An overview of mentors who participated in previous cycles of the #Startwith8 Program that have given us permission to share their names.

Aaron B Koontz (Producer/Director/Writer, Paper Street Pictures)
Adam Egypt Mortimer (Director, DANIEL ISN’T REAL, ARCHENEMY)
Adam Haracz (Manager, Post Production, Walt Disney Television Studios)
Adam Pachter (Writer/Professor, Emerson College, ACTIVIZED, BLACK BAGS)
Adam Pava (Writer, Warner Bros, Fox, Dreamworks, Paramount)
AE Jones (TV Lit Coordinator, Kaplan Stahler Agency)
Ai-Ling Malone (Recruiting Researcher, Netflix)
Aimee Rivera (Vice President of Motion Picture Production, Skydance Media)
Alanna Bennett (Story Editor, Feature Writer, ROSWELL NEW MEXICO)
Alec Ziff (Writer, NARCOS: MEXICO)
Alex Fumero (Producer/Writer, MUCHO MUCHO AMOR: THE LEGEND OF WALTER MERCADO)
Alex Rubens (Writer/Producer, KEY & PEELE, COMMUNITY, RICK & MORTY)
Alexandra Cunningham (Showrunner, DIRTY JOHN)
Alexandra Zimbler (VP Creative Affairs, Gaumont Studios)
Alexia Melocchi (CEO, Little Studio Films)
Allard Cantor (Partner /Co-Founder, Epicenter)
Andrea Nordgren (Creative Director/Executive Producer/Director, Heroine Films)
Andy Horwitz (Executive Vice President of Atlas Entertainment, TRIPLE FRONTIER, SUICIDE SQUAD, MOJAVE, THE HOLLOW POINT, AMERICAN HUSTLE)
Anne Rothwell (Executive Producer/Showrunner, Category 6 Media Group an A+E Network Division)
Ashleigh Snead (Independent Producer, SCARE PACKAGE, THE PALE DOOR, DEMENTER)
Ashley Jones (Supervising Producer, Buzzfeed)
Avin Das (Writer/Producer, KEVIN CAN WAIT, HENRY DANGER)
Beatriz Sequeira (EVP of Development and Production, Blumhouse Productions, GET OUT, US, THE INVISIBLE MAN)
Becca Edelman (VP, 21 Laps Entertainment, SHADOW & BONE, LOVE & MONSTERS)
Beth Schacter (Executive Producer, BILLIONS (Showtime)
Bianca Sams (Co-Producer, CHARMED, TITANS, DON’T LOOK DEEPER)
Brett Juskalian (Director of Photography)
Bri LeRose (Content Director, Writer, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, MAGIC FOR HUMANS)
Brian Goldberg (Agent/Partner, Worldwide Production Agency)
Brittany Hendricks (Post Production Coordinator, Media Res Studio)
Bryan Parker (Sound Editor, Formosa Group, GET OUT, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK)
C. Robert Cargill (Writer/Producer, Crooked Highway, SINISTER, DOCTOR STRANGE)
Cameo Wood (Director, REAL ARTISTS)
Cameron Squires (Screenwriter, FINAL SPACE, WANDAVISION)
Camille Brown (Director/Writer/Producer, A CHRISTMAS WINTER SONG, THE NTH WARD)
Camilla Grove (Creative Executive, Matt Tolmach Productions, VENOM, JUMANJI 1 & 2)
Carlos Foglia (Producer, TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES, LORE)
Carol Turner (EVP Production and Post, ABC Signature Studios)
Casey Affleck (Actor, Writer, Director, Producer)
Casey Minella (Literary Manager, Circle of Confusion)
Cassian Elwes (Producer)
Cate Adams (VP Production, Warner Bros)
Catherine Hagedorn (Head of Development, Nuyorican Productions)
Celeste Hughey (TV Writer, DEAD TO ME, HIGH FIDELITY)
Chaz Bottoms (Animation Director)
Chelsea Kardos (Director of Development, AMC Networks)
Chip Flaherty (Literary Agent/Film Producer)
Chris Viscardi (Writer/Producer/Creator, SNOWY DAY, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS)
