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UNIVERSAL CITY, CA, August 15, 2013—Universal Pictures today announced that the studio has created an Emerging Writers Fellowship designed to identify and cultivate new and unique voices

with a passion for storytelling. Emerging writers who are chosen to participate in the program will work within the studio to hone their skills and gain access and exposure to Universal

executives, producers and other key industry professionals. The announcement was made by Universal Pictures Co-Presidents of Production, Peter Cramer and Jeffrey Kirschenbaum who will

oversee the fellows. Under terms approved by the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW), the Emerging Writers Fellowship will allow Universal the opportunity to expand the community of

writers with whom the studio works. The Fellowship was an idea championed by Executive Vice President of Production Scott Bernstein. Bernstein brought the idea to Universal’s Diversity

Council and developed it in collaboration with Arturo Barquet who is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Film Production at Universal. The Diversity Council, which is led by

Universal Co-Chairman Donna Langley, has made the Emerging Writers Fellowship one of its key initiatives in expanding the number of diverse talent within Universal Pictures’ workforce both

in front of and behind the camera. “The film group is always looking for ways to bring diverse perspectives into the studio fold and this fellowship is a great way to expand our company’s

pool of talent,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for NBCUniversal Craig Robinson. “These initiatives are extremely important in driving NBCUniversal’s culture of

diversity and inclusion in meaningful ways.” Universal will entertain applications for the fellowship beginning on September 3, 2013. Interested applicants will be asked to submit a

screenplay and other background materials to the studio for evaluation. Ten finalists will be selected and interviewed in Los Angeles. Out of that group, up to five fellows will be chosen to

work for the studio over the course of one year. During that time, fellows will work exclusively with the studio and be given the opportunity to work on current Universal projects as well

as pitch original story ideas. Fellows will also attend workshops, interact with top literary agents and sit in on Universal’s executive meetings. They will also be assigned industry

mentors. For information on how to apply for Universal’s Emerging Writers Fellowship, please go to http://www.nbcunicareers.com/universal-pictures%E2%80%99-emerging-writers-fellowship.