Project Greenlight Digital Studios, Section II, and GLAAD partner for New Filmmaking Contest “See Yourself” asks the independent filmmaker community for project pitches focused on themes relevant to the LGBTQ community
LOS ANGELES (July 11, 2016) – Project Greenlight Digital Studios (PGLDS), Section II and GLAAD have announced their partnership for a new contest called “See Yourself” which aims to improve the poor statistics of LGBTQ presence in television and film.
Of the 161 films released in 2014 by major studios, only 25 had any LGBTQ characters, and a mere 4% of broadcast networks featured LGBTQ representation. Project Greenlight Digital Studios, Section II, and GLAAD are hoping to challenge those numbers by creating funding, production, and distribution opportunities for a series focused on themes relevant to the LGBTQ community.
Filmmakers will be invited to submit a short pitch for an original digital series to https://www.projectgreenlight.com/contests/see-yourself, focusing on themes relevant to LGBTQ audiences. Pitches can range in themes from dramatic, to comedic, to thriller, or documentary style. Twenty semi-finalists will be selected and voted on by the public. The “audience winner” automatically moves on to the Top Five, where they and four other finalists will be asked to provide additional materials including treatments and story bibles where appropriate. These finalists will also be interviewed by the creative teams at Adaptive Studios, Section II, and GLAAD. One filmmaker or filmmaking team will receive $5K and a development deal to create an original digital series with Section II and Adaptive Studios.
The collaboration of these three organizations solidify a strong connection between the entertainment industry and the LGBTQ community. Project Greenlight Digital Studios was created by Adaptive Studios to be a story-driven creative community and content producer that empowers the next generation of great filmmakers by providing emerging talent with access to high-value Hollywood relationships, creator contests, representation, and multi-platform distribution opportunities. Created by the producers behind the Project Greenlight TV show, PGLDS is quickly becoming a powerful engine to curate premium digital content for networks and major brands. Section II, founded by Allie Esslinger, is an AVOD streaming platform and content creator network that acquires, creates, and showcases LBTQ films and series; while GLAAD brings LGBT characters and plotlines to movie theaters, television sets and even comic books – working with writers, producers and studios to ensure accurate and diverse representations of LGBT people on the big and small screens.
Adaptive Studios’ Vice President of Digital Video, Brittany Turner, expressed “Our goal at PGLDS has always been to create opportunities for independent filmmakers and under-represented voices in the filmmaking community. We are thrilled to team up with both Section II and GLAAD to help expand this effort to the LGBTQ community.”
“Working hand-in-hand with Industry and Community stalwarts to cultivate talent and create new content for LGBTQ+ audiences is exactly what we’ve been working towards for the last two years” added Allie Esslinger of Section II.
“GLAAD is proud to partner with Project Greenlight Digital Studios and Section II on this exciting and new competition that amplifies unique and diverse stories from the LGBTQ community,” said Ray Bradford, GLAAD’s Director of Programs, Entertainment Media. “We look forward to working with them to highlight the many creative stories and themes that continue to accelerate acceptance of LGBTQ people everywhere.”
The contest was first announced during a special panel at OUTFEST 2016. Submissions will begin August 2 and the final winner will be announced on September 19.
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About Adaptive Studios:
Adaptive Studios is a pioneering media studio focused on the acquisition and development of intellectual property across all platforms. Sourcing material through partners including studios, talent agencies, management companies and production houses, as well as in–house, Adaptive creates and produces film, television, books and graphic novels, and digital entertainment – focusing on whicheverplatform best fits the story. Adaptive produced the highly acclaimed Project Greenlight for HBO and recently launched Project Greenlight Digital Studios, through which it is actively “greenlighting” an expanding slate of new digital series with emerging filmmakers. Alongside Pilgrim Media Group and Pearl Street Films with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, Adaptive also recently announced the launch of a new reality show called The Runner exclusively on Verizon’s Go90 video app. Adaptive additionally revealed plans to bring its latest novel, DC Trip, written by comedian and author Sara Benincasa, to the big screen alongside Van Toffler’s new studio, Gunpowder & Sky, and with Bona Fide Productions. Adaptive Books, the publishing imprint of Adaptive Studios, has released 10 titles to date and will publish an average of 10 books and graphic novels annually. For more information visit www.adaptivestudios.com.
About Section II:
Section II is the destination platform for audiences seeking female-focused LGBTQ films and television. The company showcases content and creators relevant to the queer-female demographic and has licensed and acquired the world’s largest collection of LBTQ features, shorts, and series. With their Digital Marketplace up and running, the company has recently expanded into producing original content, including the series FOR EX-LOVERS ONLY by Andrew Gitomer and Jonathan Stromberg, which screened ahead of last night’s announcement of the SEE YOURSELF competition at Outfest.
About GLAAD:
GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBT acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.