Christy Thornton (Head of Film & TV, Rebelle Media)
Cindy Appel (Writer/Producer/Story Editor, STAR TREK: PICARD, MACGYVER)
Cody Zwieg (SVP of Development & Production, 50 STATES OF FRIGHT, THE LAZARUS EFFECT, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT)
Colin Lawrence (Writer/Director/Producer, CEL FILMS LLC)
Cori Uchida (EP, Netflix)
Craig Mazin (Showrunner, CHERNOBYL)
Craig Siebels (Co-Executive Producer, TURNER & HOOCH, BLOOD & TREASURE)
Craig T. Williams (Writer, Producer, Editor)
Cris Aragon (Sound Post Production, SWEET TOOTH, REMINISCENCE, DUNE, TED LASSO)
Daisy Hamilton (CEO, Rock Salt Releasing)
Daley Haggar (Writer, THE BIG BANG THEORY, CRISTELA)
Daniel Seco (Literary Manager, Schemers Entertainment)
Danita Patterson (CEO, Senior Producer, Destiny Unlimited, SOULMATE, HEAVEN IS FOR REAL)
Danny Fernandez (Co-Producer, ICARLY, LOVE VICTOR)
Danny Ricker (Co-Head Writer/Producer, JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE)
Darion D’Anjou (Director, LA PATASOLA)
Davah Avena (Co-Executive Producer, FIREFLY LANE, ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST)
David Lawrence (Head of Acquisitions, Glass House Distribution)
David Lawson (Producer, SHE DIES TOMORROW, SYNCHRONIC, AFTER MIDNIGHT)
David Solomon (Producer, Director, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.)
David Rabinowitz (Writer, BLACKKKLANSMAN)
DaVida Smith (Manager/Producer, Stride Management)
Deborah Richards (Writer, Director, Editor, THE UNITED STATES OF HORROR)
Diana Ward (Producer, ROLLER DREAMS, LIBERTY, THE COIN)
Diana Williams (Producer, Madison Wells Media/Founder of Roller Coaster Entertainment)
Donna-Marie Reid (Producer)
Dorez Douglas (Executive Producer)
Elaine Chu (Director, THE PURGATION)
Eleanor Nett (Freelance Producer/Post Supervisor)
Elizabeth Bayne (Director, CONTINUING A LEGACY, A COWGIRL & HER HORSE)
Elizabeth Chomko (Filmmaker & Actor)
Emily Best (CEO/Producer, Seed&Spark, AIN’T I A WOMAN, F*CK YES)
Eric Brodeur (Producer, Exit 44 Entertainment)
Erica Spates (Executive Producer/Creator, Netflix’s The Healing Powers of Dude)
Erika Weinstein (Head of Development, TinkerToy Productions)
Eugene Park (Executive Director, Full Spectrum Features)
Evan Gore (Writer)
Evan Rosenfeld (Producer/Director, WARRIORS OF LIBERTY CITY)
Felicia Pride (Executive Story Editor/Writer/Producer, GREY’S ANATOMY, QUEEN SUGAR)
Fetle Negash (Director of Production, AMC Networks)
Floyd Marshall Jr (Film Festival Director)
Frank Ochoa (Executive Director of Comedy Development, Sony Pictures Television)
Franklin jin Rho (Writer/Producer, PACHINKO, SWAMP THING, THE EXORCIST)
Gabrielle Neimand (VP, Fremantle)
Gennifer Hutchison (Executive Producer/Writer, LORD OF THE RINGS)
George Mandl (Editor, TACOMA FD, BREWS BROTHERS)
Grace Oathout (Co-Producer, Tripod Media, ASSASSINS, THE KEEPERS)
Grant Myers (Writer, THE MAZE RUNNER)
Hailey Wierengo (Head of Production & Development, Field Trip Productions)
Halle Mariner (Agent, APA)
Hillary Levi (Manager, Gotham Group)
Hollis Meminger (Director of Photography, NARCOS, BLACKLIST, SALT)
Holly Jeter (Agent, William Morris Endeavor)
Iram Parveen Bilal (Director)
James Fler (Managing Partner, Raven Banner Entertainment Inc.)
