EXCLUSIVE: Following the continued success of the PGA Create program, the Producers Guild of America announced the six documentary producers and producing teams invited to take part in the PGACreate lab for emerging and mid-career producers. Now entering its third year, the program’s focus is on supporting producers from underrepresented backgrounds. PGA Create is sponsored by Google, the lead underwriter of the program.
PGA Create’s documentary cycle will be held December 4-7. The program is an immersive lab fordocumentary producers and producing teams actively developing, financing and packaging nonfictionprojects. Participants will have opportunities to hone their project pitches, attend master classes withexperienced producers and build their network of fellow producers.
PGA Create is designed to provide touch points over the span of one year, including an invitation forparticipants of its Scripted and Documentary cycles to re-convene during the PGA Create Forum, aday-long event held during the Guild’s signature Produced By Conference in June.
“We are thrilled to continue championing PGA Create and the producers supported through theprogram,” said Producers Guild members Tonya Lewis Lee, Lori McCreary and Shelby Stone. “As Chairs of the One Guild initiative which supports inclusive membership, employment, content and authenticdepictions, it is critical that the Producers Guild build on the program’s commitment to elevate diversevoices and stories through mentorship and guidance to the next generation of producers.”
Google’s support of PGA Create was negotiated by UTA Entertainment & Culture Marketing, whichrepresents Google. Producers and producing teams invited to participate in the PGA Create documentary cycle include:
Documentary FeaturesG. (Giovanna) Chesler, Producer, Intersex JusticeAs an intersex activist repeatedly revisits personal traumas during their fight for intersex rights, theylearn more than strategies for changing laws and public opinions: they discover how to care for theirheart in the process.
Nicole Doctoa, Producer and Emily Thomas, Producer/Director, The Dead ZoneInnocent people die in jail and can be held for years in The Dead Zone because of flaws in the pretrialdetention system, between arrest and conviction. But four extraordinary people are creating a blueprintto reduce jail populations.
Prerana Thakurdesai, Producer, The Last ResortThe Last Resort explores the shifting cultural and familial dynamics of aging, and how immigrant seniorsnavigate home, belonging, death and dying through the residents of Shanti Niketan, the first IndianAmerican retirement community in the United States.
Krystal Tingle, Director & Producer and Niema Jordan, Producer, Oh Happy DayA documentary about the origin and impact of the best-selling gospel song ‘Oh Happy Day!’ Behind therise of the record, is the Hawkins family, musical geniuses from Oakland, CA who shattered walls ofracism and religion transforming gospel music.
Din Blakenship, Director & Producer and Elizabeth Lodge Stepp, Producer, Love, Your Birth MomLove, Your Birth Mom is an intimate portrayal of the experience of placing a child for adoption. Thefeature-length documentary follows several women who are pregnant and questioning whether theyhave the support, resources, or ability to raise their children.
Documentary Series
Eboni Johnson-Kaba , Director & Producer and Barry Thornberg, Producer, Blerd NationBlerd Nation is a short-form docuseries exploring the fantastic, revolutionary world of Black Nerd Culture in America
Applications for the Scripted cycle of PGA Create will open on Monday, December 11. The program willbe held Summer 2024. For more information: https://producersguild.org/pgacreate/