Producers Guild of America Announces the 10 Producers and Producing Teams for
the First Annual PGA Create Program
Google Signs on as the Lead Sponsor of PGA’s Program for Emerging and Mid-Career Producers from Underrepresented Backgrounds
LOS ANGELES (September 27, 2021) --
Today the Producers Guild of America announced the 10 producers and producing teams invited to take part in its inaugural PGA Create lab for emerging and mid-career creative producers. The program’s focus is on supporting producers from underrepresented backgrounds. The Producers Guild also announced Google as the lead sponsor of PGA Create.
PGA Create sponsored by Google will be held October 25 through October 28 and will showcase creative producers and producing teams actively developing, financing and packaging scripted features and series. Participants will have opportunities to hone their project pitches, attend master classes with experienced producers and build their network of fellow producers. As the sole sponsor of this important initiative, Google will be providing an array of resources to help nurture talent from underrepresented communities. Google will be contributing meaningful funding along with a variety of products as a way to help the recipients throughout their creative journeys. PGA Create is designed to provide touch points over the span of one year, including an invitation for participants of its Scripted and Documentary cycles to re-convene during the PGA Create Forum, a new day-long event held during the Guild’s signature Produced By Conference in June 2022.
“Google’s significant support of this important PGA initiative championing diversity, equity and inclusion is critical to driving change in the industry,” said Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher, PGA Presidents. “We’re thrilled to have Google join us as we embark on this new program to build up the next generation of creative producers.”
“At Google we are committed to amplifying diverse and underrepresented voices, which is why we’re so proud to be partnering with the Producers Guild of America on their first ever PGA Create Program this fall,” said Elle Roth-Brunet, Google Assistant’s Entertainment Partnership Lead. “This new platform will be an invaluable support system for these 10 emerging creatives to take the next step in their career.”
The partnership with the Producers Guild was negotiated by UTA Marketing, which represents Google.
Producers and producing teams invited to participate in PGA Create sponsored by Google include:
Marissa Díaz, EP/Creator, The Real And Magical Diaries Of Luna Icaza
Luna inherits her grandmother’s magic on the night of her quinceañera and uses her new power to tame the ancient Mexican mythological creatures that come to destroy her hometown.
The Final Selection Panel was chaired by Tonya Lewis Lee (Co-Founder, ToniK Productions) and Lori McCreary (Madam Secretary) and included: Stephanie Allain (Homegrown Pictures); Mike Farah (CEO, Funny Or Die); Donna Gigliotti (Hidden Figures); Charles Howard (Kaon Interactive); Jon Kilik (The Hunger Games); Mike Larocca (Co-Founder, AGBO); Tia Smith (talentedSOL productions); Shelby Stone (ID8 Multimedia); Roxanne Avent Taylor (CEO, Hidden Empire Films); and Pam Veasey (Long Slow Exhale).
PGA Create was developed through the PGA One Guild initiative, which supports inclusive membership, employment, content, and authentic depictions. Spearheading One Guild are Chairs Tonya Lewis Lee and Lori McCreary.
The PGA Create program is a reimagining of the longstanding Power of Diversity Master Workshop, which concluded its 18th edition in 2020.