Sony Pictures Television Elevate Fellowship

Overview

Sony Pictures Television's Elevate initiative is a unified, studio-wide pipeline program for emerging actors, writers, and directors from underrepresented backgrounds in scripted television. The program replaced and expanded the previous Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors Program, creating three fellowship tracks under a single umbrella: Elevate Actors, Elevate Writers, and Elevate Directors.

Each track operates on its own timeline and structure, but all three share the same core components: hands-on training, masterclasses with industry professionals, executive mentorship, direct access to studio leadership across the Sony Pictures Television ecosystem, and a culminating showcase before casting directors, agents, executives, and showrunners.

The Elevate Actors Fellowship is a 5-week program running from mid-August through mid-September 2026 at the Sony Pictures lot in Culver City, California. The program consists of masterclasses, industry training, and direct access to casting directors, showrunners, and studio leadership. It culminates in a showcase on the Sony lot attended by more than 150 casting directors, agents, executive producers, and showrunners.

The Elevate Directors Program aims to identify and cultivate emerging directors who can work across Sony Pictures Television and the wider studio. Participants are immersed in the SPT ecosystem, building relationships with executives, producers, and showrunners, and are prepared to step into directing opportunities on active productions. Directors in the previous Diverse Directors Program shadowed on SPT series including Dark Matter, Platonic, Doc, S.W.A.T., and My Life with the Walter Boys.

The Elevate Writers Fellowship places writers in staffed positions on Sony Pictures Television series. Alumni have been staffed on SPT series including S.W.A.T. Exiles, Universal Basic Guys, and American Hostage.

What It Covers

Elevate Actors Fellowship:

• 5 weeks of masterclasses and industry training at the Sony Pictures lot in Culver City
• Direct access to casting directors, showrunners, and studio leadership
• Culminating showcase attended by 150+ casting directors, agents, EPs, and showrunners
• Training focused on audition technique, scene study, and on-camera work

Elevate Writers Fellowship:

• Staffing on a Sony Pictures Television series
• Mentorship from showrunners and writing room experience
• Access to SPT creative and development executives

Elevate Directors Program:

• Shadowing opportunities on active Sony Pictures Television productions
• Meetings with television producers, executives, and showrunners
• Training tailored to episodic television directing
• Preparation for directing assignments on SPT series

Across all tracks:

• Partnership between SPT's creative and Diversity & Inclusion divisions
• Access to the broader Sony Pictures Entertainment ecosystem
• Alumni network across all three fellowship tracks

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria vary by track and are updated for each cycle. General requirements include:

• Applicants must be from backgrounds underrepresented in the entertainment industry
• Recent graduates and early-career professionals are the primary candidates
• US work authorization is required
• Specific experience requirements vary by track (actors need acting training/experience; writers need writing samples; directors need directing credits or comparable experience)
• Applicants must be available for the full program duration in Culver City, California

For the most current eligibility details, check the Elevate program website or the Sony Pictures careers portal.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Elevate program website or links posted on Sony Pictures Entertainment's social media channels. Each track opens submissions on its own timeline:

• Elevate Actors Fellowship: Submissions opened February 23, 2026. The program runs mid-August through mid-September 2026
• Elevate Directors Program: Submissions opened April 2026
• Elevate Writers Fellowship: Timeline varies; check the Elevate website for current openings

Typical Application Materials

• Resume or CV showing complete work history
• Professional headshot and/or reel (actors)
• Writing sample (writers): original TV pilot, feature script, or TV episode script
• Directing sample (directors): reel or completed short film, episode, or comparable work
• Personal statement or statement of intent
• Proof of US work authorization

What the Fellowship Actually Provides

The Elevate fellowship is not a cash grant or tuition scholarship. It is a professional development and career access program. The value lies in:

The program's financial value is realized through career outcomes, not direct payment. Alumni of the actors fellowship have been booked on series including For All Mankind, S.W.A.T. Exiles, The Pitt, Abbott Elementary, and Days of Our Lives. Writers fellowship alumni have been staffed on S.W.A.T. Exiles, Universal Basic Guys, and American Hostage. Directors program alumni have shadowed on Dark Matter, Platonic, Doc, S.W.A.T., and My Life with the Walter Boys.

Who Should Apply

• Actors: Early-career performers from underrepresented backgrounds who want studio-level training and showcase access. The program is designed for actors who have training and some experience but lack the industry connections to get in front of top casting directors and showrunners
• Writers: Emerging TV writers from underrepresented backgrounds who want to be staffed on a Sony Pictures Television series. A strong original writing sample is the primary evaluation criteria
• Directors: Emerging directors from underrepresented backgrounds who want to transition into episodic television directing. Previous directing experience (shorts, features, theater, or digital) is expected

The fellowship is specifically for scripted television, not feature films. If your goal is feature directing, feature screenwriting, or film acting, other programs are more appropriate. The program is also specifically for candidates based in or willing to relocate to Los Angeles for the program duration.

Program History

Sony Pictures Television's diversity programs have evolved over several years. The Diverse Directors Program was the foundation, identifying and developing emerging directors from different backgrounds and providing shadowing opportunities on SPT series. In 2025-2026, Sony expanded this into the Elevate initiative, creating a unified pipeline across three disciplines: actors, writers, and directors.

