Today’s exclusive Conversation is with Kendra Carter, Director of NBC Universal Talent Diversity Initiatives. Kendra develops, produces, and supervises talent diversity initiatives for NBC. Most notable, NBC’s Stand-Up for Diversity nationwide talent search, Short Cuts Film Festival, various talent scholarships and talent showcases. These programs create a pipeline for diverse talent and opportunities on NBC Universal television series. Kendra is also responsible for tracking the network’s placement of diverse talent in front of the camera. Prior to joining NBC, Kendra was a casting and talent development executive at Spike TV for several years. During her time at Spike TV, she served as a member of Nickelodeon Network’s West Coast Diversity Team. She began her career as a casting assistant and associate for several high-profile casting directors in Los Angeles for film and television.
Yes, this is someone you need to know.
Today we’re talking about her latest project at NBC, the Short Cuts Film Festival.
Kendra Carter, NBC Universal
Kenda Carter: Oh, yes! By the nature of the network, when you’re casting at Spike, you’re auditioning a lot of “hot girls”, you know. Here at NBC, I’m able to do more and consider man different types of people!
TBBO: Good. Now, what’s the Short Cuts Film Festival? I gotta be honest…I’ve never heard of this before!
KC: ME EITHER!! That’s why it’s good that we’re talking today, because I am so tired of people not knowing this is happening! We’ve expanded the short film showcase to now feature minority talent and filmmakers across all film genres. The shift from a comedy focus that will also include drama, horror and sci-fi.
Semi-final films will be screened before an industry audience in conjunction with the New York Television Festival in September 2009. Finalists then will proceed to Los Angeles in October 2009 for an exclusive industry screening. There will be abut 300 people viewing the Semi-finalists.
TBBO: Tell me about the selection process. Are you just looking for some short video submissions and an intern is gonna look at them and choose the ones they like? “30 Rock” makes NBC look huge and impossible to get into. What’s the opportunity here?
KC: This is an incredible opportunity, and it’s one that people don’t get every day. When you submit your film to us, it’s being screened according to genre and type by the right people. No interns. Executives, including myself, are the ones watching your work!
TBBO: Even you?
KC: Oh yes. I’m on top of everything that goes on. I was just at the Pan Asian film festival and I saw some great stuff! I wanted to talk to the actors right then and there! I was a casting director, and that never leaves you. People who do this work, they do it for life. I’m always looking to stay on top of what’s going on out there. It’s how I bring the best talent in here!
Your work will be screened by real programming execs here. In the past, this festival was based in comedy. NBC would do a call out to comedic filmmakers and choose from those entries. But I said ‘What if the best talent isn’t comedic?’ (laughs) You know, everybody isn’t funny! So we decided to open it up to all genres. We’re looking for talent, the best diverse talent!
TBBO: That’s a huge opportunity!
KC: It really is, and again, it’s a rare opportunity. All of the NBC TV companies are involved. The way Sci-Fi Channel is participating is great because this year’s winner will be flown out to Bulgaria to be on the set and shoot some behind the scenes footage on a Sci-Fi Original project!
Another thing we’re going to make this different is taht we’re looking at everything in the submissions in order to find talent, which means if you’re an actor and you’re what stands out, then you’re who we want!
TBBO: You’re looking for actors in a short film competition?
KC: Sometimes the talent is on the screen, sometimes behind the camera! If we like what we see, we may sign them to a talent holding deal, where we walk you through the system and send them on auditions.
TBBO: So you’re giving some talented filmmakers the keys to NBC! So what’s the catch? Do the films have to use GE products in them?
KC: No. The films have to be diverse in cast, production, or theme. That much we have to request. But really, that can lead to a lot of interesting submissions. Last year we had an Hispanic director do a project where the entire cast and theme was Indian. Every story has already been told, right, but we expect some really creative submissions!
TBBO: How short should a short film be for this?
KC: well, we need some kind of story told (laughs) so let’s say 5 minutes! But no more than 30 minutes or so!
TBBO: What about opportunities in Web series? Like how you guys developed Gemini Division with Rosario Dawson?
KC: I JUST asked about that today! Online is an opportunity as well. We’re still working all the details out on it now!
TBBO: Okay, now that I understand, I’ll submit my film and get my friends to do the same. When do we have to get the films in!
KC: August 21, so you have some time to maybe even shoot something!
TBBO: Do you think this will bring real diversity and change to NBC?
KC: It’s a start. I don’t think you’ll see folks from this contest on TV this fall, or next season, but it’s a change that has to start somewhere.
The point is that you will see change, so now’s the time to get involved!
Tell everybody to go to NBCShortcuts.com and submit!
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