Frank Spotnitz’s Big Light names second apprenticeship winner

Frank Spotnitz’s Big Light Productions has named the second winner of its Serial Eyes postgraduate training programme.

Each year, the Serial Eyes programme, which was incepted in 2013, accepts 12 up-and-coming TV writers from across Europe with broadcast experience and a desire to write for the international market. One writer is then offered the chance of an apprenticeship with Big Light.

This year, Barbara Kronenberg has been selected as The Man In The High Castle and Medici: The Magnificent producer’s latest apprentice.

She will spend three months at the London offices of the business – which also has a Parisian outpost – observing series development and the writers room process that Big Light has pioneered in Europe.

Kronenberg was born and raised in the German Ruhr area, where she studied screenwriting and directing at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. She has written, directed and produced several short films, including award-winning comedy The Ballad of Ella Plummhoff, which has been shown at numerous international film festivals.

For her current project, a feature film for children, she has received a scholarship from the Academy of Children’s Media and was also awarded an incentive award from the Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM).

Serial Eyes, a full-time course, is funded by the EU Commission’s Creative Europe-MEDIA initiative. It takes place in Berlin at Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin (DFFB) from September to May each academic year, with visits to Copenhagen, London and Series Mania in Lille.

Applicants must be professional TV writers from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

Spotnitz, who has taught at the Serial Eyes programme since 2013, said: “Barbara has such a powerful and original voice, and we’re thrilled to have her join us at Big Light.”

Kronenberg added: “I am delighted to work with Frank Spotnitz and his team at Big Light. Getting an insight into a prolific writer’s room and into the working method of one of the most interesting European production companies is an amazing opportunity for me to deepen my experience and knowledge as a writer.”