Universal Cable Productions will team with producer Scott Glassgold’s Ground Control, a management and production company specializing in film shorts, to create the Universal Cable Productions and Ground Control Film Lab, an initiative to find and nurture new storytellers.

The Film Lab is designed to challenge aspiring filmmakers “to submit a sample of their directorial/visual style, as well as an original television program concept, for a chance to have the opportunity to develop a television project with UCP.”

“Universal Cable Productions and Ground Control Film Lab is designed to help bring fresh, unique filmmakers to the fore,” said Kate Fenske, Senior Vice President of Development for Universal Cable Productions. “We wanted to create a new showcase environment for distinct narratives and bold story telling – giving participants the chance to submit a short film, or other visual sample of their work, is a wonderful way for us to discover new gifted storytellers.”

The goal of the competition, says UCP, “is to find undiscovered directors and visual artists and give them the opportunity to pitch their projects through a nontraditional method, by selling their ideas through graphic story telling rather than a customary script pitch.”

According to UCP, to be considered for the initiative, those interested should submit an original short film (or another original visual presentation of any genre) of up to ten minutes in length that represents their directorial/visual style, as well as a concept for an original television project. Selected participants may have the opportunity to pitch their original television concept to the development team behind UCP’s stable of premium dramas including Mr. Robot and The Sinner, and the Ground Control creative team.

UCP also created Pitch Fest, an initiative open to unsigned writers and directors to pitch their ideas to development executives with a select project being placed into development.

Ground Control works with filmmakers adept at building vast worlds through both VFX and practical innovation.

Submissions can be made at http://www.filmfreeway.com/UCP-GroundControlFilmLab.

Read more at Deadline.com