Tyler Perry Studios is set to kick off the Dream Collective, a program designed to identify and cultivate the next wave of filmmakers
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EXCLUSIVE: Tyler Perry Studios is set to kick off the Dream Collective, a program designed to identify and cultivate the next wave of filmmakers, particularly with underrecognized and underrepresented voices.
The program will revolve around the process of making a Short Film, “giving filmmakers unprecedented access to industry experts, hands-on training and tailored support, empowering them to tell their stories and build toward career sustainability,” according to Perry.
Applications open on April 17.
“For a long time, it’s been on my heart to create a program where I could take what I’ve learned in this business and share it with others. That’s why today, I’m honored and excited to introduce the
Tyler Perry Studios Dream Collective,” said Perry. “This is a fantastic opportunity for up-and-coming directors to learn about the craft and business of filmmaking from professionals at the top of their game. In a word, this is about access. Breaking into the industry can be tough–believe me. When I started making movies twenty years ago, even though my stage plays were selling out, nobody in Hollywood knew my name or gave me a shot. The Tyler Perry Studios Dream Collective is my dream of opening the door for the next generation of artists.”
Dawn Hudson, former CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will head the Tyler Perry Dream Collective.
“After I left the Academy [of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences], Tyler and I had a conversation about how the film industry is getting more and more difficult to enter and navigate,” said Hudson. Film schools are expensive. If you’re not directly connected in some way, it’s easy to feel shut out. This is why we joined forces to create the Tyler Perry Studios Dream Collective. It is of vital importance to have a diversity of voices in cinema and television. This makes the world a more compassionate and informed place to live in. You can’t create without community. And you damn sure can’t make films.”
Added Nekisa Cooper, who will lead Program Design & Production: “There’s so much more opportunity in television and film than there ever was. Still, there’s a ton of work to be done. That’s why the Tyler Perry Studios Dream Collective is so incredibly important. This program is about knowledge-building, skill-building, habit-building and brand-building. Our goal is to amplify a multiplicity of voices in the industry and give emerging filmmakers the tools to tell their stories and design sustainable careers.”
Below is a summary of the application process:
Round 1: Tyler Perry Studios’ Dream Collective call for submissions will be taking place from Thursday, April 17 – Thursday, May 1. One thousand submissions of past work and accompanying materials that best articulate the filmmaker’s vision will be accepted via the submissions process, 100 preliminary finalists will be selected and notified in May 2025.
Round 2: One hundred Finalists will next participate in virtual sessions. The four-week virtual sessions are designed to educate, inspire and cultivate a lasting community. The sessions will include an opportunity to meet with a director and creative collaborators covering topics that include career origin, the art of collaboration and case studies of trials and triumphs on and off sets.
Round 3: The 100 Finalists will be invited to submit their Short Film scripts and accompanying materials that best articulate the filmmaker’s vision. After evaluation of the Short Film submissions, 10 winners will be selected and announced in July 2025.
Round 4: The 10 Winners then begin an immersive, 10-day hands-on training workshop which includes Short Film prep at Tyler Perry Studios in July/August 2025. Participants will have the opportunity to experiment with their script scenes, focus on collaboration with department heads, work with actors, and develop their directing skills in the context of the world-class Tyler Perry Studios. The 10 Winners will be invited to pitch their Short Film vision and articulate their plans to bring their stories to life. After evaluation of the pitches, 5 Grand Prize Winners will be selected and notified in August.
Round 5: Five Grand Prize Winners will be announced in August. Grand Prize Winners will each be awarded $30,000 from Tyler Perry Studios to make their Short Film this Fall in the greater Atlanta area. This will include access to local below-the-line crew, the studio’s production resources and mentorship from Tyler Perry Studios and industry professionals.
More information can be found at the website
here.
www.scriptrevolution.com
