Emmy-Nominated platform Expands annual fellowship Internationally in 2023
CHICAGO, IL – July 18th, 2023 – Open Television (OTV) is thrilled to announce the 2023 OTV Fellows and share key program highlights for the 2023 fellowship, as it enters its fifth year of empowering indie filmmakers and storytellers worldwide. The Fellowship program has experienced significant growth and success since its inception in 2019, and this year promises to be even more impactful and transformative.
For the very first time in its five-year history, the 2023 OTV Fellowship program is expanding internationally, reaching storytellers across the global filmscape in key markets. This expansion provides a unique opportunity for intersectional writers, directors, and producers to access Hollywood and Sundance, making it OTV's first international fellowship. The program aims to prioritize diverse voices and stories by offering tangible resources, generative education, and intentional mentorship to filmmakers from two or more marginalized communities. With an increase from four fellows to seven, this year's cohort offers enhanced opportunities for nurturing and amplifying underrepresented voices.
In collaboration with the esteemed Sundance Institute,, the 2023 OTV Fellowship program proudly launches "Pitch, Please!," an invite-only Pitch Intensive. This artist-driven launch pad will enable selected OTV fellows to pitch their series, short films, and video art concepts to a panel of Creative Advisors and members of the OTV community. The aim is to secure additional funding and resources to propel the projects of OTV fellows beyond the fellowship. This continued partnership with the Sundance Institute further enhances the program's commitment to fostering excellence in independent filmmaking across various sectors of film and TV.
To provide comprehensive support, the 2023 OTV Fellowship program incorporates the expertise of Creative Advisors who are either Emmy winners or successful filmmakers and academics. These advisors contribute to the development of the fellows' curriculum, ensuring a rich learning experience for training filmmakers to write and pitch from an intersectional lens. Additionally, fellows benefit from one-on-one mentorship pairings with accomplished professionals from the film and TV industry, creating invaluable connections and guidance.
Clockwise from upper left: Khaleb Brooks, Jewells Santos, Robert Cunningham, Danielle Young, Priya Jeram Patel, Wil Prada, Roni Niu.
MEET THE CREATIVE ADVISORS:
Professor and Interdisciplinary Filmmaker Jess King, will serve as a Creative Advisor heading up OTV’s monthly writing circles, while Emmy Award Winning Producer.
Makiah Green will serve as a Creative Advisor heading up OTV’s Pitch, Please! initiative.
QUOTES FROM OTV STAFF & #OTVFELLOWS CREATIVE ADVISORS
Sarah Minnie, Head of Artist Development + Production
“Creating brave and intentional spaces for emerging storytellers inspires authentic creativity and cultivates space to dream about the details of the world that they are building. As we shift and expand our scope this year, OTV Fellows is becoming one of the first story development-focused programs that provides a curriculum anchored in intersectional writing. Providing a space where independent writers, directors and producers can learn, collaborate and support each other's process while honing in on their craft, identity and dreams is an essential part of amplifying the stories of our times.”
Jess King, #OTVFellows Creative Advisor
“When we change the stories we tell, we change the world. For far too long, our stories have come from a singular (cis, white male) perspective, and because of the gatekeeping mechanisms of Hollywood, it’s been difficult for intersectional creatives to gain a foothold to challenge that. Investing in intersectional development opportunities and capacity-building for emerging storytellers is the key to creating a media ecosystem that incorporates and produces new stories from complex and non-status quo derived perspectives. In this moment, OTV’s commitment to investing in emerging intersectional artists is an essential buoy for authentic and inclusive storytelling.”
Makiah Green, #OTVFellows Creative Advisor
“OTV has always been ahead of its time and has become an essential pipeline for bold artists who exist on the margins. For years, the OTV team has inspired me to dream bigger and never doubt our ability to build our own table. I have always been committed to supporting writers throughout the development process, which can be quite taxing without the right support system. As a creator myself, I know how crucial it is to have producers in your corner who really understand the vision and have the skills to help bring it to life. I am excited to grow with this year’s cohort and share everything I have learned over the course of my career in Film and TV. Hollywood is in crisis, and has been for quite some time. The continued marginalization of storytellers from our communities is simply unsustainable if we want to build a more just and equitable world where we all are valued and cared for. By investing in emerging storytellers who are defying societal norms and pushing boundaries, we are creating a better, more interesting world.”
The 2023 OTV Fellows will receive a range of resources to fuel their creative journey. A $5,000 stipend will support their writing process, allowing them to refine and develop their stories into polished scripts. They will also be paired with mentors working across the industry who will offer personalized guidance and support. Specialized consultations with the OTV Leadership Team, community partners, and affiliate organizations will provide invaluable insights and networking opportunities. Fellows will have access to table reads, casting, and rehearsal space at a local community space, while additional micro-funding opportunities will be available as they arise. Furthermore, the fellows will benefit from a non-exclusive distribution deal on the OTV APP, enabling their work to reach a wider audience.
MEET THE 2023 OTV FELLOWS COHORT:
Name: Robert Cunningham (he/they)
Project Title: Laurels
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Logline: A washed-up former child star uses his con artist younger cousin and a ragtag group of Chicago community college performers to help reignite his career.
Name: Jewells Santos (she/they)
Project Title: The Deflowerment of Wendy Diaz
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Logline: A college student's life spirals out of control when she loses her virginity and can't remember it.
Name: Khaleb Brooks (he/him)
Project Title: May the Road Rise Up to Meet You
Location: Los Angeles, California
Logline: A married woman and a transgender man navigate their desperation to love and be loved at a bus stop in London.
Name: Wil Prada (he/him)
Project Title: The Railroad
Location: Los Angeles, California
Logline: Leonor, an undocumented immigrant in 2050’s America, and her cell of underground scientists discover how to travel space-time from an ancient Maya codex, which creates new possibilities for her family and people.
Name: Danielle Young (none)
Project Title: Apples to Apples
Location: Los Angeles, California
Logline: A depressed 70-year-old butch lesbian, mourning the loss of a 30-year-long relationship, attends an open mic where she meets a mysterious stranger that changes her life in more ways than one.
Name: Priya Jeram Patel (she/they)
Project Title: Frames Of: Smoke Break
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Logline: Frames of is an anthology series that explores what it means to be living as a queer person in Africa. Through each episode, the series follows the personal journeys of new queer characters as they explore the intersectionality of their identity in relation to their land, community, and queerness.
Name: Roni Niu (Yen-Jung) (he/him)
Project Title: STOP
Location: London, England
Logline: A suicidal young man finds himself stuck between life and death after a failed suicide attempt and tries to find his way to death before life takes him back.
The OTV Fellowship has garnered attention for its commitment to supporting marginalized communities in the film and TV business. Previous Fellows include Latasha Mercer and Shaan Dasani from 2022, Kristiana Rae Colon from 2021, and Karan Sunil from 2019 – all of whom have gone on to secure opportunities in Hollywood from the leading institutions such as Netflix (read HERE), Hulu (see HERE), Showtime (read HERE) and so much more! OTV Fellowships have served as a launch pad for colorful careers in the film and television industry, specifically for those in marginalized Communities.
About OTV - Open Television:
Open Television (OTV) is a non-profit streaming platform and media incubator for intersectional storytelling, with artists and their creative visions at the center. OTV’s mission is to transform the way film, television and entertainment industries support independent artists and communities marginalized by their race, gender, sexuality, class, disability or nationality. Through intentional artist development and holistic community development the award-winning organization provides a network of care to identify, activate and mobilize the next generation of storytellers. #weareotv // @weareotv on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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