Black professionals will be taking root in the entertainment sector.
According to a press release sent to AfroTech, Diverse Representation will host its second annual Black Entertainment Executives Pipeline program set to run from July 11-August 16, 2022.
Twelve participants will have access to leading industry executives including Ty Cameron (President, Ebony Studios), Jelani Johnson (EVP, Content Strategy, MACRO), and Joe Aiken (Executive, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in addition to hands-on experience. The six-week program will be offered in-person for those living in Los Angeles, CA, and virtually to reach potential participants across the nation.
“This first-of-its-kind program is an invaluable resource for any Black professional or creative interested in pursuing a career as an executive in the television or film industry,” said Jaia Thomas, Esq., founder and president of Diverse Representation, according to a press release. “This is the only program of its kind in the country specifically focused on Black entertainment executives. Our goal is not only to equip Black professionals with the tools to excel as executives, but we will also build out a database featuring the profiles of junior and senior level Black executives, which will serve as a resource for employers looking to hire diverse candidates in the future.”
The program aims to diversify the entertainment industry and land Black professionals careers in the television and film industries. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) released a report with findings stating 91 percent of film studio CEOs are white and 92 percent of network CEOs are white. The report also revealed that 93 percent of film studio senior management teams are white and 84 percent of network senior management teams are white. Diverse Representation intends for the program to disrupt the current industry norms and close the racial gap.
Interested professionals are encouraged to apply leading up to the deadline on July 7, 2022.
