EXCLUSIVE: “The entertainment industry is well known to be a relationship business,” observed Eryn Brown, 1IN4 Co-Founder and partner at Entertainment 360, in a statement to Deadline. “Mentorship, especially for artists, is key to that. But how do you find a mentor to help you hone your craft and make connections if you can’t get in the door—literally and figuratively?”
IN4 Coalition is offering an opportunity working toward a solution to that problem with 1IN4 Writers, a remote six-month mentorship program designed to unite experienced Hollywood creatives with writers who want to write stories including authentic portrayals of characters with disabilities. 1IN4 announced today that Netflix will partner with the organization on the program’s fourth cycle.
Named for the 1 in 4 American adults living with a disability, 1IN4 is a coalition of disabled creatives working in Hollywood that’s committed to increasing accessibility and authentic representation at all stages of entertainment production. During the writers program, mentors including agents, managers, screenwriters, producers and executives offer guidance on both craft and career development.
Georgia Pritchett, the Emmy-winning writer and producer behind Succession, who previously served as a program mentor, shared: “I had the best fun working with 1IN4. I definitely learnt as much from my mentee as they learnt from me. The whole experience was creative, inspiring and exciting and I feel lucky that I got to work with such talented people with unique, hilarious and moving stories to tell.”
Throughout 1IN4’s program, mentees will have the opportunity to work with their mentor on refining a writing sample. In addition to investing in one-on-one relationship building, 1IN4 hosts monthly meetups with industry leaders to allow the cohort to gain deeper insights into the writing profession. Participating in the program may require mentees to reduce or pause employment temporarily. However, thanks to the support of Netflix, each in the 2025 cohort will receive an unrestricted grant of $20,000 over the course of the program.
“Tapping into alternative perspectives and skill sets leads to richer, more resonant storytelling,” stated Dr. Grishma Shah, Program Director and Entertainment Psychologist at 1IN4 amid the announcement of the writers program’s new cycle. “These alternative, invaluable insights, elevate the quality of stories that are told and open the door to the global disabled community — 1.85 billion people — who want to see their lives and experiences reflected on screen.”
Applicants for 1IN4 Writers may submit a pilot, feature screenplay, or stage play that includes one or more disabled characters. Applications are today open, with the program to run from December 2025 through May 2026.
About the Author
