Warner Bros. Discovery is closing its television workshop for emerging writers and directors, as well as its digital shortform programming division, Stage 13, TheWrap has confirmed. The news comes amid further layoffs that are expected to affect the newly merged conglomerate.
Stage 13 was established in 2017, while the Writers’ Workshop has been running for nearly four decades, with the 2022–23 season being the last. There are plans to convert both of these ventures into development and current programming. While neither program was founded specifically with an initiative to support talent from underrepresented backgrounds, both eventually became a pipeline through which growing and diverse talent could enter the industry.
Formed as part of the Warner Bros. Television Group and under the previous Warner Bros. Digital Networks, Stage 13 was an award-winning studio and production company that, according to its site, “brought to enhance underlying stories and champion creators from underrepresented communities”. is devoted”. Since its launch, it has featured on Netflix’s “Special” and “It’s Bruno!” Has produced 200+ episodes of critically acclaimed series like And HBO Max’s “Family Style,” garnered six Emmy Award nominations and nearly 230 million viewers.
WBTV is already overseeing the development and programming of Stage 13 through 2020. Any existing Stage 13 projects in development will be incorporated within WBTV.
Both the Writers and Directors Workshop (later established in 2014) will select a group of growing talent to be immersed in a comprehensive training program that will introduce their work to the studio’s top writers, producers and executives, securing a staff Writing position on WBTV-produced series with the goal of and understanding how to operate a series respectively. Alumni include Regina King, LaToya Morgan (“Shameless,” “The Walking Dead”), Michael Narducci (“Superman and Lois,” “The Vampire Diaries” and Sonya Vinton-Odamten and Jonathan I. Kidd (“Lovecraft Country”) Includes.among many others.
Back in September, it was revealed that Warner Bros. Discovery was to begin laying off hundreds of workers on the commercial side. The combined sales teams of the merged company were expected to cut up to 30%. These, as well as additional firings, are the latest in a double move from Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to reduce costs by up to $3 billion, as well as change the strategy for the company’s streaming services, HBO Max and Discovery+.
