*GLAAD has announced the winners of its TV Pilot Pitch Competition held during the recent Black Queer Creative Summit.
As Deadline reports, Jules Crosby claimed first place with “Don’t Try This at Home,” while Carlton V Bell II secured second with “un-United,” and Chas Jackson took third with “Miss Behavior.”
The competition, conducted in partnership with Starz and its #TakeTheLead diversity initiative, awarded cash prizes alongside participation in an eight-week virtual mentorship lab running from October through December. The program aims to provide customized guidance from industry professionals on script development, packaging, and pitching strategies. The curriculum addresses logline refinement, pilot structure, world-building, and script reviews. The top three winners also receive global Soho House memberships.
View this post on Instagram
Scroll to continue reading
This year’s judging panel included director, writer, and producer Lee Daniels. “This competition is about more than great stories — it’s about making sure Black queer creators have the platform and support to share them. Their voices are vital, and their impact will be undeniable,” Daniels said.
Kathryn Busby, President of Original Programming at Starz, emphasized the partnership’s significance. “We are honored to partner with GLAAD and its Black Queer Creative Summit. The three winners represent the bold and spirited ingenuity we celebrate and we are excited to work with these talented writers to craft and mold dynamic projects.”
Crosby received $5,000 for a project about friends protecting their queer wrestling league. Bell earned $3,500 for a post-apocalyptic story where HIV-positive individuals become humanity’s saviors. Jackson won $1,500 for a tale following an Oakland principal facing professional and personal crises. Three special runner-ups—Jonathan Horton, Amber J. Phillips, and Azure D. Osborne-Lee—each received $1,000 and group mentorship sessions.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: TDE Films Unveils First Short Film Fund Recipients, Spotlighting Five Visionary Emerging Filmmakers
Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE.
