Overview
The Alternative Directors Program is an NBCUniversal initiative that places directors from underrepresented backgrounds into shadowing placements on NBC unscripted and alternative television series. Launched in 2018 as the industry's first directing initiative for unscripted programming, the program operates under the NBCU LAUNCH umbrella brand, which houses all of NBCUniversal's entertainment television diversity and inclusion efforts. The program targets a specific structural gap in television: directors with strong visual and logistical skills from documentary, reality, commercial, or digital production who cannot break into episodic television without credited experience.
Participants shadow a seasoned director across prep, production, and post-production on an NBC or Universal Television Alternative Studio series. The inaugural 2018-19 class placed 5 directors on shows including America's Got Talent, The Voice, The Wall, Hollywood Game Night, and World of Dance. Mentors included directors Alan Carter, Ivan Dudynsky, Russell Norman, and Alex Rudzinski.
History
NBC launched the Alternative Directors Program in May 2018 under the leadership of Meredith Ahr, then President of NBC's Alternative and Reality Group, and Karen Horne, then NBC's Senior Vice President of Programming Talent Development and Inclusion. The program was the first directing initiative in the entertainment industry created specifically for unscripted television. The inaugural 2018-19 class was all-female, placing 5 directors on shows including America's Got Talent, The Voice, The Wall, Hollywood Game Night, and World of Dance. In 2019, NBC removed the prior directing credit requirement, allowing candidates with no previous directing credits to apply. The program was subsequently folded into the NBCU LAUNCH brand, which consolidated NBCUniversal's diversity and inclusion efforts across its entertainment television portfolio. Under NBCU LAUNCH, the scripted TV Directors Program (founded 2009) and the unscripted Alternative Directors Program operate in parallel. The 2024-26 scripted class includes Parisa Barani, Winter Dunn, Nina Kramer, and Liz Sargent.
What It Offers
Selected participants receive:
- A paid fellowship stipend for the duration of the program cycle
- Shadow directing placements on NBCUniversal unscripted television productions, observing the credited director across prep, production, and post
- Mentorship from working episodic directors, showrunners, and NBCUniversal creative executives
- Feedback on directing approach, set communication, and the specific craft demands of unscripted multi-camera production
- Industry introductions to agents, managers, and showrunners who hire episodic directors
- A professional credential that signals readiness for unscripted directing work
Typical Award Size Range
The Alternative Directors Program provides a paid fellowship stipend for the duration of the program cycle. The stipend amount varies by cycle and placement. Participants receive a paid shadowing placement on an NBCUniversal unscripted series, mentorship from working episodic directors, and industry introductions to agents, managers, and showrunners. The program does not publish a fixed stipend amount. The value of the program extends beyond the cash stipend to include the professional credential, episodic shadowing experience, and industry network access.
Eligibility
The program is designed for directors who identify as women or as ethnically diverse talent. Eligibility requirements have evolved across cycles:
- Inaugural 2018-19 cycle: Applicants needed at least one unscripted or scripted television directing credit. Unscripted programming credits could include live sports, award shows, game shows, and variety shows.
- 2019-20 cycle: The program opened to candidates without prior directing credits, broadening access for emerging talent.
- Applicants must be authorized to work legally in the United States. The program is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
- Applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
Submission Requirements
Application materials include:
- Completed application form
- Resume detailing directing experience
- Bio
- Reel summarizing the director's work
- Up to 3 completed work samples
- Responses to 2 essay questions
- One letter of recommendation from an advocate of the director (not a talent representative - letters from managers, agents, publicists, and lawyers are not accepted)
- One additional letter of recommendation (optional)
NBCU LAUNCH announces application windows through its website and diversity channels. The program has historically opened submissions in late spring with deadlines in early June. Check the NBCU LAUNCH website for current cycle dates.
Payment Structure
The fellowship stipend is paid for the duration of the program cycle. The specific payment schedule varies by cycle and placement. Participants receive the stipend as compensation for their shadowing placement, which involves observing a credited director across prep, production, and post-production on an NBCUniversal unscripted series.
Past Recipients and What They Made with the Money
The Alternative Directors Program has placed directors on major NBC unscripted series:
- Inaugural 2018-19 class - 5 directors placed on America's Got Talent, The Voice, The Wall, Hollywood Game Night, and World of Dance. The all-female class shadowed directors Alan Carter, Ivan Dudynsky, Russell Norman, and Alex Rudzinski across prep, production, and post-production.
- 2019-20 cycle - Expanded access to candidates without prior directing credits, broadening the pool to emerging talent.
- NBCU LAUNCH TV Directors Program 2024-26 class - Parisa Barani (Law & Order), Winter Dunn (The Irrational), Nina Kramer (St. Denis Medical), and Liz Sargent (Chicago Med). These scripted program participants shadow on 2 episodes before directing their own.
What Makes an Application Competitive
NBCU LAUNCH evaluates applicants on several concrete signals:
- Identity alignment: The program is designed for directors who identify as women or as ethnically diverse talent. This is a core eligibility requirement.
- Directing experience: The inaugural cycle required at least one unscripted or scripted television directing credit. The 2019-20 cycle removed this requirement, opening to candidates without prior credits. Check the current cycle requirements on the NBCU LAUNCH website.
- Work sample quality: Applicants submit a reel and up to 3 completed work samples. For the scripted TV Directors Program, only scripted live-action narrative content is accepted as directing samples. Animation, documentary, unscripted content, and sizzle reels are not accepted for the scripted program.
- Essay responses: Applicants must respond to 2 essay questions. These responses carry significant weight in demonstrating the director's perspective and readiness.
- Recommendation letters: One letter of recommendation from an advocate of the director is required. Letters from managers, agents, publicists, and lawyers are not accepted. A second letter is optional.
- Legal work authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work legally in the United States. The program is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age.
Application Process
- Check the timeline: NBCU LAUNCH announces application windows through its website and diversity channels. The program has historically opened submissions in late spring with deadlines in early June.
- Prepare application materials: Completed application form, resume, bio, reel, up to 3 work samples, 2 essay responses, 1 letter of recommendation (from an advocate, not a talent representative), and 1 optional additional letter.
- Submit through NBCU LAUNCH: Apply at nbcuniversallaunch.com. Check the website for current cycle dates and requirements.
- Review and selection: NBCU LAUNCH staff and creative executives review applications and select participants for shadowing placements.
What Filmmakers Should Know
The Alternative Directors Program addresses a specific structural gap in television: directors with strong visual and logistical skills from documentary, reality, commercial, or digital production who cannot break into episodic television without credited experience. The program provides supervised placement before a director is expected to perform independently. Unscripted television directing differs from scripted directing in several ways. An unscripted director often manages 10 or more cameras simultaneously, coordinates with a live control room, makes real-time editorial decisions, and works without a traditional script. The skill set overlaps with live sports directing, concert film directing, and large-scale event production. The program is one of very few pipeline initiatives in the unscripted space. Most directing diversity programs in television focus on scripted series. Directors interested in scripted television should apply to the NBCU LAUNCH TV Directors Program instead, which requires scripted live-action directing samples. The TV Directors Program guarantees that participants will helm at least one episode by the culmination of the program. Applications for the next scripted class are expected to open in the second half of 2025. Check nbcuniversallaunch.com for the most current information.
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See Also
For understanding how television directing fits into a broader career strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For modeling revenue as you build your directing career, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For a broader list of grants and programs for underrepresented filmmakers, see Film Grants and Funding. For distribution strategy, see Film Distribution Deals Explained.
