round will interview with Mike and the initiative's Chief of Programming, Ashley Aronson, before 10 to 12 participants are selected.
Features of the mentorship initiative include monthly Writer Roundtables with established writers/industry leaders. Past participants include Amy Aniobi of Insecure, Kay Oyegun of This Is Us, and Golden Globe Winning & Oscar-Nominated Writer Kemp Powers writer of Soul and One Night in Miami.
In addition, mentees will participate in writing workshops and notes sessions to prepare mentees for Fellowships, Generals, and Staffing. They will also participate in general meetings with Networks and Production Companies. Past participants include Nick Jr., OutTV, Plan B, and Array. And at the end of the program, each mentee will have the opportunity to be read by Mike Gauyo’s agents at Culture Creative and Lit Managers at Writ Large, for representation consideration.
Mentees will also receive education and training through Stage 32 Next Level Education in the form of a free webinar of their choice and Stage 32 Script Services in the form of a free pitch session with the executive of their choice. Each mentee will also receive the latest in Final Draft software.
"With the Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative I aim to create a sustainable pathway program for up and coming Black writers that not only provides them a way in, but amplifies their voices in the process. Partnering with such an innovative platform like Stage 32 who is committed to serving underrepresented creatives allows us to increase exposure and opportunity for Black writers all over the world," says Insecure writer Mike Gauyo.
"We couldn't be more thrilled to be joining forces with Black Boy Writes/Black Girl Writers in an effort to discover, mentor, and offer ongoing support and industry access to under-represented, pre-WGA Black writers. For the last 10 years, Stage 32's mission has been to democratize the entertainment business by presenting and facilitating opportunities for undiscovered talent across the globe, and this initiative will be another highlight of those efforts. On a personal level, and on behalf of my team, I'm excited to be working with Mike Gauyo on this powerful and important project and can't wait to meet and begin working with the winners," says Stage 32 CEO Richard Botto.
Mentees will also receive education and training through Stage 32 Next Level Education in the form of a free webinar of their choice and Stage 32 Script Services in the form of a free pitch session with the executive of their choice. Each mentee will also receive the latest in Final Draft software.