6th Annual Entertainment Lab
We are excited to announce some new changes to our Lab programs for 2024! Please read all details carefully below before applying, as timing and formats have changed from previous years.
2024 Entertainment Lab Dates:
Virtual: May – September 2024 (Tuesdays)
In-Person Intensives: 1-3 days each, exact dates to be announced
Fellows must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to participate or have a medical reason for why they cannot be vaccinated. There may be regular testing requirements to attend in-person events.
Apply Now for 2024!
The priority deadline to apply is January 5, and the late deadline is January 12.
We will be expanding the 2024 Virtual Lab to a five-month program (May – September 2024) where Fellows will meet once per week, replacing the previous 6-week virtual program. This will allow Lab Fellows more time in between sessions to put the information they are learning into practice, while building community with each other outside of Lab sessions.
The RespectAbility Entertainment Lab is for disabled creatives working in development, production and/or post-production, and careers as writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, animators, and other production roles. This is not a program for actors.
During the Lab, Fellows will enjoy:
- Interactive presentations, roundtables, and other workshops with high-level executives and talent from major studios, networks, and production companies
- Informal networking with your cohort and alumni from previous cohorts
- Opportunity to pursue an independent creative pursuit (script, short film) and receive feedback through mentorship, project workshops, and table reads
In addition, our 6-week in-person Lab in Los Angeles, CA will be replaced with up to five new in-person intensive sessions geared toward Fellows who are looking for more advanced career opportunities in specific creative areas. These intensives will be hosted in Los Angeles by RespectAbility’s various industry partners for cohorts of up to 5 Fellows each. Topics for intensives will vary from physical production to writing and from documentary filmmaking to animation. They will take place between May – November 2024 and will be open to both new applicants and Lab alumni.
Since 2019, the RespectAbility Entertainment Lab has been achieving two goals:
- Create an ecosystem of disabled creatives supporting each other by developing and elevating a community of disabled entertainment professionals working behind-the-scenes in television, film, and streaming.
- Connect disabled creatives to studio executives and other decision makers who will provide mentorship leading to higher employment rates among the talent pipeline of alumni. No one should have an excuse that they could not find a disabled writer, director, producer, or any other creative professional.
Lab alumni currently are working at Disney, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and more.
View previous speakers by viewing past years’ programs on the Entertainment Lab 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 pages.
RespectAbility provides ASL interpreters and captioning for all events, and welcomes other accommodations requests. For questions pertaining to the Entertainment Lab, please contact Isabella Vargas at Lab@RespectAbility.org or 323-315-5718.
Important Details for Lab Applicants
- Fellows should exhibit leadership skills to complete their own projects.
- A bachelor’s degree is not required.
- Commit attendance for all Lab sessions, with exceptions for medical reasons.
- The value of this Lab is thousands of dollars. However, there is no cost to apply for or participate in this competitive program.
- While people at all income levels are encouraged to apply, extra consideration will be given to people on SSI, SNAP, and TANF.
- Up to 20 candidates will be selected for the Virtual Lab. Up to 5 candidates will be selected for each LA-based intensive.
- Your application materials will be evaluated by RespectAbility staff members as well as industry advisors who are experts in each field.
RespectAbility’s Labs are supported in part by:
Coverfly, Final Draft, Golden Globe Foundation, The Harnisch Foundation, Murray/Reese Foundation
Recipient of The Roddenberry Foundation Impact Award
Entertainment Lab Programmatic Team
Lauren Appelbaum SVP, Entertainment & News Media, Lab Founder |
Lawon Exum Entertainment & News Media Director |
Lesley Hennen Senior Associate of Entertainment Pipeline Programming, 2020 Lab Alumna |
Isabella Vargas Entertainment Media Coordinator, 2022 Lab Alumna |
2024 Industry Advisors
Archive
- 2023: Faculty Advisors and Speakers | Fellows
- 2022: Faculty Advisors and Speakers | Fellows
- 2021: Faculty Advisors and Speakers | Fellows
- 2020: Faculty Advisors and Speakers | Fellows
- 2019: Faculty Advisors and Speakers | Fellows
Screenwriting software Final Draft, which forged a multi-year partnership in 2020 with RespectAbility, provided free licenses of Final Draft 12 for all 2023 Lab Fellows, as well as other educational resources.