Adobe Starts $6M Fund To Support Underrepresented Creatives In Film & TV
By Mikelle Leow, 17 Jan 2024
Photo 182767667 © Michael Vi | Dreamstime.com
Adobe and the Adobe Foundation are making a blockbuster-worthy move in the film and television sphere with the launch of the first-ever Adobe Film & TV Fund. This initiative, committing a substantial US$6 million, is designed to place underrepresented creators and filmmakers under the spotlight, so to speak, aiming to foster diversity and inclusion in an industry where these values are crucial yet often overlooked.
The fund is set to tackle the lack of equity in funding, career, and training opportunities across various communities in the TV and film sector. In its inaugural year, Adobe is dedicating US$6 million in grants, contributions, and Creative Cloud product donations. The goal is to track and enhance inclusion in the industry, accelerating the job prospects of thousands of global creators and ultimately increasing diversity in shows and movies that reach and resonate with audiences worldwide.
To turn script into action, Adobe is teaming up with a cohort of global organizations dedicated to serving underrepresented communities, in hopes of highlighting multi-hyphenate makers in film and TV. Initial collaborators include Easterseals, Gold House, Latinx House, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Sundance Institute, and Yuvaa.
Representation in front of and behind the camera has the power to transform narratives and empower communities. Today, we’re excited to announce the Adobe Film & TV Fund, our partnership with a global cohort of organizations uplifting underrepresented stories and creatives. pic.twitter.com/FYZl5rvRcr
— Adobe (@Adobe) January 16, 2024
The focus will be on funding fellowships and apprenticeships that provide direct, hands-on industry access through mentorships and networking with production houses, studios, and distributors. These efforts are not just about financial support but also about creating pathways for filmmakers to bring their unique stories and perspectives to the forefront.
Stacy Martinet, vice president of marketing strategy and communications at Adobe and a member of the Adobe Foundation board, emphasizes the importance of diversity both in front of and behind the camera, stating that it is “key to unlocking more diverse and more inclusive storytelling.”
The first fellowship program under this initiative will be in collaboration with the NAACP, zeroing in on increasing diverse representation in the post-production industry.
This 14-week curriculum, starting in May, will concentrate on education and training, career growth, and workplace experience. It includes access to Adobe Creative Cloud, industry mentorships, masterclass lectures, workplace rotations, and more. Applications for this fellowship open on January 18 for four participants.
“Equity matters, and it is incumbent upon those of us who sit in positions of power and authority to help identify solutions to advance diversity and inclusion both in front of and behind the lens,” notes Kyle Bowser, senior vice president of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau. “It’s an honor to work with a like-minded partner in Adobe, who shows up at the table with ideas and resources that make a tangible impact.”
This new Film & TV Fund builds upon Adobe’s ongoing collaboration with the Sundance Institute, which dates back to 2015, to inspire and support emerging filmmakers aged 18 to 25 through a year-round artist development course.
Through this additional endeavor, not only will talented individual creators get the resources they need to go far, but their diverse voices and stories will more likely be heard and seen on screens all around the world, too.
[via Adobe, cover photo 182767667 © Michael Vi | Dreamstime.com]