Circle of Confusion partner Lawrence Mattis and producer-director Hans Canosa have formed a talent incubator for bilingual and bicultural writers for the China and U.S. markets, Variety has learned exclusively.
Production-management company Circle of Confusion produces “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” “The Talking Dead,” “Powers,” “Outcast,” and “Dirk Gently.” Its recent films include “Spare Parts,” “American Ultra,” and “Mr. Right,” starring Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick.
Their year-long Resonance fellowship program will invite up to 10 emerging storytellers — who are bilingual in English and Mandarin — annually to participate in the Los Angeles salaried program with benefits. “There can never be too many programs dedicated to discovering and developing diverse writing talent,” said Canosa.
Canosa said the program grew out of Chinese producers and executives stressing the need for writing talent to keep pace with exploding demand for film and TV content. “At its heart, Resonance is an investment in the most critical asset needed for our industry’s success — storytellers,” Mattis said.
Mattis and Canosa are the founding co-chairs. Other advisory council members include producer Simone Ling; Lionsgate’s Wendy Reeds, exec VP of international sales and China/Asia production and strategy; and producer Han Sanping, chairman emeritus of China Film Group.
Canosa directed “Conversations With Other Women,” starring Helena Bonham Carter and Aaron Eckhart, and helmed and produced “Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac” with Sony Music Entertainment and the Toei Company. He brokered a deal for a Japanese-language remake of the Russian TV police procedural “The Sniffer” between Ukranian production company Film.UA and Japanese network NHK.
The application period is open until Aug. 31 and the fellowship begins in November.