The Realness Institute, in partnership with Netflix, has selected two Kenyans to participate in the Episodic Lab 2022
The Episodic Lab aims to develop story concepts by screenwriters from South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. Kurji was selected for his project titled bush camp while Ogutu’s is known as Dilemma.
“It’s not every day that an opportunity, specifically to showcase African talent, comes along,” Kurji said. “The Lab will bare our writing, and we’ll all be better off.” he concluded.
The news comes just months after Ogutu was named among six winners who are expected to produce African content for Netflix. She was one of the winners of a contest called African Tales, Reinvented.
Ability to present to Netflix
Kurji and Ogutu will spend three months in a virtual lab developing their original story ideas, with mentorship from Realness Institute creative producers Elias Ribeiro and Mehret Mandefro, and story consultants Selina Ukwuoma and Thandeka Zwana.
The two and ten other participants will each receive a monthly stipend of $2,000 (Shs. 231,400) from May through July 31, to cover personal expenses while they work on their concept and professional development.
Lab participants will then have the opportunity to pitch their projects to Netflix executives. The Episodic and Development Executive programs were launched in June 2020; and received 200 applications in both for this year.