Sony Interactive Entertainment America (SIEA), in collaboration with Ideas United and its creative collective, We Make, announced the launch of the PlayStation Emerging Filmmakers Program in the United States. The initiative is aimed at harnessing the creativity and talent of budding filmmakers to cultivate these ideas into a television series.
The program will begin with an invitation for writers and filmmakers to submit their best concepts for a series by August 1, 2017. The entrants with the top 10 concepts will pitch their ideas directly to a panel of PlayStation and film industry professionals. The panel will select five concepts to be produced as pilots and shared with the PlayStation community, with the chance for a pilot to evolve into a complete television series.
“PlayStation is the home to powerful narratives in video games, and now we’re extending that into the world of original video content,” said Eric Lempel, SVP of Marketing, SIEA. “This program presents a great opportunity for the next generation of filmmakers, and we look forward to discovering and fostering new talent alongside the PlayStation community.”
PlayStation Emerging Filmmakers Program will tap into the vast creative network of We Make (http://www.iuwemake.com) to find the ideas that will shape the future of television. For more than 17 years, Ideas United has been cultivating the next generation of filmmaking talent to form We Make, and new members may apply for the chance to participate. Once accepted into the program, participants will have access to mentoring and workshop opportunities with industry professionals leading up to an in-person pitch experience.
“Ever since we started, we’ve passionately empowered the next generation of filmmakers to tell their stories,” said David Roemer, Co-Founder and CEO of Ideas United. “We’re absolutely thrilled to work with PlayStation to offer such a life-changing opportunity to members of We Make, and to create five unforgettable pilots.”