Resonance is a first of its kind talent incubator for what will be, in the coming years, some of the most highly sought after talent—bilingual, bicultural writers and writer-directors who can create content that succeeds in the two biggest media markets in the world: China and the U.S.
Resonance will annually invite up to ten emerging storytellers to participate in a yearlong immersive screenwriting and television writing fellowship based in Los Angeles.
“There can never be too many programs dedicated to discovering and developing diverse writing talent. As one of the founders of Resonance, I’m excited to offer an educational opportunity that uniquely positions a new generation of bilingual and bicultural storytellers to create content for China, the U.S., and the world,” said Producer-Director Hans Canosa.
Resonance fellows will gain invaluable industry knowledge and competencies that will prepare them for a sustained career through undertaking the “real world” rigors of developing material for television and film—with one-on-one mentorship and access to creative executives who are available to guide projects through pitch, treatment, script, and re-writes. The program is designed as a creative “boot camp,” with a highly participatory and rigorous story development environment.
All fellows receive a salary and benefits—allowing for the program to be fully immersive. After a year, Resonance fellows will graduate from the program having undergone a transformative professional development experience. Fellows could even see their projects go into production as films or television series.
The idea for Resonance grew out of meetings Hans Canosa took in China over the past five years. He repeatedly heard from Chinese producers and executives about the desperate need for a pool of writing talent to keep pace with the exploding demand for film and television content. Hans imagined a diversity talent incubator program based in the U.S. that focused on training writers to work in both markets. The concept became a reality over a dinner Hans had with Circle of Confusion’s Lawrence Mattis last year in Beijing. Lawrence agreed to help design the program with Hans and serve as Founding Co-Chair on its Advisory Council.
“At its heart, Resonance is an investment in the most critical asset needed for our industry’s success—storytellers. Circle of Confusion is thrilled to present this pioneering project to develop cross-cultural writers and bridge storytelling in the world’s two biggest markets for film and television,” said Lawrence Mattis.
Resonance is an independent, not-for-profit entity governed by an Advisory Council that provides oversight and thought-leadership. Lawrence Mattis (Partner, Circle of Confusion) and Hans Canosa (Producer-Director) are the Founding Co-Chairs. Other Advisory Council Members include: Simone Ling (Independent Producer/Story Consultant), Wendy Reeds (Executive Vice President, International Sales and China/Asia Production and Strategy at Lionsgate), and Han Sanping (Producer and Chairman Emeritus, China Film Group).
Bilingual Mandarin-English applicants to Resonance can be of any race, ethnicity, or nationality but must be able to demonstrate high-level writing talent and bicultural competence. The application period is now open until midnight PST August 31st.
The first year of the fellowship begins in November in Los Angeles. More information, including the application, can be found at resonanceprogram.org.
About Circle of Confusion:
Circle of Confusion is a production and management company with offices in Los Angeles and New York, known as a premiere destination for exceptional writers, directors, actors, content creators, publishers and journalists. Circle’s television production division produces The Walking Dead, the most watched drama series in basic cable history, now airing internationally in over 120 countries. Circle has five other shows in production: Fear The Walking Dead, The Talking Dead, Powers based on the award winning comic book on Playstation, Outcast with Robert Kirkman at Cinemax, and Dirk Gently based on the Douglas Adams novel on BBC America.
On the feature production side, Circle’s recent productions include Spare Parts starring George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Marisa Tomei, American Ultra starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, and Mr. Right starring Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick. Circle partner David Engel executive produced Straight Outta Compton. Circle’s management clients include Sasha Alexander, Brian Bendis, Benjamin Bratt, Hans Canosa, Willem Dafoe, Mike Dougherty, Brian Duffield, Mary Harron, Chad+Carey Hayes, Anthony Jaswinski, Doug Jung, Robert Kirkman, Derek Kolstad, John Krokidas, Frank Langella, Frances McDormand, Daniel Minahan, Michelle Monaghan, Sarah Polley, Jon Spaihts, Scott Speedman, Lili Taylor, Lana+Lilly Wachowski, Gary Whitta and Alfre Woodard.
Producer/Director Hans Canosa Bio:
Hans’s award-winning, critically acclaimed directorial debut, Conversations with Other Women (2006), starred Helena Bonham Carter and Aaron Eckhart. Gabrielle Zevin, the screenwriter of the film, was nominated for the Best First Screenplay Award and Ram Bergman for the Producer’s Award at the Independent Spirit Awards. The film played theatrically in the U.S. and over three dozen other countries.
Hans directed and produced his second feature, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac (2010), based on the novel by Gabrielle Zevin, with Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and the Toei Company. The film featured Japanese A-list stars, with Anton Yelchin and Emma Roberts in supporting roles. Toei distributed Memoirs to wide release in Japan and sold the film throughout Asia.
Hans and producing partner Ash Nukui brokered a deal for a Japanese language remake of the TV police procedural The Sniffer between Ukrainian production company Film.UA and Japanese network NHK. The Sniffer, the story of a police detective with a phenomenal sense of smell, is one of the top rated drama series in Russia in the last five years. Currently in production, the Japanese series will be the first Western format scripted remake to reach terrestrial broadcast in Japan on October 22, 2016.