The Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab provides opportunities for marginalized storytellers to connect, grow, and accelerate their career in television.
Committed to infusing new narratives and perspectives in front of and behind the camera, the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab provides a robust slate of workshops, educational resources, and professional development and networking opportunities for a cohort of diverse writers, actors, and aspiring creative executives.
The tuition-free, 8-month program grants fellows the unique opportunity to enhance their creative skillset through personalized instruction from industry professionals, creating additional pathways to bring more people from diverse backgrounds into the entertainment industry.
Application Deadline: February 11th, 2022 @ 11:59 PM PT
The Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab consists of three separate tracks: television writing, screen acting, and executive development.
The writing track will help prepare mentees to be ready for their first staff position in a writer’s room. Writing mentees will engage in a comprehensive writing experience, developing an original pilot from concept ideation to a fully polished and packaged script. Mentees will learn how to plan and write a pilot, participate in a simulated writers room–undergoing a series of rewrites from notes by the instructor, peers, and creative executives–capped off by a table read featuring professional actors. Mentees will be instructed and mentored by Michael Svoboda.
The acting track will prepare mentees for jump starting their careers as recurring actors and guest stars. Acting mentees will focus on mastering craft, a full and complete understanding of the business side of the industry, and be exposed to guests who are leaders in their field from all parts of the industry both in front of and behind the camera. Mentees will critically explore a wide array of genres, expanding their creative capacity to successfully deliver powerful performances, slay their audition, and stay booked. Mentees will be co-instructed and mentored by Behzad Dabu and Carolyn Michelle Smith.
The executive development track will prepare mentees for transitioning from working as an assistant to becoming a creative executive. Mentees will network and learn from a variety of industry executives by exploring how to track IP and analyze material, practice pitching, and work closely with writing mentees to develop their in-program pilot script.
Public Relations fellows will receive a foundational understanding of public relations, develop the necessary research and organizational skills, be introduced to the media landscape and participate in the development and execution of campaign strategies and press relations. Fellows will take part in hands-on substantive tasks and projects include building media lists, pitching, media monitoring, creating press kits, developing digital and awards campaigns, virtual press days, executive visibility and brand activations.
Acknowledgment: The public relations track is a paid fellowship in partnership with ID, Edith’s Daughter, Wondaland, and Hillman Grad Productions.
Disclaimer: The television writing, screen acting, and executive development tracks are unpaid fellowships.
The Program is subject to the following requirements:
You must submit a complete and accurate application through the Hillman Grad website prior to the application deadline, which application will include:
Short Answers to a series of questions;
A resume;
For Acting and Writing mentees: weekly classes via Zoom; Saturdays 10AM - 1 PM PT
For Creative Executive mentees: monthly classes via Zoom; 1st Saturday of the month, 10 AM - 1 PM PT
Kick-Off Weekend: March 18-20 (in-person, Los Angeles)
Retreat Weekend: July 8-10 (in-person, Los Angeles)
Capstone Week: October 19-23 (in person, Los Angeles)
Behzad Dabu is an actor, writer, and producer. He grew up in Syracuse, NY and got his BFA in Acting from Columbia College Chicago, where he also worked after college as the Senior International Admissions Officer; traveling all over the world working with students and their families on creating careers in the arts.
He has worked extensively on stage at some of the best theaters in the country, especially in Chicago, and is a proud company member at TimeLine Theatre Company which presents stories inspired by history that connect with today’s social and political issues.
With a passion for working with playwrights and new play development, he originated the role of 'Amit' in "Samsara" at Victory Gardens Theatre, for which he was nominated for a Jeff Award - Best Actor. He also originated the role of 'Abe' in the Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony-nominated play, "Disgraced" which he performed at American Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Berkeley Repertory, Seattle Repertory, and the Mark Taper Forum at Center Theatre Group.
On screen, you can see him as 'Simon Drake' on How To Get Away With Murder on ABC, as 'Amir' on the Showtime series The Chi, on Disney’s The Lion Guard. He also appeared in episodes of All Rise, The Good Place, Chicago P.D., Drive Share, You're So Talented, Dealbreakers, and many more; and in the films Hoop, King Rat, Mondo Hollywoodland, Imperfections, Older Children; as well as various national commercials.
Behzad is the Director of Acting for the HillmanGrad Mentorship Lab, an instructor at The Last Acting Studio, and an adjunct professor in the theatre department at Columbia College Chicago where he leads their Semester in LA program.
Behzad strives to be a strong advocate for social justice and equality, particularly in regards to representation in the arts and media; and is a founding member of The Chicago Inclusion Project, which seeks to level the playing field and provide resources in the arts for people of color, women, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities. He is a skilled audience engagement facilitator and experienced post-show discussion leader.
Behzad is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.
Juilliard-trained Actress and Educator, Carolyn is honored to co-lead the Hillman Grad’s Inaugural Acting Track Cohort. Selected by the Hillman Grad team for her work as a private coach to actors in both Hollywood and NYC, Carolyn has led performance workshops across the country training emerging artists from such programs as Yale, Juilliard, NYU, Columbia University, and Carnegie-Mellon, to name a few.
As an actress Carolyn continues to thrive on both stage and screen. She made her Broadway debut in “Romeo and Juliet” starring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad. Select TV credits include: “House of Cards”, “Law and Order”, “Luke Cage”, “How to Get Away w/ Murder”, “The Oath”, “Notorious” and “Cherish the Day”. She was selected and worked closely with director Steve McQueen for HBO’s pilot order of “Codes of Conduct”. Film credits include: “He’s Way More Famous Than You”, directed by Michael Urie, “Reboot Camp”, “Sunny Daze”, and “Proof of Loss” co-starring Dylan McDermott.
Carolyn has officially joined the Season 2 cast of “RUSSIAN DOLL” on Netflix, written and produced by Natasha Lyonne premiering Spring 2022.
Carolyn is deeply passionate about her work with Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab. She’s proud to lead with a team focused on shaping the future of Hollywood.
Born and raised in rural working-class Nebraska, Michael Svoboda left his humble small town beginnings to be the first in his extended family to attend college. After getting his English and Film degree at the University of Nebraska, Michael moved to Portland, Oregon, to pursue writing. There, he wrote for the satirical newspaper, The Portland Mercury, for 3 years. But writing for film and television was always calling his name, so he moved to Los Angeles.
Michael worked various positions on TV shows until he landed a writer’s assistant gig on The Walking Dead. Soon, he got his first TV script on the Netflix dramedy, Club de Cuervos. Michael was staffed the following year on the EPIX dramedy, Graves. Michael has made numerous short films and has developed shows with major production companies.
Michael was the director of the Writing Track for the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab’s inaugural year in 2021. He also helped over 50 people write pilots through classes offered in the Hillman Grad Network. Michael has also taught screenwriting classes at the University of Nebraska and with numerous private clients.
Michael is a proud member of the WGA.
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