PROGRAMS
Marcus Stokes, 2017 Half Mentee
Since Half, Marcus has directed
over 20 episodes of television, including RMTV's 9-1-1, Lone Star
and American Horror Stories.
DIRECTOR SHADOWING PROGRAM
Half Initiative provides an educational Director Shadowing Program in which professional episodic directors on every Ryan Murphy Production mentor emerging and mid-career women, BIPOC, LGBTQ, non-binary and minority directors (mentees).
Accepted mentee directors are placed on a Ryan Murphy Production to shadow the director from pre-production through post, on a single episode. Mentees receive a significant stipend for their commitment. These funds provided critical funding for travel, lodging, and daycare for working mothers, allowing mentees to meet personal financial obligations while gaining unprecedented access to further education and career growth.
After shadowing, mentees continue their education by attending ongoing panels, workshops and networking opportunities with other mentees to learn from Ryan Murphy Production producers, writers, directors and key department heads.
Lulu Wang 2016
Half mentee who won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Film in 2019 (The Farewell), and most recently, along with Dani Melia
has launched Local Time Productions with
a first-look deal at Amazon Studios.
"My experience with Half was exceptional. The thoroughness of the mentorship program truly sets its mentees up for success. From preparing us on shadowing etiquette to aiding us in all communication - the structure and support offered an inviting environment to learn."
Jennifer Arnold 2017
Half mentee who has directed over 25 episodes of television including
Emily in Paris, American Horror Story,
P-Valley, Shameless, The L Word,
Brooklyn Nine-Nine and XO Kitty.
"I'm happy to report that I've been working steadily as [an episodic] director in the drama and half-hour comedy space since Half."
Katori Hall 2017
Half mentee, currently a first-time showrunner who created the series P-Valley for Starz.
"When it came to TV directing, I've always felt like a little girl with her face pressed up against the glass at the candy store. Salivating, with money--my talent--burning a hole in my pocket. Half provided me with a stunning opportunity to walk right past those locked doors and gorge on an experience only a privileged few get a chance to taste."
Since 2016, 195 directors have participated in the director shadowing program, of which are 61% Women, 12% Transgender, 68% People of Color and 28% Identifying as LGBTQ+ or non-binary.
Ryan Murphy Productions that have had shadowing directors include: American Horror Story, American Horror Stories, American Crime Story, 9-1-1, Pose, 9-1-1: Lone Star, The Politician, Ratched, Hollywood, Scream Queens, and Feud: Bette & Joan.
Since 2016, 49 Half mentees have directed episodic television after completing the Director Shadowing Program. 12 Half mentees have directed on a RMP show. 75% women.
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT INTENSIVE
Pictured above are the 2021 PA Intensive Mentees from left: Eden Daniel, Ashley Bennish, Michael Feldman, Fernando Lopez and Daviana Sood. This inaugural group worked as PAs in the production office and on the set of Ryan Murphy's Monster: DAHMER (Netflix).
The Production Assistant (PA) Intensive program provides access to mentorship, education and job opportunities with Ryan Murphy Productions.
The Half Initiative PA Intensive creates an educational opportunity for emerging talent to learn how to be an episodic production assistant by training alongside production assistants on a Ryan Murphy Production; supporting and shadowing the crew at all levels of production with a mission to provide them with a skill set to become a viable hire in the world of television production.
The cohort of mentees go through orientation together and then get placed as a PA in various departments on the production. The mentees work as PAs and are paid the PA rate on the show they work on.