Janet Lin (Writer/Producer, BRIDGERTON, CURSED, THE PASSAGE)
Janet Sohn (Director, Talent Acquisition, Netflix)
Jason Kyle (Development Coordinator/Creative Executive, Sony)
Jason Perlman (Director/Producer/Writer, ZAC & MIA, SLEEP TIGHT)
Jason Reich (Head Writer/EP, Jimmy Jeffries Show)
Jason Woliner (Freelance Director, BORAT 2, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, PARKS & RECREATION)
Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Writer/Creator/Producer, COWBOY BEBOP, THE DARK CRYSTAL, THE 100)
Jay Firestone (Founder/CEO, Prodigy Pictures, LOST GIRL, DARK MATTER)
Jaydi Samuels Kuba (Writer, Netflix’s GOOD TIMES, FAMILY GUY)
Jeff Howard (Writer, Netflix’s RESIDENT EVIL, HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE)
Jeffrey Lieber (Showrunner, LOST, THE ORIGINALS, CHARMED)
Jenni Sherwood (EVP Scripted Development, Fremantle)
Jennie Bedusa (VP Production, Topic Studios)
Jennifer Cacicio (Showrunner/Writer/Creator/Producer, HAPPY FACE, SEXY BEAST, YOUR HONOR)
Jennifer Court (EP, Kung Fu Monkey Productions, THE PLAYER, EVERSTAR, MARRY ME)
Jennifer DaRe (CEO/Producer/Manager, ATN Entertainment)
Jenny Callaghan (Talent Manager/Producer, JGC Management, THE FLOOR IS LAVA, JO KOY COMING IN HOT)
Jeremy Zuckerman (President/Head Composer, Jeremy Zuckerman Music)
Jess Carson (TV Writer, THE FLASH)
Jessica Hargrave (Producer, THE KEEPERS, ASSASSINS, VISIBLE: OUT ON TELEVISION)
Jessica Rhoades (President of Pacesetter/EP SHARP OBJECTS, THE AFFAIR, THE VILLAGE, DIRTY JOHN: THE BETTY BRODERICK STORY, UTOPIA)
Jim Kolmar (Film Festival Programmer)
Jimmy Nguyen (Producer, KINO SPIEL)
Joanna White-Oldham (Producer, BURIED BY THE BERNARDS, LAST FIVE YEARS)
Joe Henderson (Showrunner, LUCIFER)
Joelle Luman (Writer/Producer, AMERICAN GRIT)
John Zaozirny (President/Producer, Bellevue Productions, ELI, ALWAYS WATCHING, PARALLEL, INFINITE)
Johnny Wu (Producer, Director, Editor, WU LIN: THE SOCIETY)
Jordan Reddout (Co-EP/Writer, MIXEDISH, DOLLFACE, WILL & GRACE, GROWNISH, THE MUPPETS)
Jordana David (MUA)
Jordanna Fraiberg (TV Producer, Iron Butterfly Entertainment, TINY PRETTY THINGS)
Joseph Mallozzi (Showrunner, UTOPIA FALLS, DARK MATTER, STARGATE)
Josh McGuire (Literary Manager, Underground)
Josh Spector (SVP, Acquisitions & Distribution, Vertical Entertainment)
Joy Mitchell (Writer, BRIDGERTON)
Julia Glausi (Agent, CAA)
Justin Halpern (Co-Showrunner, HBO Max’s HARLEY QUINN)
Kara Frias (Director of Development/Producer, TINY PRETTY THINGS, DEAD GIRLS DETECTIVE AGENCY)
Karine Shahar (Chief Human Resources Officer, Blumhouse Production & TV)
Kat Seigworth (Talent & Literary Manager, Bohemia Group)
Kate Adler (Executive Vice President, Comedy Development, CBS Television Studios)
Kate Gill (SVP of development, Paramount Televison Studios)
