For Immediate Release: May 31st, 2022
NATIONAL HISPANIC MEDIA COALITION ANNOUNCES COHORT OF
PARTICIPANTS IN THE
SERIES SCRIPTWRITERS PROGRAM
Academy Award-winning Producer Yvett Merino will kick off a seven-week intense writers lab, giving Latinx writers an opportunity to showcase their talent to major networks
Ten Latinx writers nationwide were selected for a 7-week intense writers lab where at the conclusion of the program, writers will have developed a half-hour or hour-long original series pilot, which they will pitch to industry leaders including NHMC’s partners at The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, Netflix, TelevisaUnivision, and T-Mobile to name a few.
Academy Award-winning producer Yvett Merino (Encanto) will kick off a virtual event Tuesday night honoring this year’s cohort, lending her support for a program that has helped launch the careers of more than 200 Latinx writers since its inception 20 years ago.
“There are so many brilliant ideas trapped in the minds of talented Latinx writers who haven’t gotten their chance. I’m proud to support these creatives in their journey, building bridges to writers' rooms and boardrooms for Latinx talent across the industry,” said Merino. “These writers are the next generation – not only telling stories for our community to relate to and enjoy, but to also elevate and uplift Latinx communities nationwide.”
Alumni of the program have proceeded to work on some of today’s most prominent shows including The Flash, Umbrella Academy, Riverdale, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, One Day At A Time, Santiago of the Seas, Legendary, Mr. Iglesias, Indebted, Selena: The Series, and more. Alumni have also gone on to Produce and Co-Executive Produce shows like Rutherford Falls, Love, Victor and How I Met your Father on Hulu, Pretty Little Liars - Original Sin on HBO Max, and more. The program is officially conducted virtually to give talent from across the nation the opportunity to participate in the program remotely.
“We at NHMC are thrilled to continue the legacy of the Series Scriptwriters Program by welcoming the 2022 Cohort,” said Brenda Castillo, President and CEO, National Hispanic Media Coalition. “Through our program, we want to send a message to Latinx communities that their stories can and will make it onto a screen, big or small. By connecting writers from our program with key networks, we’ll help the industry realize that we have stories to tell that will resonate with everyone,” Castillo said.
In addition to providing writers with the tools they need to take their careers to new heights, the Series Scriptwriters Program allows Latinx writers to form a community where they can workshop ideas, collaborate on projects and introduce one another to opportunities in the industry.
Over the 7-week duration, writers will be paired with professional writing mentors and will connect with some of the industry’s leading writers, building their own network of Latinx writers and creatives.
The cohort of participants for the NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program 2022 Cohort includes the following:
Andrew Ruiz - Screenwriter, Filmmaker, and Educator - Los Angeles, CA
Angela Treviño - Television Writer - Los Angeles, CA
Dominic Abeyta - Screenwriter - Los Angeles, CA
Edwin Alexis Gómez - Queer Nicaraguan-American Writer, Director, Producer, and Actor - Los Angeles, CA
Elisha Miranda-Ramirez - Puerto Rican Gen X Writer, Director, Producer, and Professor - Orange County, CA
Marcos Antonio Rodriguez - Award-Winning Playwright - New York, NY
Melanie Martinez - Film & Television Writer - Los Angeles, CA
Miguel Ramirez - Salvadoran-American Filmmaker - Los Angeles, CA
Natalie Torres - Nonbinary Latine Writer - San Antonio, Texas
Sofia Quintero - Gen-X Afro-Latina Screenwriter and Novelist - New York, NY
For full biographies and headshots of this year’s participants, please click on the following link:
