Exclusive: Sony Pictures Television is adapting NFL vet R.K. Russell’s memoir The Yards Between Us into a half-hour comedy series from Russell, Saeed Crumpler (Flatbush Misdemeanors) and Gabrielle Union (Truth Be Told).
The Yards Between Us follows a professional football player – famous for becoming the first out active player in the league to identify publicly as bisexual. The show explores the intersectionality of sports, race, sexuality, and masculinity.
In addition to his career in the NFL, Russell is also a published poet, essayist, and artist. In 2019, the multihyphenate became the first out active NFL player to identify as bisexual in a deeply personal essay for ESPN. Since revealing his truth, Russell has used his platform to support LGBTQ+ pro athletes and the community at large, as well as to call out the difficulties professional players face as a result of being open about their sexual identity. The series will...
The Yards Between Us follows a professional football player – famous for becoming the first out active player in the league to identify publicly as bisexual. The show explores the intersectionality of sports, race, sexuality, and masculinity.
In addition to his career in the NFL, Russell is also a published poet, essayist, and artist. In 2019, the multihyphenate became the first out active NFL player to identify as bisexual in a deeply personal essay for ESPN. Since revealing his truth, Russell has used his platform to support LGBTQ+ pro athletes and the community at large, as well as to call out the difficulties professional players face as a result of being open about their sexual identity. The series will...
- 4/26/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Saeed Crumpler is getting into business with Sony Pictures Television. The rapper-turned-screenwriter has signed a multi-year overall deal to develop new projects for the studio.
Crumpler most recently served as staff writer on Flatbush Misdeameanors for Showtime, and he co-wrote Hip Hop Family Christmas for VH1/MTV.
An Oakland native and product of the Bay Area cultural melting pot, Crumpler is interested in telling diverse stories with diverse characters in a diverse world – particularly drama with a twist of comedy.
“Lauren, Andrew, Christopher and the whole Sony TV team trust storytellers and I’m super excited to be collaborating with such an amazing team,” said Crumpler.
Crumpler is repped by CAA, Zack Zucker at Bellevue Productions and attorney Marios Rush.
Crumpler most recently served as staff writer on Flatbush Misdeameanors for Showtime, and he co-wrote Hip Hop Family Christmas for VH1/MTV.
An Oakland native and product of the Bay Area cultural melting pot, Crumpler is interested in telling diverse stories with diverse characters in a diverse world – particularly drama with a twist of comedy.
“Lauren, Andrew, Christopher and the whole Sony TV team trust storytellers and I’m super excited to be collaborating with such an amazing team,” said Crumpler.
Crumpler is repped by CAA, Zack Zucker at Bellevue Productions and attorney Marios Rush.
- 9/9/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
VH1 is launching a holiday movie slate and has drafted features from exec producers including Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx and Nick Cannon.
The ViacomCBS network is launching its Naughty or Nice strand at the end of November through December with five made-for-television movies – Adventures in Christmasing, The Bitch Who Stole Christmas, Hip Hop Family Christmas, Let’s Get Merried and Miracles Across 125th Street.
Adventures in Christmasing centers around Parker Baldwin, a highly successful and meticulous talk show host who plans everything to a T, finds her Christmas plans upended when her network persuades her to spend three days in the wild with superstar adventurer & television survivalist Finn Holt for a holiday television event. The two butt heads until they find themselves stranded together in the wild with no food, unreliable shelter and no form of communication. Unexpectedly impacting each other, they come to realize life is the greatest adventure.
The ViacomCBS network is launching its Naughty or Nice strand at the end of November through December with five made-for-television movies – Adventures in Christmasing, The Bitch Who Stole Christmas, Hip Hop Family Christmas, Let’s Get Merried and Miracles Across 125th Street.
Adventures in Christmasing centers around Parker Baldwin, a highly successful and meticulous talk show host who plans everything to a T, finds her Christmas plans upended when her network persuades her to spend three days in the wild with superstar adventurer & television survivalist Finn Holt for a holiday television event. The two butt heads until they find themselves stranded together in the wild with no food, unreliable shelter and no form of communication. Unexpectedly impacting each other, they come to realize life is the greatest adventure.
- 10/29/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Mentorship Matters, an initiative aimed at boosting opportunities for emerging writers of color, has been officially unveiled, along with the participants in its inaugural 2021-22 cycle.
Developed by executive producers/showrunners, including Aaron Rahsaan Thomas (S.W.A.T.), Raelle Tucker, Gianna Sobol (Counterpart) and Melinda Hsu Taylor with sponsorship by AMC Networks, Amazon, The Walter Kaitz Foundation and Sony Pictures Entertainment, the year-long mentorship program provides consistent, in-depth mentorship and creative advocacy from a committed showrunner. The first set of pairings will connect 23 leading showrunners with promising mentees to foster growth and build invaluable industry contacts.
The program includes meeting at least monthly in addition to offering guidance with developing and polishing an original writing sample, panels and seminars with high-level industry professionals, and opportunities to meet agents, managers, and executives.
Mentees were selected from over 1,200 applicants throughout the U.S., with varying experiences and backgrounds.
Developed by executive producers/showrunners, including Aaron Rahsaan Thomas (S.W.A.T.), Raelle Tucker, Gianna Sobol (Counterpart) and Melinda Hsu Taylor with sponsorship by AMC Networks, Amazon, The Walter Kaitz Foundation and Sony Pictures Entertainment, the year-long mentorship program provides consistent, in-depth mentorship and creative advocacy from a committed showrunner. The first set of pairings will connect 23 leading showrunners with promising mentees to foster growth and build invaluable industry contacts.
The program includes meeting at least monthly in addition to offering guidance with developing and polishing an original writing sample, panels and seminars with high-level industry professionals, and opportunities to meet agents, managers, and executives.
Mentees were selected from over 1,200 applicants throughout the U.S., with varying experiences and backgrounds.
- 4/29/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Nickelodeon has a pair of secret weapons when it comes to harvesting talent: the studio’s thriving writing and artist programs.
The writing program, which began in 2000, offers training that lasts for one year and, over the past five years, boasts an 85% hire rate at Nick/Kids & Family through staff positions, freelance or development opportunities. The artists program, launched in 2011, provides six months of mentorship and has seen close to 90% of program participants go on to staff or freelance positions at Nick. Alumni also have found work at a gamut of media companies outside of Nick, including HBO, DreamWorks, Netflix, Comedy Central, Disney, Kids’ WB, ABC, Fox, PBS, Cartoon Network and The CW.
The programs, which pay participants and require a full-time commitment, were created to give artists and writers from underrepresented communities opportunities to learn their craft in a professional environment with the help of mentors, according to Jeanne Mau,...
The writing program, which began in 2000, offers training that lasts for one year and, over the past five years, boasts an 85% hire rate at Nick/Kids & Family through staff positions, freelance or development opportunities. The artists program, launched in 2011, provides six months of mentorship and has seen close to 90% of program participants go on to staff or freelance positions at Nick. Alumni also have found work at a gamut of media companies outside of Nick, including HBO, DreamWorks, Netflix, Comedy Central, Disney, Kids’ WB, ABC, Fox, PBS, Cartoon Network and The CW.
The programs, which pay participants and require a full-time commitment, were created to give artists and writers from underrepresented communities opportunities to learn their craft in a professional environment with the help of mentors, according to Jeanne Mau,...
- 2/24/2021
- by Terry Flores
- Variety Film + TV
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