March 4, 2015 — NESN is launching an innovative new series called NESN Next Producer that showcases New England college filmmakers, their vision and their stories. Part Shark Tank, part America’s Got Talent, students created short sports films with the hope of winning $20,000 and a job opportunity at NESN. The 7-episode series will air Mondays following Red Sox postgame coverage, premiering April 6.
Watch as the top student filmmakers get unprecedented access to two legendary Hollywood producers with local ties — television Hall of Famer and Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner and renowned co-creator/executive producer Brad Falchuk (Glee, American Horror Story, etc.). Falchuk is a Newton, Massachusetts native and passionate New England sports fan. Werner and Falchuk will coach the finalists to improve their films and pick the winner.
“NESN Next Producer will highlight motivated and creative film students at New England colleges and universities,” said Tom Werner. “I’m looking forward to seeing the films these young sports fans produce and excited to see how they grow throughout the process.”
The weekly series, hosted by NESN’s Gary Striewski, will showcase two films in each episode, give you back stories about the students and include reviews by Boston Globe film critic Ty Burr. The student-produced shorts will be posted at NESNnext.com, where viewers can pick the program’s “Top Fan Film.”
“New England is a hot bed for young, creative minds and we wanted to highlight college filmmakers who are the next generation of storytellers from our area,” said Linda Pizzuti Henry, NESN Next Producer co-creator and co-producer. “In addition to showing their films, you’ll learn about the students on a personal level including the relationships involved in the making of their films. We want to celebrate New England’s passion for sports and creative energy through some of its most motivated college aged fans,” she added.
Tom Werner is a 24-time Emmy winner and television Hall of Famer with a long list of renowned Hollywood productions, including The Cosby Show, Roseanne, Third Rock from the Sun and That 70’s Show. Recently, Werner collaborated on Survivors Remorse, a Starz network comedy series, with NBA star LeBron James and Hollywood writer/actor Mike O’Malley. In addition to his work as a television producer and chairman of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club, Werner has been very active in the community as the founding chairman of The Red Sox Foundation. He recently received the Outstanding Civilian Service Award from the United States Army for creating the Run to Home Base Program with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Brad Falchuk (@BFalchuk) is a Newton, Massachusetts native best known as co-creator and executive producer of the FOX-TV hit comedy Glee, now in its sixth season. The Hobart and William Smith Colleges grad was a co-producer for the FX network series Nip/Tuck as well as co-creator of American Horror Story and its upcoming companion series American Crime Story. He is currently working on a new FOX-TV horror-drama anthology called Scream Queens.
About NESN
NESN has consistently been one of the top-rated regional sports networks in the country with award-winning Red Sox and Bruins coverage. The network is delivered to over 4 million homes throughout the six-state New England region and an additional 5 million homes nationally as NESN National. Forbes Magazine recently ranked NESN as the 8th Most Valuable Sports Business Brand in the world. NESN.com is the most visited regional sports network website in the country. NESN also produces a number of distinctive programs under its umbrella Original NESN Entertainment (ONE). NESN’s social responsibility program, NESN Connects, is proud to support and connect its employees with charitable organizations in our communities. NESN is owned by Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) and Delaware North (owners of the Boston Bruins).
