CBS Executive Lori Erickson's Social Impact Initiative Empowers Emerging Storytellers to Collaborate with Local Nonprofits to Create Mission-Inspired Short Films

About This Project

Summary

The CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge, an original format designed by Lori Erickson and informed by 100+ interviews, empowers early-career storytellers to make short films in collaboration with, and highlighting the missions of, local nonprofit organizations. CBS offers education, mentorship, resources, a $5,000 budget & leadership experience + donations as awards. Storytellers are selected via partnerships with coalitions that work towards equity in media and from the junior ranks of Paramount.

Goals & Objectives

The mission is to empower early-career storytellers to step into leadership positions. Through radical collaboration, the project uplifts voices that may not otherwise have access to a platform and injects social impact into the entertainment industry by training tomorrow’s community-minded leaders.

Results & Impact

Now in its 3rd year, 13 short films have been created for local nonprofits with 128 emerging storytellers given access to leadership training. The NPOs won $570,000 in donations plus ownership of the films made on their behalf. Alums have landed jobs in their field, promotions and film fest awards.