‘Mrs. America’ Writer April Shih Inks Overall Deal With FX Under Production Banner Diversity Hire Ltd.
April Shih, contributing writer on several successful FX series including “Dave,” “Mrs. America” and “You’re the Worst,” has signed an overall deal with FX Productions. Under the terms of the deal, Shih will develop new original content for the studio through her production banner Diversity Hire Ltd., newly formed with producing partner Jen Goyne Blake.
“April is a truly versatile writer and we appreciate and admire everything she has contributed to series as varied as ‘You’re the Worst,’ ‘Mrs. America’ and ‘Dave’,” said Gina Balian, president of original programming at FX. “April has FX’s full support in developing her own shows and are excited about her company’s efforts to champion other original voices to help us at FX create the next generation of programming.”
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“I’m so incredibly honored to be a part of the FX family,” added Shih. “It has truly been a privilege to work on several of FX’s original, boundary-pushing series and I could not be more excited to create and develop shows to add to their phenomenal line-up. I’m also grateful to be on this journey with Jen Goyne Blake, who brings her talent for finding gems where no one else wants to look and her true passion for artist support and development.”
Shih and Blake first connected when Shih’s project “Tilting” was selected by the Episodic Lab at the Sundance Institute where Blake served as a founding director for more than six years. Blake headed the program dedicated to nurturing television writers from underrepresented communities, guiding over 200 writers and producing over 20 Labs during her time with the organization. Prior to Sundance, Blake worked at Relativity Media.
“The wonderful team at FX has continually put their money where their mouth is in their commitment to being an ‘artist first’ studio and we feel that they are in alignment with our mission to create meaningful, soul-oriented stories under our banner Diversity Hire Ltd. We can’t wait to get to work!” Shih continued.
During her career, Shih has produced an Ovation Award-winning revival of “Kiss of the Spiderwoman: The Musical,” and has been a fellow of the Sundance Episodic Story Lab, CAPE New Writers Fellowship, CBS Writers Mentoring Program and the inaugural Film Independent Episodic Lab. She has also written for Amazon’s “Undone.” Currently, Shih is developing a half-hour series at FX titled “Love Rule” with producers Larry Wilmore, The District, Joanna Coles and ABC Studios. In addition, she has a series in development at WBTV and Paramount Television Studios.
Both Shih and Blake are repped by Josh Hornstock and Alyssa Lanz at UTA and Dave Ryan at Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson.
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