LMU School of Film and Television (SFTV) alum Corey Dashaun ’20 was selected as a finalist in the Starz #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive. This two-phase program was created in partnership with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers and NewFilmmakers Los Angeles as an opportunity for underrepresented writers to break into a career in TV writing.
This is not Dashaun’s first industry win. Upon graduation from SFTV, he was selected for the Village Roadshow Emerging Talent Lab, a joint program between the college and Village Roadshow Entertainment Group that provided mentorship and funding for alumni projects.
“I think Village Roadshow Emerging Talent Lab impacted my trajectory in many ways,” Dashaun says. “For one, it was my first industry win, and I leveraged that specific experience while applying to other labs such as Film Independent’s Project Involve and Sundance Episodic labs and now STARZ Take the Lead Intensive. The short film we created and the experience were invaluable because it gave me the courage to keep going.”
And keep going he has – completing phase one of the Starz #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive meant competing amongst 10 participants for a coveted spot in the top 6. They were all given the chance to pitch an episode to Starz executives. Dashaun wrote a spec outline for “Power: Raisin Kanan,” and his pitch was successful. Now, he will spend the month of October writing a full spec script, under mentorship from Starz creatives. His end goal is to join the staff of a Starz show, and he has his eyes set on the “Power” universe.
Dashaun also recently co-wrote episode 7 on Season 2 of Peacock’s “One of Us is Lying,” premiering October 20. Want to follow in his footsteps? His advice to current SFTV students is to apply to as many industry-vetted fellowships as possible, write daily, and practice pitching until it’s second nature. “Every experience helps you gain mentors and connections with other fellows who are equally as hungry to rise and grind together,” Dashaun says.