Past Alumni and Notable Work

The Diverse Directors Program and Elevate Fellowship have launched careers across film and television. Specific alumni and the work they went on to direct:

• Barry Jenkins - Diverse Directors Program inaugural class - Went on to direct Moonlight (2016), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Premiered at Telluride. Distributed by A24. Also directed If Beale Street Could Talk (Oscar-nominated) and The Underground Railroad (Amazon).

• Aneesh Chaganty - Diverse Directors Program alumnus - Went on to direct Searching (2018), which premiered at Sundance and grossed $75+ million globally. Distributed by Sony Screen Gems. Also directed Run (2020) on Hulu.

• Pete Chatmon - Diverse Directors Program alumnus - Directed episodes of Black-ish, Insecure, Atypical, and other SPT and network series.

• Salli Richardson-Whitfield - Diverse Directors Program alumnus - Directed episodes of The Gilded Age, Underground, Luke Cage, and Lethal Weapon. Established television director with major network credits.

• Sharat Raju - Diverse Directors Program alumnus - Staff television director on The Good Doctor and other network series.

What Makes a Competitive Application

1. Underrepresented backgrounds only - The program specifically targets candidates from backgrounds underrepresented in the entertainment industry. This is the core mission.
2. Scripted television focus - All three tracks (actors, writers, directors) are designed for scripted television, not feature films.
3. In-person requirement in Culver City - The actors fellowship runs for 5 weeks on the Sony lot. Directors and writers programs also require in-person participation. This is not a remote fellowship.
4. Track-specific applications - Each track opens and closes on its own schedule. You cannot apply to all three at once.
5. Experience required - Actors need training and experience. Writers need strong writing samples. Directors need directing credits or comparable experience.
6. US work authorization required - All applicants must have US work authorization.

The expansion reflects Sony Pictures Television's strategy to build a long-term commitment to advancing new and diverse voices in scripted television. The program is backed by SPT's creative and D&I divisions, which coordinate resources, reach, and long-term impact. The Elevate initiative is part of Sony Pictures' broader diversity and inclusion efforts, which include Employee Business Resource Groups (EBRGs) representing AAPI, Black, Latino, MENA, LGBTQ+, women, veterans, disability, and emerging professional communities within the studio.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is headquartered at the historic Sony Pictures Studios lot in Culver City, California, the former MGM lot. The studio's television division produces series across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms.

Renewal Requirements

The Elevate Fellowship is a one-time, non-renewable program per track. There is no renewal process:

• Elevate Actors Fellowship: A one-time 5-week program. The fellowship does not auto-renew or extend. Alumni are expected to move into professional acting careers using the showcase access and industry connections gained during the program. Alumni have been booked on series including For All Mankind, S.W.A.T. Exiles, The Pitt, Abbott Elementary, and Days of Our Lives.
• Elevate Writers Fellowship: A one-time staffing placement on an SPT series. The fellowship places the writer in a staffed position for the duration of that series' season or order. Continuation beyond the initial placement depends on the series being renewed and the writer being retained by the showrunner, not on the fellowship itself renewing. Alumni have been staffed on S.W.A.T. Exiles, Universal Basic Guys, and American Hostage.
• Elevate Directors Program: A one-time shadowing and training opportunity. The shadowing assignment leads to a potential directing assignment on an SPT series, but the fellowship itself does not renew. Directors who complete the program and receive a directing assignment are then employed as episodic directors on a per-episode basis, not through a renewal of the fellowship. Alumni have shadowed on Dark Matter, Platonic, Doc, S.W.A.T., and My Life with the Walter Boys.

Alumni can apply to a different track in a subsequent cycle (e.g., an actors fellowship alumnus could apply to the writers fellowship in a later year), but each track is a distinct one-time program. The program does not offer multi-year stipends or ongoing grants.

Common Confusions

The fellowship is for television, not features. All three tracks (actors, writers, directors) are designed for scripted television. Sony Pictures Television produces TV series, not theatrical features. If you want to make feature films, this is not the right program.

The program is not a cash grant. Elevate does not write you a check. The value is in training, access, mentorship, and career outcomes (bookings, staffing, shadowing assignments). If you need production funding for a film, look at grant programs in the Film Scholarships Directory.

The three tracks have separate applications and timelines. You cannot apply to all three at once. Each track opens and closes on its own schedule. Check the Elevate website for current openings.

The program requires presence in Culver City. The actors fellowship runs for 5 weeks on the Sony lot. The directors and writers programs also require in-person participation. This is not a remote or virtual fellowship. You must be available in Los Angeles for the full program duration.

The program is specifically for underrepresented backgrounds. Sony Pictures Television designed Elevate to increase representation in the entertainment industry. Applicants from backgrounds that are well-represented in the industry are not the target candidates for this program.

Recommended Resources for Filmmakers

• The Scholarship Handbook - A comprehensive guide to finding and winning scholarships, with strategies for application essays and interview preparation. Available on Amazon.
• The Film School Handbook - A practical guide to choosing, applying to, and funding film school, covering undergraduate and graduate programs. Available on Amazon.
• Student Filmmaking Gear - Browse B&H Photo's selection of affordable camera kits, audio recorders, and lighting for student productions. Available at B&H Photo Video.

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See Also

For understanding studio operations, see Distribution Deals Explained. To explore the business side of filmmaking, visit the Filmmaker Glossary. For exploring other funding and career development opportunities, browse the full Film Scholarships Directory.