WarnerMedia Expands Global Talent Develo ... WarnerMedia Expands Global Tal ...

WarnerMedia Expands Global Talent Development efforts to Focus on Diversity in Canada

WarnerMedia

New team builds on initiatives to showcase and promote underrepresented storytellers

September 16, 2020 - As part of WarnerMedia's ongoing commitment to building a more inclusive and innovative industry, and to forging deeper connections with audiences around the world, WarnerMedia has announced the creation of a new Canadian talent development team that will focus on increasing representation in front of and behind the camera. Canadian industry notables Deanna Cadette, Executive Director, and Melanie Nepinak Hadley (mush gih wii kihnew ikwe), Program Director, will lead the efforts under the Global Access Programs initiative.

The new talent development team will focus on building relationships with and opportunities for creators of all genders, abilities and identities from Canada's underrepresented communities, including members of Indigenous, Black, and other racialized groups, creators with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ2+ and Francophone communities. The programs for both above- and below-the-line roles in film, television and gaming include a key partnership with the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television which will be announced in the coming weeks.

More than ever, representation matters, said Christy Haubegger, WarnerMedia's Chief Enterprise Inclusion Officer and Head of Global Marketing & Communications. We look forward to bringing the amazing Canadian stories from both seasoned and emerging storytellers to the Canadian and global market. This program will build upon our long history of production in Canada through our Warner Bros. and HBO brands, says Haubegger.

As Director of the former Writers Guild of Canada/Bell Media Diverse Screenwriters Program, Cadette led the operations, finances and content-development of the initiative which significantly increased the hiring of talent from underrepresented communities in TV writers' rooms and provided a network for creators and industry decision-makers. In her most recent role, she led engagement and inclusion initiatives at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Hadley also joins WarnerMedia from the CBC where she was the Executive in Charge of Production and oversaw the development and production of projects such as Trickster, Heartland and Frankie Drake Mysteries. As the first and only Indigenous production executive at the public broadcaster, Melanie was an advocate for inclusion and integral in developing meaningful relationships with a diversity of Canadian talent.

Melanie and I know that there's an abundance of talent in Canada, said Cadette. So we're thrilled to join WarnerMedia to forge lasting and impactful relationships with both seasoned and emerging creators who can tell those stories, said Cadette.

As we lean into the future, our global audiences are hungry for a diversity of stories told authentically, said Hadley.

This past May, Haubegger announced the WarnerMedia Enterprise Inclusion Leadership team that focuses on developing a comprehensive strategy to address all aspects of diversity and inclusion for the company across workforce, programs, content, suppliers and community. Supporting her efforts are James Anderson, Karen Horne, Samata Narra and MyKhanh Shelton.

Read more on diversity and inclusion at WarnerMedia.

About WarnerMedia

WarnerMedia is a leading media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content from a diverse array of talented storytellers and journalists to global audiences through its consumer brands including: HBO, HBO Max, Warner Bros., TNT, TBS, truTV, CNN, DC Entertainment, New Line, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. The organization also includes Xandr's suite of advanced advertising solutions designed to help to improve advertising for brands, publishers, and consumers.

LINK:	https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/gb/media-release/warnermedia-expands...
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