MENTORSHIP

MENTORSHIP

If you are an aspiring South Asian creative or executive with ambitions in the television and film industry, this program is for you. Led by Rishi Rajani and Reena Singh, The Salon Mentorship Program aims to support the next generation of South Asians writers, directors, producers, and executives.

The deadline to apply for Y3 was July 1, 2024. Applicants selected for the program will be notified before the end of the year.

Click here to learn about our past mentees.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Participants of The Salon Mentorship Program will be selected from a nationwide pool of candidates recruited through an open application. After a rigorous review and interview process, finalists are paired with a qualified and vetted mentor in one of three tracks:

  • Writing

  • Directing

  • Producing & Executive Leadership

The mentees work closely with their respective mentors over the course of one year to identify areas of growth, discuss strategy, and expand opportunity. Mentees also have exclusive access to monthly panels with industry professionals and educational programming curated by The Salon. If you have any questions, please email mentorship@thesalon.xyz.

DATES & DEADLINES:

  • July 1, 2024 — Application closes

  • Fall 2024 — Notification of placement

  • Winter 2024 — Public announcement

  • January 2025 — Program begins

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Applicants should identify as South Asian. The UN defines South Asia as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

  • While applicants can be from any country of origin, they must currently reside in the United States. Citizens, residents, visiting students, and undocumented individuals who reside in the U.S. are welcome to apply.

  • Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.

  • All applicants will be required to submit a short bio, upload a resume, and answer short essay questions.

  • Applicants to the Directing Track must additionally submit a work sample, which can be a short film, feature film, music video, commercial, or a reel.

  • Applicants to the Producing & Executive Leadership Track must additionally provide details about a relevant recent work experience.

  • Applicants to the Writing Track must additionally submit a film or TV pilot script to The Desi List, The Salon's partnership with The Black List to identify the best unproduced scripts from South Asian writers, by July 1. Please click here to learn more and submit to The Desi List.

    • You must submit an application below in addition to your Desi List submission to be considered for The Salon Mentorship Program. If a writer does not submit to The Desi List in addition to applying to The Salon Mentorship Program below, the application to The Salon Mentorship Program will not be considered.

    • Please note this does not apply to applicants to the Directing or Producing & Executive Leadership Tracks.