YouTube is partnering with WhoHaha, a digital media company founded by the actress Elizabeth Banks, to empower the next wave of female comedy creators.
As part of the just-launched Global Women In Comedy Program, YouTube Spaces in nine cities across the globe will provide aspiring female comedians with sets, crews, workshops, events, and mentoring from Banks herself. Interested participants can learn more about the Global Women In Comedy Program in an introductory video posted to WhoHaha’s YouTube channel (below), and applications for the program in each of the nine cities where it will be hosted — including Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Rio De Janeiro, Tokyo, and Toronto — are available in the description box.
One hundred creators will be invited to YouTube Spaces over a twelve-week period. Furthermore, in 2018, WhoHaha will invite select creators to produce pilots for their female-driven series ideas. Last March, YouTube funded a first-of-its-kind global production program at six YouTube Spaces to support female voices in front of and behind the camera, and the WhoHaha collaboration marks its latest effort with respect to this cause.
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“At WhoHaha, we believe it’s not only important but essential for women to have a platform to be able to share their voices and creativity,” Banks said in a statement. “That’s why we’re excited to be teaming up with YouTube Space on this initiative that’s providing such a groundbreaking opportunity to creators all over the world.”
“Women are underrepresented in the entertainment industry and we want to do our part to help put women front and center,” added Chris D’Angelo, director of production and programming at YouTube’s Spaces.