NBCU LAUNCH Talks: Breaking into the TV Industry with NBCUniversal’s Talent Development Programs

Moderated by NBCUniversal LAUNCH’s Robert Baltazar (VP, TV Programming, DEI), writer Emman Sadorra (In The Know, St. Denis Medical), and director Jean Lee (New Amsterdam, The Rookie: Feds) discuss their experience in NBCU LAUNCH’s talent development programs, such as the TV Writers Program and the TV Directors Program, and share their valuable insight about breaking into and maintaining a career in the industry as an AAPI content creator. NBCU LAUNCH is the umbrella brand for inclusion efforts across NBCUniversal’s entertainment television portfolio, including talent development programs and opportunities to grow your career in front of and behind the camera.

FREE, please RSVP in the ticket link.

About Robert:

(Photo by: Maarten de Boer/NBCUniversal)

Robert Baltazar is NBCUniversal LAUNCH’s Vice President, TV Programming DEI, servicing NBC, NBCU’s cable networks, streaming platform Peacock, as well as the Universal Studio Group.  In this role, he oversees the TV creative talent development LAUNCH programs for both scripted and unscripted, such as the NBC TV Writers Program, the TV Directors Program, the New Mexico Directors Initiative, and the Unscripted Producers Initiative.  

Prior to his current role, Robert has worked in the entertainment industry as a non-scripted development executive at various television networks, production companies, and studios, such as Discovery Studios, Four M Studios, and ITV Studios.  Most recently, he was the Head of Development at Four M Studios, developing and selling the documentaries The Story of Diana and The Story of the Royals to ABC Network with PEOPLE Magazine attached, the PEOPLE Magazine Investigates franchise to Investigation Discovery, and People Puzzler to Game Show Network.  This is Robert’s second term back at NBCU, as he previously was Vice President of Reality Development and Current Programming for USA Network, shepherding non-scripted formats and docu-series for the network. 

About Jean:

JEAN E. LEE is a first gen Korean American writer/director from Allentown, Pennsylvania who loves global cinema, genre, and stories that make her laugh. Jean has directed in 9 languages spanning 7 countries and 5 continents and earned her MFA at NYU Tisch, Asia. Along with being an alumnus of Ryan Murphy’s HALF initiative, NBCU’s Female Forward, and AFIDWW+, Jean has gone on to direct shows like NEW AMSTERDAM and THE ROOKIE: FEDS. Jean’s absurdist comedy feature debut, PECADO ORIGINAL, was the first ever Paraguayan and American co-production and landed on HBO after an award winning festival circuit. Her magical realism short film CAHAYA, shot in Jakarta, Indonesia, world premiered at Berlinale. Jean graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude. She is a former concert pianist and a lifelong dumpling enthusiast.

About Emman:

Emman Sadorra is a 2nd generation Filipino-American comedy writer who is drawn to telling stories about the complexities of identity and finding humor in unexpected places. He cut his teeth working in TV development, then became a Showrunner’s Assistant on ABC’s BLACK-ISH and NBC’s KENAN. After being selected for the NBC Writers Program in 2022, Emman staffed as a writer on Peacock’s IN THE KNOW and PITCH PERFECT: BUMPER IN BERLIN. Currently, Emman is writing on the new NBC workplace comedy ST. DENIS MEDICAL, starring Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier.

Disclaimer: By registering for this event, I understand NBCU may send me an initial email communication about NBCU talent development programs and resources, and can change my email preferences at any time.