Kate Sharp (Literary Manager, Bellevue Productions)
Kathey Leverton (VP Scripted Production Finance, Fremantle)
Kathleen McInnis (Film Festival Producer, Programmer)
Kathy Le Backes (Producer/Senior Director Equity & Inclusion, WarnerMedia)
Katie Mullins (Producer, Netflix)
Katie Stone (Screenwriter)
Kelly Martin (Creative Executive, River Road Entertainment)
Kelsey Darragh (Content Creator, Podcaster, Author)
Kevin Nicklaus (Head of Creative Development, Tapas Media)
Kim Roberson (Artist Manager/Creative Manager/Director, Netflix, Disney TV, Nickelodeon)
Kira Snyder (Executive Producer/Showrunner, DEMIMONDE, THE HANDMAID’S TALE)
Kirsten Jacobson (Literary Manager, Good Fear Content)
Kor Adana (TV Writer/Producer, MR. ROBOT)
Kristen SaBerre (Producer/Writer, RED BIRD LANE, RULES OF MAGIC, THE GOOD LORD BIRD)
Kristin Fairweather (Freelance Film & TV Director)
Kristina Sullivan (Actor/Writer/Producer)
Kristopher Koller (Talent Manager/Partner, Seven Summits Pictures & Management)
LaCreatia Wilson (Wardrobe Supervisor)
Lauren Coggiola (Co-Founder/Producer, The Inc. Program)
Lauren Palmigiano (Director, IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, CHAD, GIRLS5EVA)
Lauren Herrel (Casting Director/Producer)
Lauren MacKenzie (Executive Producer/Writer, Paramount TV, WACO SEASON 2, HAPPY FACE, HIT & RUN)
Lauren Rosenberg (VP Development, Trooper Entertainment)
Lila Byock (TV Writer, WATCHMEN, CASTLE ROCK, THE LEFTOVERS)
Lisa Lindo (CEO, Rocket Surgeon Productions)
Lisa Papatzimas (VP of Marketing and Publicity, CSSE)
Liz Benjamin (Co-Executive Producer, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT)
Liz Hsiao Lan Alper (Producer/TV Writer, TWO SENTENCE HORRORS TORIES, DAY OF THE DEAD)
M. Dickson (Showrunner/Producer, HOOPS, DISENCHANTMENT, SUPERSTORE)
Maggie Kiley (Director/Executive Producer, Warner Brothers Television, NBC Universal, DR. DEATH, DIRTY JOHN, RIVERDALE, AMERICAN HORROR STORY)
Maisie Culver (Writer/Producer)
Marc Guggenheim (Writer/Producer, GREEN LANTERN)
Marie Cheng (Writer/Story Editor, YOUNG SHELDON, TROLLSTOPIA)
Marina Dompke (Vice President of TV and Film Development, Three Rivers Entertainment)
Marisa Bramwell (Writer/Producer, STATION 19)
Maritte Go (Director/Writer, BLACK AS NIGHT, PHOBIAS, RISE)
Mary Bonney (Manager of Television Production, Entertainment One)
Mary Lou Belli (Freelance Director for CW, BLACK LIGHTNING)
Mason Speta (Manager of Acquisitions, NEON)
Matt Rosen (Indie Producer/Manager, MAZO Partners
Matthew Federman (Executive Producer, BLOOD & TREASURE, WAREHOUSE 13, JERICHO)
Matthew Keene Smith (Independent Producer. NAMOUR, BIG WORDS, 9 RIDES)
Matthew King (EVP, Development, Legendary Television)
Matthew Long (Writer)
Max Hurwitz (Writer/Producer, EL CANDITATO, ZEROZEROZERO, HELL ON WHEELS)
