DIVERSO is a student-run film nonprofit dedicated to changing the face of entertainment by empowering the next generation of storytellers.
In partnership with THE WRITERS GUILD FOUNDATION, we have created The Diverso Fellowship: a fellowship program for statistically overlooked student screenwriters.
Vetted by a rigorous committee of industry professionals, three talented students will be selected to spend ten weeks over the summer of 2026, attending panels with renowned industry professionals, learning from the best by shadowing writers' rooms, and receiving mentorship to refine their scripts and prepare for professional opportunities, including staffing or representation.
Fellows are expected to make a 12-hour commitment each week and are required to attend all Fellowship events, including educational panels, mentor meetings, script workshops, and more. The fellowship will be hosted virtually over the summer (tentatively set for June 8th - August 14th).
Our program is made possible by our incredible sponsors: WarnerBros Discovery, Madison Wells Media, Lin Manuel-Miranda’s Miranda Family Fund, the Writers Guild Foundation, and more.
Please follow us on social media @diversoorg to stay tuned for specific dates and times!
Last Season's Benefits Included:
1. Industry Mentorship:
Each Fellow is paired with a working industry mentor for the duration of the Fellowship. Scripts undergo multiple revisions, with each draft receiving structured feedback through one-on-one mentorship and cohort workshops led by the Diverso team.
*Previous mentors include: Joe Robert Cole (BLACK PANTHER), Charise Castro Smith (ENCANTO), Nahnatchka Khan (FRESH OFF THE BOAT), Andrew Ahn (FIRE ISLAND), Geetika Lizardi (BRIDGERTON), Alex Song-Xia (RICK & MORTY, THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON)
2. Salon Night:
The Fellowship culminates in a curated pitch salon where Fellows present their scripts to alumni and industry professionals. Past attendees have included executives and representatives from Blumhouse, Pixar, 360 Entertainment, UTA, and more.
3. Panels:
Writing Across Mediums - Dominique Morisseau (SHAMELESS)
Finding Representation - Melissa Breaux (Partner, 360 Entertainment) & Sam Sekoff (TV Lit Manager, 360 Entertainment)
The Art of Pitching - Carole Kirschner (Director, CBS Writing Program & WGA Showrunner Training Program)
Animation In 2025 - Mike Jones (SOUL, LUCA, ELIO) and Brenda Hsueh (ELEMENTAL)
Building a Long Term Writing Career - Simon Racioppa (INVINCIBLE)
4. Shadowing Writer's Rooms.
Fellows gain firsthand exposure to professional writers’ rooms. Most recently, the cohort shadowed two sessions of NBC's BRILLIANT MINDS.
*Past shows have been from Disney+, AppleTV+, and The CW
5. Access to a network where you will build lifelong relationships with like-minded peers and alumni.
