FAQ

Applications are now closed for the 2026 Prelude Program.

Prelude invites all early-career, aspiring storytellers to apply to the program.

Applicants must:

• Be able to participate in regular programming in the Greater Los Angeles area. Prelude is unable to subsidize any travel, lodging and/or visa expenses for any participants attending from outside of the Greater Los Angeles area. Prelude will not accept applications from people residing outside the Greater Los Angeles area.
• Be at least 18 years of age at the start of the program
• Not be a member of any union or guild that represents film and television professionals
• Not have any major professional credits on feature films or television
• Ideally, has limited education and working experience in film and TV
• Has limited-to-no experience working in any capacity in the industry

Our program curriculum is designed for individuals who have not yet had experience working on features, TV series, or in previous fellowship, mentorship, or accelerator programs.

We welcome applications from individuals who have previously applied.

Prelude is a space of exploration and play, where storytellers can discover their unique voices, experiment with new ideas, and collaborate with others. It’s a supportive environment designed to foster creativity and growth, where fellows push the boundaries of their storytelling and connect with a community of fellow creatives.

This work is accomplished through a monthly curriculum that includes:

• Hands-on workshops
• Panels with industry experts
• Eight one-on-one career strategy sessions with a designated mentor
• Group discussions and exercises with the cohort
• Monthly assignments
• Weekend overnight retreat

While we expect our fellows’ full engagement, the program is built to accommodate both life, school, and work commitments.

Prelude helps fellows build fundamental frameworks around collaboration, industry foundations, and refining their creative process through play and exploration.

Through small-group conversations, hands-on workshops with industry experts, and thoughtfully designed opportunities for connection and skill-building, you’ll gain creative clarity, career guidance, and practical insight while advancing your work.

Beyond technical skills, we focus on cultivating essential collaborative abilities: giving and receiving feedback, recognizing the power of your unique voice, and refining your creative process. A cornerstone of our approach is helping fellows understand their value, both to themselves and to one another, emphasizing the incredible asset of having your people to dream and create with.

Prelude balances introspection and self-discovery with expansive thinking, creating moments of awe and wonder with industry panelists and facilitators who can shift your perspective and reveal new paths forward.

No. Prelude cannot subsidize any travel, lodging, and/or visa expenses for any participants attending from outside the Greater Los Angeles area.

Yes! Prelude is intended to support early-career, aspiring storytellers.

Tender Pictures’ fellowship program, Prelude, was co-founded by Abbi Jacobson and Mieka Tennant with the vision of leveling the playing field for entry into the industry.

Through years of experience, Abbi and Mieka saw firsthand the unwritten rules of success, how access to networks, events, and insider knowledge often dictates opportunity. They understood what it takes to thrive, and more importantly, who often gets left behind, and how difficult it can be to piece together all of the pieces to gain the confidence to create.

In the fall of 2023, they realized what was missing: a space that comes before everything else, a space where emerging storytellers can meet their people, find their voice, and be given the space to play. A year later, Prelude was launched, opening applications for its inaugural 8-month fellowship, offering just ten spots for its first cohort.

Rooted in play, experimentation, and the belief that creativity flourishes before credentials, Prelude lives up to its name: a beginning, a spark, a moment of preparation for what’s next.

Prelude is committed to the communities we serve by building key partnerships that expand our resources, enhance outreach, connect with our target applicants, and deepen our understanding of their needs. This ensures that our programming aligns with the voices and priorities of those we support.

Our impact partners include: Girls Write Now, Reparations Club, Los Angeles LGBT Center, InsideOut Writers, A Place Called Home, Young Storytellers, and Youth Cinema Project.

Our industry partners include: A24, Motion Picture Association, Final Draft, The Criterion Collection, and Shot Deck.