Max Perry (Writer, THE SPY, 12 DEADLY DAYS)
Medha Jaishankar (Producer)
Melissa Center (Actor/Producer/Writer)
Michael Brosnan (Producer, Creative Marketing, BLOODSHOT, MONSTER HUNTER, PRODIGAL SON)
Michael Dallatorre (Cinematographer, BOOKS OF BLOOD, BRIGHTBURN, HEARTLAND)
Michael Greenwald (VP of Creative Affairs, A+E Studios, THE DRIVER, THE GREAT GATSBY, LETHAL WEAPON)
Mickey Fisher (Showrunner, Netflix)
Mike Ostrowski (Producer, THE WITCHER, COLONY, THE BLACKLIST)
Mike Royce (Executive Producer/Showrunner/Writer)
Minoti Vaishnav (Writer, THE EQUALIZER)
Mitch Cole (Executive Director of Late Night & Specials Walt Disney Company, JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE, WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE)
Molly Nussbaum (Co-Executive Producer, ONE OF US IS LYING, HOME BEFORE HARK, BRAVE NEW WORLD)
Monika Mikkelsen (VP of Casting for Paramount Pictures Animation, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: SPONGE ON THE RUN, PET SEMATARY, 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE)
Morenike Joela Evans (Director/Producer of MoJo Media, SYDNEY TO THE MAX, BUNK’D, DIARY OF A FUTURE PRESIDENT)
Morgan Pichinson (President/Producer, Canary House Productions)
Munika Lay (VP of Film, Miramax)
Naomi Ko (Writer/Actor/Director)
Nia Hill (Writer, Director, Producer, Founder Bridge X Media)
Nick Oleksiw (Producer, WELCOME TO MERCY)
Nicole Arbusto (Casting Director, FRENCH EXIT, THE LOVERS, CLEMENTINE, TV: ROOM 104, ANIMALS)
Nicole Harjo (SVP, TV Development, Paramount TV Studios)
Nneka Enurah (Head of Development & Partnerships, React Entertainment)
Noah A Waters III (Writer, director, line producer)
Noah Evslin (Writer/Producer, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, SCANDAL, GREY’S ANATOMY)
Noah Jones (Literary Manager/Owner of FWRD MGMT)
Numa Perrier (Filmmaker/Actor, HOUSE OF NUMA)
Patrick Cady (Director, BOSCH, INSECURE, INTERROGATION, LOTTERY TICKET, THE STEPFATHER)
Patrick Moss (Producer, BLACK MAFIA FAMILY, BAD BLOOD, REBEL)
Phil Baker (Writer/Producer, GOOD LUCK CHARLIE, ANDI MACK)
Philip Berger (VP Development & Production, Inner Voice Artists)
Rachel Feldman (Director/Writer)
Rachel Kiner (Manager, Worldwide Acquisitions Paramount Pictures)
Rachel Leyco (Filmmaker/Screenwriter/Actor/Founder of Empowerhouse)
Rafi Ruthchild (VP Scripted Programming, AMC Networks)
Randi Matthews (CEO/ Digital Marketing Strategist , Multi-Hyphen Media)
Rebecca Cutter (Writer/Producer, THE MENTALIST, GOTHAM, HIGHTOWN)
Robert Kirkman (Writer/Producer, Skybound Entertainment, THE WALKING DEAD, FEAR THE WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE THE ANIMATED SERIES)
Roy Wol (Producer, Autonomous Pictures)
Sade Ndya (Commercial Cinematographer for Adidas, Reebok, Target, Microsoft, etc.)
