ABC and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) recognize a mutual goal of increasing diversity among directors in television. We are searching for creative talent, and are especially hopeful that talented women and minority directors will apply.
Application to the 2008 Directors Fellowship Program is now closed.
Three Fellowships will be awarded for a period covering approximately 36 non-consecutive weeks of the television season. Fellows will be employees of ABC, be paid a an hourly wage not to exceed Fifteen Dollars and Fifty Cents ($15.50) for each hour that Fellow is employed based on a five (5) day, seventy (70) hour anticipated, but not guaranteed work week, which will accrue and become payable (as applicable) in thirty-six (36) equal weekly installments commencing with the first week of the Term (i.e., $50,000 annualized based on 36 non-consecutive weeks) pursuant to an employment contract.
Fellows will observe and be mentored by select DGA directors as part of a rotation system intended to provide exposure to different perspectives and artistic approaches. Our experience has shown that applicants with prior directing exposure or experience and technical proficiency in film and video production are best situated to fully benefit from the Program. Appropriate applicants might include theatre directors, associate directors, assistant directors, stage managers, those who have directed their own or other independent films, as well as participants in the DGA Mentoring Program (applicants are not required to be or become DGA members). This Program is open to those interested in either multi- or single-camera directing.
The Program is also intended to increase opportunities for professional relationships with executive producers, show runners, and other television executives. Directing assignments are not provided, implied or guaranteed. However, if during the Program or within two years of successful completion of the Program, a participant obtains a directing assignment on a series broadcast on ABC, then ABC will reimburse or pay the production company that employs the Fellow the DGA minimum cost for the assignment.
For more information, please e-mail correspondence to abc.fellowships@abc.com. You may also write or call ABC/DGA Television Directing Fellowship, ABC Talent Development Programs, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521-4016. Telephone (818) 560-4000.