Sony gives Luu brothers a launchpad in its 2026 Elevate Fellowship

**Sony Pictures Television Launches Elevate Writers & Directors Fellowship Class of 2026**

Sony Pictures Television announced this week the launch of its Elevate Writers & Directors Fellowship Class of 2026, selecting eight emerging storytellers to join the program.

The fellows include Kelly Luu and Kevin Luu, who will participate in both the writers and directors tracks, as well as Luke Johnson, Melissa Long, and Natasha Sabour for writing, and Chelsea Christer, Emily Kim, and Sheridan O’Donnell for directing.

The cohort will begin their intensive training on Sony’s Culver City lot beginning this week.

The Elevate program is designed to identify exceptional emerging talent through curated mentorship, industry access, and hands‑on development. Fellows will receive individualized guidance from writers, directors, showrunners, producers, executives, and other industry leaders.

Programming is tailored to each fellow’s focus area and career goals, ensuring a personalized growth path.

Sony Pictures Television frames the Elevate initiative around a creator‑first, content‑first philosophy, emphasizing storytelling that originates from diverse voices. The company continues to invest in the next generation of actors, writers, and directors, building on a track record of nurturing talent across its productions.

The 2026 cohort reflects this commitment to diverse storytelling and professional development.

## Background & Context

Sony Pictures Television’s Elevate program has become a key mechanism for fostering new talent within the industry. The initiative follows a tradition of pairing emerging creatives with seasoned professionals in a structured mentorship environment.

By integrating writers and directors into a single cohort, Sony aims to create cross‑disciplinary collaboration and broaden participants’ skill sets.

The program’s launch this week on the Sony lot in Culver City places the fellows at the heart of television production. The location offers access to studios, production facilities, and a network of creatives who regularly work on Sony projects. This proximity is intended to provide practical experience alongside theoretical training.

Elevate also underscores Sony’s broader strategy of creator‑centric content development. The company has highlighted its commitment to elevating diverse perspectives and new voices in storytelling. By pairing mentorship with industry exposure, Elevate seeks to produce the next wave of influential writers and directors.

## Program Structure & Opportunities

Each fellow will engage in a two‑phase curriculum that blends both writing and directing elements for those selected for both tracks, like the Luu brothers. The curriculum includes hands‑on workshops, script coverage sessions, and directorial labs designed to simulate real‑world production environments.

Participants also receive individualized career coaching to refine their portfolios and professional objectives.

Mentorship from Sony staff and external industry leaders is a core component of the fellowship. Fellows will have scheduled one‑on‑one sessions with writers, directors, showrunners, producers, executives, and other influential creatives. These interactions aim to bridge the gap between academic study and commercial television production.

In addition to mentorship, the program offers tangible industry exposure through networking events, studio tours, and potential project collaborations. Fellows will be invited to meet with showrunners and executives who are actively developing projects within Sony’s portfolio.

This access is designed to accelerate career advancement and provide real‑time feedback on creative work.

## Meet the Fellows

Kelly and Kevin Luu bring a dual background in both writing and directing, having worked through Ryan Murphy’s HALF Initiative, Soo Hugh and UCP’s Thousand Miles Project, Hillman Graduate program, and other development initiatives. Their short film “Rising Voices” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.

They will be the only participants to enroll in both the writers and directors tracks of Elevate.

Luke Johnson’s career began at Sony Pictures Entertainment and expanded with a writers assistant role on Netflix’s *The Night Agent*. He contributed to the writers room and later wrote a freelance episode for Season 2, showcasing his ability to transition from support roles to credited writing.

His inclusion reflects Sony’s focus on nurturing writers who can navigate both network and streaming environments.

Melissa Long has experience as an assistant and script coordinator on projects such as Showtime’s *King Shaka* and Prime Video’s *Bishop*. An alumna of the Writers Guild Foundation’s Writers Access program, she brings a background in script development and production coordination.

Her role in Elevate will likely emphasize the intersection of writing and production logistics.

Natasha Sabour works as an assistant to Shawn Ryan and Marney Hochman at MiddKid Productions. She previously served as a writers’ PA on *The Night Agent* and as an assistant at Artists First.

Sabour’s experience spans both television and independent production, positioning her well for the program’s dual focus on creative and practical aspects of storytelling.

Chelsea Christer has directed the documentary *Bleeding Audio*, screened at nearly twenty film festivals including Slamdance, and the narrative short *Out for Delivery*, which premiered at Sundance and played at SXSW. Her track record demonstrates a strong festival presence and a capacity for both documentary and narrative filmmaking.

Emily Kim is an acclaimed filmmaker whose short films have screened at Oscar‑qualifying festivals. Her short *To the Lights* earned a Best Short nomination at the Hawaii International Film Festival and won the Jury Award for Best Narrative at NFFTY.

Kim’s experience in festival‑winning storytelling will contribute to Elevate’s emphasis on craft and audience impact.

Sheridan O’Donnell debuted with *Little Brother*, starring J.K. Simmons, which won the Audience Award at the Atlanta Film Festival. He most recently directed *Rising Phoenix: A New Revolution*, a feature‑length follow‑up to the Emmy‑winning documentary *Rising Phoenix*.

O’Donnell’s trajectory from debut feature to a prominent documentary series illustrates the breadth of his directorial skill set.

The Elevate Fellows will embark on a two‑month intensive program that balances creative workshops with industry exposure. By pairing writers and directors in the same cohort, Sony seeks to foster collaborative storytelling skills and broaden each participant’s professional network.

The 2026 class represents a diverse array of backgrounds, all positioned to contribute fresh voices to the television landscape.