2026 DET Writing Program | Cassidy Lee

Congratulations to 2026 Disney Program Writer and 2026 FX John Singleton Scholar, Cassidy Lee, who has staffed on Season 1 of FX’s DISINHERITED! Adopted from Korea at a young age and raised in the Midwest cornfields, Cassidy enjoys writing about identity and belonging, often with a political or thrilling bent. Prior to the program, she…

Read More

2026 DET Writing Program | Ekaterina Vladimirova

We’re excited to share that 2026 Disney Program Writer, Ekaterina Vladimirova, has staffed on Season 2 of a Disney Branded Television series (as yet unannounced)! The daughter of a Russian-by-way-of-Uzbekistan immigrant, Kat grew up on the Arizona-Mexico border and has a unique relationship with identity and hyphens. Kat’s worked her way up in the TV…

Read More

2025-26 DET Directing Program – Scripted | Vanessa Beletic

Kudos to 2025-26 DET Scripted Program Director, Vanessa Beletic, who has been assigned to shadow-to-direct on Disney Branded Television’s COVEN ACADEMY! Originally from Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, Vanessa has directed music videos, commercials, short films, and branded content, and began her career as a backup dancer. Her commercial work has been featured during the Emmy’s and on…

Read More

2025-26 DET Directing Program – Scripted | Alejandra López

Many congratulations to 2025-26 Disney Program Director, Alejandra López, who will be directing on ABC’s long-running soap opera, GENERAL HOSPITAL! Born and raised in Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the United States, Alejandra’s short film, THE BLUE CAPE, which she wrote and directed, has screened at ten Oscar qualifying film festivals. Alejandra became the first…

Read More

2025-26 DET Directing Program – Scripted | Ryan Richmond

We’re pleased to share that 2025-26 Disney Program Director, Ryan Richmond, will be directing an episode of Hulu/Onyx/20th’s REASONABLE DOUBT! Originally a Washington, D.C. native, Ryan is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, studying under Spike Lee and Matthew Libatique. Ryan was a cinematographer for 12 years before transitioning to…

Read More

2026 DET Writing Program | Noelle Liljedahl

We’re very pleased to share that 2026 DET Program Writer, Noelle Liljedahl, has staffed on Season 1 of Hulu/20th’s PRISON BREAK! Born and raised in Iowa, Noelle moved to the West Coast to attend Chapman University’s Screenwriting Program. Prior to the Disney Writing Program, Noelle held internships at various production companies including HBO, and was…

Read More

2025-26 DET Directing Program – Scripted | Sammi Cannold

Three cheers for 2025-26 DET Scripted Program Director Sammi Cannold, who has directed an episode of ABC/20th’s GREYS’ ANATOMY! A Broadway, film, and television director, Sammi is one of Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 in Hollywood & Entertainment, Variety’s 10 Broadway Stars to Watch, Town & Country’s Creative Aristocracy, and a Drama Desk Award winner.…

Read More

2024-25 DET Directing Program – Scripted | Kate Sullivan

We’re pleased to share that 2024-25 DET Program Director, Kate Sullivan, will be directing an episode of Season 3 of Netflix/20th’s NOBODY WANTS THIS! Kate’s work celebrates stories centered on women, ideally with music at the core, and always with a sense of fun. Her short film, THE END OF THE PARTY, premiered at the…

Read More

2025-26 DET Directing Program – Unscripted | Gayle Galvez

Congratulations to 2024-25 DET Unscripted Program Director, Gayle Galvez, who has been assigned to direct a segment on the upcoming season of ABC’s CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD! A two-time Los Angeles Emmy Award-winning live television director with a background in dance, gymnastics, and music, Gayle began her career with a local TV internship in Wisconsin, where…

Read More

2025-26 DET Directing Program – Unscripted | Jamala Gaither

Kudos to 2025-26 DET Unscripted Program Director, Jamala Gaither, who has been assigned to direct a segment on the upcoming season of Disney+’s PROJECT RUNWAY! A respected entertainment industry producer with over 20 years of experience in both scripted and unscripted content, she began her career as a production assistant working on feature films, eventually…

Read More