Go behind the scenes to learn from Sundance Advisors in our Conversations from the Labs series. This collection of videos will deepen your understanding of all the creative disciplines that are supported through our Labs including Feature Film Directing and Writing, TV Writing, Emerging/Interdisciplinary Media, Documentary, Producing and Film Music.

In this conversation from the 2021 Episodic Lab, Steven Canals, creator of groundbreaking and award-winning series Pose, reflects on his experience as a TV writer, series creator, and showrunner, offering insight into how to effectively pitch not only your original pilot to buyers or in a general meeting, but also introduce yourself as a creator, allowing opportunity to follow you into every room. The conversation is moderated by Jandiz Cardoso, Director of the Episodic Writers Program.

Other conversations in this ongoing series include those with editors Michelle Tesoro, Joi McMillon, Teri Shropshire & Dylan Tichenor; cinematographers Stephen Goldblatt, Robert Elswit, Brad Young and Charlotte Bruus Christensen; writer/director Miguel Arteta, writer/director Walter Salles, writer/director Randa Haines and more.

Moderator
Jandiz Estrada Cardoso is the Director of the Sundance Institute Episodic Program. Previously, she was the Sr. Director of Global Talent Development & Inclusion for film, TV and streaming at NBCUniversal for a decade. Jandiz spearheaded the bicoastal NBCUniversal Short Film Festival, The YA TU SABES Monologue Slam, and the national tour of StandUp NBC. In her freelance career, she has worked on dozens of pilots and features for studios including Disney, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Universal, New Line, AMC, ABC, CBS, Starz, and NBC (notably on their Emmy-winning series 30 ROCK). As an instructor, she has led master classes across the US and Brazil. She is a recipient of the Golden Eagle Award for Diversity Impact in Television. more...
Panelist
Steven Canals is the Emmy®-nominated and Peabody Award-winning co-creator, EP, director and writer of FX’s groundbreaking series, POSE. He was recently featured in The Hollywood Reporter's Pride Issue as one of their "50 Most Powerful LGBTQ Players in Hollywood." POSE has received Emmy®, Golden Globe® and Critics Choice Award nominations for Best Drama Series, among others. Steven also received a nomination from the WGA for Outstanding New Series. Steven is a queer, AfroLatinx creator, who grew up in NYC and whose work aims to center communities that have been under-represented onscreen. more...

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