Entertainment
Starz’s #TakeTheLead Writers Program Returns for 5th Year
Starz’s #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive is returning for a fifth year, TheWrap has exclusively learned.
The program dedicated to discovering and developing exceptional television writers from traditionally underrepresented communities is currently accepting applications. Starz is partnering with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) and NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) on the program.
During the three-week intensive program, chosen participants will collaborate with accomplished professionals in the TV industry as they develop an original episodic treatment and pitch. At the end of the program, participants will then formally present their pitches to creative executives at Starz, who will provide the writers with feedback, industry exposure and professional connections.
“Every year we’re reminded that extraordinary storytellers exist everywhere — they simply need meaningful opportunities to be seen,” said Diana Luna, executive director of NALIP, and Larry Laboe, executive director of NewFilmmakers Los Angeles. “The STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive creates those opportunities by pairing emerging writers with industry leaders who are genuinely invested in their success. As we celebrate the fifth year, we’re excited to identify a new cohort of creators whose voices will help shape the future of television.”
Over the past four years, the STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive has served as both a mentorship program as well as a way to launch the careers of emerging writers by connecting them with accomplished showrunners, creative executives, agents, managers, fellow writers and other working television professionals.
“I had an amazing time in the Starz writers’ intensive,” said past fellow Lia Romeo. “I came to TV writing later in life, so I had a lot of experience as a playwright, novelist and essayist, but had never been in a writers’ room before. All of the information was new to me, and I learned so much by hearing from people who were working in all different parts of the industry, at all different levels.”
Romeo directly credited the program for leading to her first staffing job. “I have so much more confidence because I’ve had the experience of writing a spec script,
and so I know I can write on deadline and work within a world that someone else has created. I could not recommend the program more highly,” Romeo said.
Applications are now open and will close on Sept. 15 at 11 am PT. Interested writers can apply by using the screenwriting platform Scrybe, which is led by former Coverfly executive Tom Dever. Find out more information on how to apply here.
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movies
‘Hidden Heroes’ Descendants Movie Adds Darren Criss, Sherry Cola, More
After revealing the start of production on a new Descendants film featuring the children of some of Disney’s most beloved sidekicks, Disney Channel has added some additional cast members to the upcoming project.
Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story has added Darren Criss as Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio, Sherry Cola as Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove, James Monroe Iglehart as Genie from Aladdin, Hugo Ateo as Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove, Sean Yves Lessard as Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast and Dan Bakkedahl as Yen Sid from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice in Fantasia.
The adult cast joins the previously announced youth cast, which includes Dior Goodjohn as Jennie, the daughter of Genie from Aladdin; Momona Tamada as Zara, the daughter of Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove; Jacob Rodriguez as Kronk Jr., the son of Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove; Eva Fossaceca Smedley as Meri, the daughter of Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty; and Harry Jones as Lou, the son of Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast.
Also Rhys Dawkins, Connor Wong and Kyra Wong will play the Potts Siblings, from Beauty and the Beast.
The film is written by Tamara Chestna, Eydie Faye and Emma Fletcher. Jude Weng is directing. Mark Ordesky and Jane Fleming are executive producers, alongside Gary Marsh and Chestna, who executive produced Descendants: Wicked Wonderland. Louise Hradsky and Jeffrey Mortensen are the choreographers. The movie is produced by Disney Kids & Family.
Here’s the logline: “Hidden in the center of each fairy tale is a portal to a secret training facility where the descendants of legendary sidekicks are challenged to join the elite ranks of partners to heroes. When a villainous duo comes to Sidekick Academy, a group of fresh recruits must band together — without heroes, without parents — using only their new skills to save the fairytale realm before it’s too late.”
Darren Criss is repped by Gersh, Hyphenate Creative Management, Hansen Jacobsen et al. Sherry Cola is repped by CAA, Stark Management, Ginsburg Daniels Kallis. James Monroe Iglehart is repped by Artists & Representatives. Hugo Ateo is repped by Eric Edwards at Lucas Talent. Sean Yves Lessard is repped by Connekt Creative Inc. Dan Bakkedahl is repped by Gersh Agency, The Characters Talent Agency.
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Entertainment
Disney’s Next ‘Descendants’ Story Taps Sherry Cola, Darren Criss
Disney’s “Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story” is rounding out its cast, tapping some familiar names for some iconic characters, including Yzma, the Genie and more.
Sherry Cola, best known for “Good Trouble” and “Nobody Wants This,” will play the villainous Yzma from “The Emperor’s New Groove.” Most recently, Cola starred as Lark in “Camp Rock 3,” which is now streaming on Disney+.
Darren Criss will play Jiminy Cricket from “Pinocchio,” while Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart will be the Genie from “Aladdin.” Iglehart originated the same role in the Broadway production of “Aladdin.”
Hugo Ateo will play Yzma’s sidekick Kronk, Sean Yves Lessard will play Lumiere from “Beauty and the Beast” and Dan Bakkedahl will star as Yen Sid from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” in “Fantasia.”
“Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story” centers on the children of the Genie, Yzma, Kronk and Lumiere, as well as Merryweather from “Sleeping Beauty.” It’s unclear if or how the story will tie into the first five “Descendants” films, but we do know that it’ll be a “music-and-dance-fueled” story, like its predecessors.
“Hidden in the center of each fairy tale is a portal to a secret training facility where the descendants of legendary sidekicks are challenged to join the elite ranks of partners to heroes,” the synopsis reads. “When a villainous duo comes to Sidekick Academy, a group of fresh recruits must band together — without heroes, without parents — using only their new skills to save the fairytale realm before it’s too late.”
So, while hero and villain kids go to Auradon Prep, the children of sidekicks have their own school.
“Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story” is now in production.
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movies
ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Dies At 93
Bill Rasmussen, a sports visionary who founded ESPN in 1979 with his son Scott as the world’s first 24-hour sports television network, died Tuesday at 93 of Parkinson’s disease at his home in Florida.
Shrugging off skeptics, the pioneering Rasmussen – after being fired as communications director of the New England Whalers — acquired space on a communications satellite using a personal credit card. He went door to door to all the major sports leagues, cable operators and potential investors, garnering enough support to launch the Entertainment and Sports Programming network on Sept. 7, 1979. He was the network’s first CEO.
“Bill was a remarkable man — a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s — key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.”
Rasmussen revealed in 2019 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a degenerative disease, in 2014.
More to come
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