Berklee to Collaborate with Fusion on Docu-Series and Fellowship Program

Berklee and Fusion today announced a collaboration that includes a docu-series and new fellowship program. Fusion, the cable and digital network launched by Disney/ABC and Univision, has begun filming a docu-series about Berklee students that will be featured on Fusion’s television and digital platforms in 2015. Fusion—a news, pop culture, and satire TV, and digital network—will follow three young musicians, an entering student, and two graduating students, as they navigate life at Berklee, highlighting the major events, collaborations, and key career-shaping moments they experience at different stages of their time here. Filming will primarily take place on Berklee’s campus.

In addition, Fusion will tap Berklee students and alumni for their film scoring expertise through a new fellowship program. Through this collaboration, students and graduates will have the chance to work with and be supervised by the network’s producers to create musical scores for original feature-length documentaries, investigative specials, and short-form content. At the completion of the fellowship, participants may apply and be considered for a position at Fusion. Details, including application deadlines, will be announced at a later date.  

To help launch this collaboration, current students will be able to participate in a film “scorathon” challenge in early 2015. Fusion will provide contestants a film clip to score in a 24-hour period, and a jury of industry experts will determine the winners. Details, including application deadlines, will be announced at a later date.

“Music school is a high-stakes environment where many young musicians are pushed to the limit before finally finding their voice. Fusion has the rare opportunity to document the realities of the music school experience while allowing our audience to discover emerging talents at the very beginning of their careers,” said Fusion CEO Isaac Lee. “Having the opportunity to work with a team of Berklee fellows allows us to enrich the musical component of Fusion’s storytelling while also creating a recruitment pipeline for emerging musical talent.”

This collaboration between Berklee and Fusion highlights the growing overlap between the music and broadcast media industries. While the docu-series will bring to light the hurdles young people face to reach a career in entertainment, the film scoring partnerships create a pathway to the industry.