Fox Writers Incubator Names 2024 Fellows
Ronald Matellus, Kirsten Rezazadeh-Jakob, Ava Anderson and Jon Lazar Courtesy of Fox
EXCLUSIVE: Fox Entertainment has selected four Fellows for the 2024 Fox Writers Incubator, an initiative designed to nurture diverse and creative voices, as well as provide support to four writers of all genres, including comedy, drama and animation. Ava Anderson, Jon Lazar, Ronald Matellus and Kirsten Rezazadeh-Jakob were named as the 2024 FWI Fellows. They were selected from over 1,400 submissions.
Now in its third year, the Fox Writers Incubator initiative is a rigorous three-month workshop focused on honing writing skills, professional development and an exploration of the media and entertainment business. It also provides its Fellows with one-on-one mentorship opportunities with Fox executives and staffed writers.
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Following successful completion of the FWI, Fellows will work across series produced by Fox Entertainment’s in-house production unit Fox Entertainment Studios and animation studio Bento Box Entertainment.
“Developing emerging talent through our Incubator initiative creates significant opportunity for both participants and our team,” said Fox Television Network President Michael Thorn. “By honing the skills of these four promising writers, we are investing in the creative community’s next generation and the future of storytelling excellence; and are excited to welcome Ronald, Kirsten, Ava and Jon as our 2024 Fellows.”
The Fox Writers Incubator 2024 Fellows:
ANIMATION
Ronald Matellus
Ronald Metellus is a writer, comedian and actor based in Los Angeles. He currently writes for Bleacher Report’s shortform animated football comedy, Gridiron Heights. Previously, he was a writer and recurring cast member of the late-night show, Ziwe. He also worked as a staff writer on Stephen Colbert’s Tooning Out The News, where he scored a WGA Award nomination. He cut his teeth at The Onion, writing hundreds of headlines for satire the institution over the course of four years, including the viral Sha’Carri Richardson headline: “Dream Crushed Over Trivial Bullshit Represents Nation Better Than Gold Medal Ever Could.” Originally from Philadelphia, he performs regularly on both coasts and annually co-hosts the variety show Black History Monthly at Helium Philly.
COMEDY
Kirsten Rezazadeh-Jakob
Kirsten Rezazadeh-Jakob is a Middle Eastern writer who recently co-wrote episodes of Grimsburg (Fox) and Twisted Metal (Peacock) as a writers’ assistant/script coordinator and is currently on the writing staff of Fox’s new series, Going Dutch, through the 2024 Fox Writers Incubator initiative. She made her comedy debut in the 7th grade with “Wikipedia Brown,” an “Encyclopedia Brown” satire for the Internet Age (ironically written in #2 pencil). Kirsten’s television and feature projects focus on know-it-all protagonists who realize — through humor, heart, and high concepts — that they’re just know-it-somes. Kirsten holds a Screenwriting BFA from USC. Her other room experience includes American Woman (Paramount Network), Cobra Kai (Netflix), #BLACKAF (Netflix), and The Crowded Room (Apple+).
DRAMA
Ava Anderson:
Ava is an only child, so yes, she has strong main character syndrome. She studied film production and English at San Diego State University. Ava enjoys writing comedy, sci-fi, horror and coming of age stories…anything weird. Ava also has an interest in writing for animation. Ava is a member of IATSE Local 871 and currently works as an Art Department Coordinator for The Price Is Right. She has worked on award winning movies such as Barbie, The Fabelmans and Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Working in the Art Department has taught her the importance of visual storytelling, world building and physical production logistics when writing her own projects. Ava’s horror comedy/sci-fi pilot Snatched is a BloodList 14 Fresh Blood Selection and is currently on Coverfly’s Red List.
DRAMA
Jon Lazar:
Jon Lazar is a Los Angeles-based Latino writer/director from NY. He was a Zamboni driver before obtaining his MFA in writing from Columbia University where he was a Faculty Selects Winner for both his TV Pilot and feature film script thesis. He is a 2023 Circle of Confusion Discovery Fellow and a 2024 Sundance Episodic Intensive Fellow. As the nephew of a life-sentenced inmate, in his spare time, Jon volunteers with the Freedom To Choose Project where he assists in the transformation of the lives of California DOC Inmates through compassionate experiential education with the aim to reduce prison violence and recidivism. His work tends to focus on character-driven crime drama and mysteries with themes of mental illness and examining familial roots.