Writing partners Ed Gonzalez and Jeremy Haft have been selected as the third annual Fox Writers Intensive (FWI) Fellows.
As part of their prize, the duo signed a development deal with Fox Broadcasting Company and 20th Century Fox Television. Additionally, Gonzales and Haft have been staffed on Fox’s new drama, “Empire,” co-created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong (both of Lee Daniels‘ “The Butler”), and starring Terrence Howard (“Crash”) and Taraji P. Henson (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”).
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The Fox Writers Intensive program is designed to nurture experienced writers for potential staffing on Fox productions. In 2013, Fox Audience Strategy expanded the FWI to provide opportunities across multiple Fox companies, including HarperCollins and 20th Century Fox Film.
“Three years in, the Fox Writers Intensive continues to excel in finding fresh creative voices for our TV, film, literary and digital productions,” said Joe Earley, chief operating officer, Fox Broadcasting Company. “Ed and Jeremy are two incredibly talented writers who impressed us with their original work throughout the program, and we’re very excited to have them join the staff of ‘Empire.’”
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The finalists spent four months participating in a curriculum, co-designed and administered by FWI partner Film Independent, that focused on honing their craft and establishing deeper creative connections across Fox’s television, film and other entertainment businesses.
The program featured collaborative sessions with writers and producers, including Hart Hanson (“Bones”) and Glen Mazzara (“The Walking Dead”), among others. Senior execs across all Fox properties also participated in the mentoring.
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In addition to Gonzalez and Haft, the 2014 FWI class included finalists Nazrin Choudhury, Tze Chun, Nate Clark, Sonay Hoffman, Johanna Lee, Katherine Nolfi, Gabby Revilla, Bernadette Rivero, Kevin Seccia, Erik Shapiro and Debby Wolfe. To date, five of the FWI finalists have been staffed on series for 2014-15.
Gonzalez and Haft are represented by Summit Talent & Literary Agency and Luber Roklin Entertainment.