UCP Inks Overall Deal with Tanya Saracho

UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, has inked a development deal with Tanya Saracho, creator and showrunner of Vida.

Under the deal, Saracho will be able to develop and create original content for television as well as podcasts via the studio’s UCP Audio extension. Further, Saracho will establish a lab and incubator program aimed to nurture, amplify, guide and empower intersectional Latinx voices.

Saracho’s Vida, which aired its third and final season this spring, featured all Latinx directors in season one and all Latina directors in seasons two and three, including Saracho, who made her television directorial debut last year. The series had an all-Latinx writers room for seasons one and two, and in season three, the room was composed of all Latina writers. Saracho was recently honored by the LGBTQ California Legislative Caucus as their 2020 Pride Month Honoree. She also received the Rising Star Award at the Outfest Legacy Awards, and was awarded the New Voice Award by Final Draft. Saracho is the founder of Teatro Luna, the first all-Latina Theatre Company in the nation, as well as the founder of ALTA (Alliance of Latino Theatre Artists).

Saracho said: “To say that I’m immensely enthusiastic about this union is not enough. This partnership with UCP is a vital opportunity to keep amplifying the voices and stories that matter to me—those brown, queer narratives which have been missing from the landscape, and which are so important to tell. I’m also elated and looking forward to establishing a lab and incubator program aimed to nurture, amplify and empower intersectional Latinx voices. And on a personal level, it is greatly gratifying to find a home where I already feel so seen and supported.”

Dawn Olmstead, president of UCP, said: “Tanya came on the scene like a comet with such a strong point of view and a drive to tell culturally diverse stories that push boundaries and open our imaginations. Oh, the places we will go with Tanya’s deep curiosity, experience, commitment, enthusiasm, joy and fervor to tell the diverse stories we haven’t explored on television yet. We are such fans of her work on ‘Vida’ and are thrilled to partner with her.”

Bonnie Hammer, chairman of Universal Studio Group, said: “One of our goals at Universal Studio Group is to provide access through on the job training and opportunities to empower the next generation of culturally diverse storytellers. Tanya’s program fully embodies that intention and we look forward to supporting her as she mentors aspiring Latinx writers. This is the first of many programs we will be backing across our three studios.”