OREANDA-NEWS. August 26, 2016. Fox Audience Strategy has begun its second annual Fox Global Directors Initiative (“FDI”). FDI is dedicated to cultivating emerging and established directors with diverse voices, backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives spanning episodic broadcast and cable television, filmed entertainment, sports and digital media.

The submission process for FDI began in the spring and the first phase of the program started in July with the Fox Directors Lab, an intensive three-week platform led by rotating Fox programming mentors from the Company’s entertainment businesses as well as affiliated directors and showrunners. Sixteen of the Lab’s 20 participants have since been selected to advance through the remainder of FDI as Fox Director Fellows.

The Fox Director Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in the Comedy or Drama Apprenticeship Program. These new elements of the initiative are designed to provide tailored shadowing and training as well as opportunities to direct show materials and, ultimately, an episode of one of the participating FOX, FX or Fox 21 shows.

The Comedy Apprenticeship Program (“Director’s CAP”), a concept created by Jason Winer, Producing Director of Twentieth Century Fox Television’s show Life in Pieces, will allow the nine participating Director Fellows to rotate through shadowing opportunities with Modern Family and Life in Pieces.

The seven fellows already chosen to participate in the Drama Apprenticeship Program will shadow directors from one of the Company’s broadcast or cable television programs, including: FOX’s #1 hit Empire; returning FOX series Rosewood; one of FOX’s most anticipated new series, Pitch; Fox 21’s Homeland; and several FX shows. Additional fellows will be selected to participate in the Drama Apprenticeship Program later this season.

“I set out to start a program like CAP, not just to form new relationships with a diverse group of directors, but also to immerse them specifically in the shooting style and creative culture of two well-run shows,” said Winer. “What I discovered in the process was that Fox had, through FDI, assembled a group that was not only wildly talented, but truly ready to take the next step.”

Terence Carter, Executive Vice President, Drama Programming & Development, Fox Broadcasting Company, added: “Empire, Pitch and Rosewood are all known for their diverse talent in front of and behind the camera so it was a natural fit for these shows to host Fox Director Fellows.”

“In order to tell great stories that resonate with our audiences around the world, we need directors with unique and varied experiences,” said Jonathan Frank, Executive Vice President, Current Series, FX. “We are pleased to be participating in FDI and look forward to welcoming talented new directors to our shows.” 

All FDI participants will be pitched for directorial opportunities across Fox entertainment programs. Already, 18 of the 20 FDI participants have been selected for shadowing opportunities across Fox’s broadcast and cable entities.