Jan Eliasberg ’74 Named Fox Writers Initiative Fellow

Jan Eliasberg ’74, of Aquinnah Films, was chosen as one of 10 fellows for the Fox Writers Initiative, a highly selective four-month program designed to groom writers to run television series and write and direct features across all the divisions of 20th Century Fox.

The 10 were chosen from more than 350 nominations by representatives and arts organizations across the country. The initiative sought unique voices, as well as a diversity in backgrounds and life experiences.

In a company press release, Nicole Bernard, senior vice president of audience strategy for The Fox Group, said, “These 10 incredibly gifted writers represent the high-caliber talent we’re looking for at Fox, and we’re extremely excited to work more closely with them through this initiative.” She noted that tapping into a wide pool of talent was crucial to reaching their constituents, adding, “This is an important step toward ensuring that our film, TV and digital productions better reflect our broader audience, and we’re thrilled that so many writers and producers have signed on to lend their expertise.”

Eliasberg, who majored in theater at Wesleyan, is a graduate of the directing program at the Yale School of Drama. She has directed plays at Joe Papp’s Public Theatre, South Coast Rep, and the Royal Court Theatre in London. She has taught and guest lectured at USC School for Cinema Studies, the Sundance Lab, Yale School of Drama, Wesleyan Program for Writers, and the Art Institute of California.

Her television directing career was launched when she was selected by Michael Mann to be the first female director on Miami Vice. She was also the first woman to direct episodes of Crime Story, Wiseguy and 21 Jump Street.

Eliasberg has directed television pilots for all networks as well was hundreds of hours of award-winning television, including episodes of Blue Bloods, Parenthood, N.C.I.S.: Los Angeles, Criminal Minds, Supernatural, In Plain Sight, L.A. Law, Party of Five,and Dawson’s Creek.