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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.

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...
Moderator
Jandiz Estrada Cardoso is the newest director of the Sundance Institute Episodic Program, previously, the Sr. Director of Global Talent Development & Inclusion division for film, tv, and streaming at NBCUniversal. Working directly with the development and programming teams for scripted and alternative, she scouted and designed creative pipelines for emerging writers, directors, actors and comedians for immediate hire. As an executive producer, Jandiz spearheaded countless events including the bicoastal NBCUniversal Short Film Festival, The YATU SABES MONOLOGUE SLAM, and the national search and tour of StandUp NBC awarding talent holding deals to their champions. In her freelance career, she has worked with over a dozen features for studios including Disney, Warner Brothers, Working Title, Paramount, Universal, New Line Cinema, and Screen Gems and over 2 dozen pilots and series with networks including AMC, ABC, CBS, Starz, Spike TV, MTV and very proudly on NBC's Emmy Award winning series, 30 ROCK. She is a member of Casting Society of America, Hollywood Radio & Television Society, voting member of the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences, and newest board member for LA's acclaimed The Groundlings Theatre. As an instructor, she has led master classes across the US and Brazil and was voted Backstage Magazine's Reader's Choice Award for Audition Coach of the Year. She is a recent recipient of the Golden Eagle Award for Diversity Impact in Television. more...

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