Sal Calleros (Co-Executive Producer, HAPPY FACE, THE GOOD DOCTOR, SNOWFALL)
Samantha Avila (Art Director, Marvel/Sony Studios)
Samantha Corbin-Miller (Executive Producer/Showrunner, DEBRIS, SWAGGER, ABSENTIA)
Samantha Goff (Animation Outreach & Engagement Coordinator, Netflix Animation)
Samantha Starr (Literary Manager, Circle of Confusion)
Sandra Leviton (Producer, Under the Stairs Entertainment, ZONE 2, STUDENT BODY)
Sarah Jane “SJ” Inwards (Screenwriter, HER BETTER SELF aka CARECROW, UNT. LADY MACBETH MUSICAL for Amazon)
Sascha Paladino (Executive Producer, Disney, MILES FROM TOMORROWLAND, SID THE SCIENCE KID, BLUE’S CLUES)
Scott Schulman (Literary Manager, Schulman Management)
Selina Ringel (CEO/Producer/Writer of Two Hands Productions)
Selyna Warren (Showrunner, Nickelodeon)
Sera Tabb (VP of Development, Picture Perfect Federation, CODA)
Seth Hoffman (Writer, THE WALKING DEAD, PRISON BREAK)
Shabrayia Cleaver (Associate Production Executive, DreamWorks Animation)
Shannon Riggs (Documentary Producer/Partner, Parkside Films)
Sheryl J. Anderson (Showrunner/Executive Producer, SWEET MAGNOLIAS)
Shilpa Mankikar (Director/Writer,Producer, WW2 in Color, Diwal’oween, ABC-Disney Showcase New York)
Sinead Daly (Supervising Producer, HBO Max’s RAISED BY WOLVES, AMC’s WALKING DEAD franchise, Bravo’s DIRTY JOHN)
Stephanie Northen (Amazon Studios)
Stephen Neary (Creator/Executive Producer, Cartoon Network)
Steven DeGennaro (Director/Writer/Producer, FOUND FOOTAGE 3D, STOP, FIRST DATE)
Susan Dynner (Director/Producer/Writer, CODE BLUE: A LOVE STORY)
Sylvia Franklin (TV Writer, THE ROOKIE)
Talha Asad (VP, Drama Programming, HBO)
Tamara Chestna (Writer/Producer)
Tamara Rosenfeld (Director/Producer, STREET FOOD: LATIN AMERICA, LIFE ON THIN ICE)
Tamieka Briscoe (Writer, Director, QT)
Tamika Lamison (VP Development/Filmmaker/Director/Producer/Commercial Director Diversity Program)
Tamra Goins (Head of Comedy/Partner, Innovative Artists Literary and Talent Agency)
Tananarive Due (Screenwriter, Executive Producer, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, HORROR NOIRE)
Teale Spearling (Manager of Creative Content, Mattel Television)
Ted Nitschke (Former Creative Executive of Sony Pictures Animation/Producer)
Terri Kopp (Producer, Starz’s BLACK MAFIA FAMILY, BET’s IN CONTEMPT)
Tess Morris (Writer, Co-Producer, THE GREAT, CASUAL, MAN UP)
Tessa Blake (Director/Writer, A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, NCIS: NEW ORLEANS, IZOMBIE)
Thomas Pettinelli (Producer, Branded Pictures Entertainment, FOLLOWED, AMERICAN PSYCHO: THE MUSICAL, IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA)
Tim McKeon (Executive Producer, PBS Kids, HBO Max, Netflix)
Timothy Schultz (Editor, Sim International)
Tori Casarsa (Creative Executive in Development)
Tracy Chitupatham (Producer, THAT’S THE GAG, ZAC AND MIA))
Ty Leisher (Producer, Exit 44 Entertainment)
Wenonah Wilms (Screenwriter/Producer)
Whitney Davis (VP, Development and Production, Anthony Hemingway Productions)
Will Matthews (Showrunner, Netflix’s THE DARK CRYSTAL)
William Andre Buchanan (Film Finance)
Win Rosenfeld (President, Monkeypaw Productions)
Winnie Kemp (Head of Development/Producer, CHAMBERS, THE CLOSE)
Zac Hug (Writer/Adjunct Professor, Hallmark)
Zack Zucker (Literary Manager, Bellevue Productions)
Zoanne Clack (Executive Producer, GREY’S ANATOMY)