Big Light Productions Crowns Latest Writing Apprenticeship Winner

Screenwriter and director Dekel Nitzan has been chosen as the recipient of Big Light Productions’ (Leonardo, The Man in the High Castle) 2024 writing apprenticeship.

Nitzan is set to join Big Light Productions for a three-month placement, starting in January. Based in Germany, Nitzan was selected after completing the Serial Eyes postgraduate television training program at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB), where Frank Spotnitz, CEO and founder of Big Light, is also a founding tutor.

Prior to joining the Serial Eyes program, Nitzan graduated from the Steve Tisch School of Film and TV at Tel Aviv University. He has a B.A. in film studies, specializing in directing, and an M.A. in screenwriting. In his home country of Israel, Nitzan started as an independent filmmaker, writing and directing four short films, which have been screened at multiple film festivals worldwide.

Now in its seventh year, Big Light Productions’ writing apprenticeship program aims to help emerging writing talent master their craft and gain insight into the industry. The three-month stint provides practical experience in a writers’ room and is aimed at aspiring screenwriters who have already made a considerable commitment to the development of their practice.

“I feel very honored and grateful for this opportunity,” said Nitzan. “As I am always aiming to maximize my screenwriting skills and my approach toward the development process, I’m sure that the apprenticeship at Big Light will help me achieve this goal with higher standards than I could have ever imagined. And while I’m developing my own TV projects as head writer and showrunner, I’m happy for the chance to learn from a team of professionals who made, and took part in making, such great series over the years. I have no doubt I will gain a lot, and I wish to contribute as much as I can during my time at Big Light.”

Sponitz said: “When I moved to Europe and established Big Light, I was struck by the many advantages American writers enjoy, chief among them the opportunity to work in writers’ rooms. Writers’ rooms not only give emerging writers the chance to hone their craft but also help give producers and broadcasters confidence in hiring emerging talent, which is essential to bringing new voices into the industry. Dekel is one of those exciting and gifted new voices. We hope our program will help him take the next step in his promising career and are delighted to welcome him to the Big Light team.”