National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) recently held a closing ceremony for the successful completion of its 2024 Series Scriptwriters Program, a virtual eight-week intense writers lab that has helped launch the careers of more than 200 Latine writers in its twenty-one-year history.
Comedian, writer, actor, and producer Al Madrigal (Lopez vs. Lopez) greeted this year’s cohort and provided remarks during the special closing ceremony.
“You are all the next generation of storytellers and your stories will speak to people like you who are dying to see themselves on TV, on any screen, because we all know when we see authentic portrayals of our culture, our family, our struggles, our joy, it gives us a sense of belonging. We realize that our stories are worth telling and that we too, deserve to be seen” said Al Madrigal. “When we write stories that show the full complexity of our experiences, our humor, our resilience, our diversity, we change the way the world sees us creating a ripple effect far beyond the screen. We are humanizing our community in ways that help break down barriers of discrimination, ignorance, and misunderstanding”
For more than twenty years, NHMC has cemented the Series Scriptwriters Program as one of the leading writer’s labs in the entertainment industry. The unique eight-week intense writers lab accepts nationwide applications and ten Latine writers from diverse backgrounds are selected to participate. Participants work closely with mentors, meet seasoned writers in the industry, join a community of alum Latine writers, and have the opportunity to connect with agents, managers, and executives in the entertainment industry. By the end of the program, participants will have developed a half-hour or hour-long original series pilot with the opportunity to pitch network executives in NHMC’s network of partners including The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, and Netflix.
“One of the ways that we accomplish our mission is through all of you participating in this well-respected writers program in the industry,” said Brenda Victoria Castillo, President and CEO, National Hispanic Media Coalition. Castillo emphasized the importance of uplifting each other in the entertainment industry saying “In your journey, just make sure you are pulling up other Latinos, make sure that when you climb up that you are sending the elevator back down and that you are helping our people.”
This year’s participants included:
Alumni of the program have gone on to work on shows that can be viewed on Netflix, Apple TV+, NBCUniversal, Max, Hulu, ViacomCBS, Paramount, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more.
For more information about the Series Scriptwriters Program visit: https://www.nhmc.org/writers/.
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By: William Earl
From Variety: “Aim for excellence — Brown excellence,” actor-producer Wilmer Valderrama told this year’s graduates of the National Hispanic Media Coalition‘s Series Scriptwriters Program as the eight-week intensive came to an end earlier this week.
Valderamma, the “NCIS” and “That ’70s Show” star, is a multihyphenate, activist and entrepreneur and a member of NHMC’s Visionary Alliance of entertainment industry figures who support the organization in Hollywood. He addressed the 10 participants in the TV and film writing program that includes virtual instruction, networking and mentoring opportunities. NHMC has run the Series Scriptwriters writer development program for more than 20 years.
“The writers in the program are an answer to the need to increase Latino representation in our writers rooms and make sure we are telling our own stories,” Valderrama told the group on Dec. 19 via video conference. “As we become the majority as the audience, consumers and storytellers, it is more vital than ever that we are committed to uplifting and supporting new voices.”
Participants in the NHMC program have gone to work on series and pilots for streamers including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu and Max and for such studios as NBCUniversal and Paramount. Valderrama acknowledged that the graduates face an uphill climb as they build their careers. He emphasized that every step they take forward as creators is meaningful for past, present and future generations.
“There will come a time when you’ll feel like the only Brown writer in the room. Instead of it being daunting, think of it as an opportunity to be bold,” Valderrama urged. “The Latino revolution will come in the form of content. Immortalize what you want, the community deserves it. Make sure the leading roles in your stories look like you — this is a love letter to your parents and grandparents. Aim for excellence. Brown excellence.”
To read more from Variety.com, click the link here.
