Meet The Women of WiCo: Women In Comedy's First Accelerator Program

Victoria Elena N
Feb 27, 2018
2 min read

After sifting through dozens of applications for the inaugural cohort of WiCo, 12 scripts have been selected and these funny women will be receiving over $10,000 worth of free resources and education to help propel their comedic script into production.

(The 2018 Inaugural WiCo Cohort)

The grueling and intensive 6 month cohort runs from March-August and culminates in a final film screening with invited industry professionals.

WiCo is a free, 6 month accelerator providing access to education, community, mentorship, and film production support. Housed at Chicago’s premier incubator for entertainment and technology, 2112, the generous donation of monthly memberships at 2112 for each cohort member allows the cohort access to a co-working space surrounded by mentors and entrepreneurs in entertainment.

2112 Chicago Tech Hub Incubator Co Working Space

(2112 space with a visit from Mayor Rahm Emanuel)

“The goal of the accelerator is to uplift women of diverse backgrounds to produce their comedic content and pitch it into mainstream commercial comedy outlets,” said Victoria Elena Nones, Creator of WiCo and Founder/Executive Director of Women in Comedy. “Our community is coming together, donating their time, talents and resources to make this programming happen. We are empowering women with the tools that allow them to keep artistic integrity in their comedic work, while also learning the crucial side of entrepreneurship as they become producers. Commercially viable voices in mainstream comedy are predominantly male. WiCo is here to change that. ”

(Victoria Elena Nones - Founder and Executive Director, Women In Comedy. Creator of WiCo.)

Photo Credit: Gregory Rothstein

The accelerator cohort begins Sunday, March 4th, 2018 with a final film screening of the produced shorts and pilots in September of 2018.

Some of the curriculum sponsors include:

Ana Breton (Emmy Nominated Digital Producer at Full Frontal With Samantha Bee)

Anthony Leblanc (Artistic Director, The Second City)

Satira (One on One Virtual Comedy Coaching)

Mary Kennedy (Stand Up Comedian/Headliner, Comedic Actress, with recurring role on Netflix's Shameless)

Lynne Parker (Founder of United Kingdom’s Funny Women competition)

RoadMap Writers (Exclusive screenwriting programs designed to perfect the art and the business of screenwriting)

Raymond Lambert (Founder of All Jokes Aside, Documentary Film Maker)

Alida Miranda-Wolff (Director of Platform at Hyde Park Angels)

Winter Davis (Writing and Improv Program Coordinator at The Second City)

This Little Brand - (Kimberly Robb Baker)

Nikki Kanter (NK Consulting)

Shelbie Andersen and Vicki Wang’s script, “But, Still”, has been selected to the WiCo Cohort. Vicki exclaimed, “I'm so excited to learn in an inclusive environment with women who support each other! There aren’t really any programs out there that offer what WiCo is offering, and it's hard to navigate the film space without having gone to school for it.”

Members of the first cohort of WiCo listed in alpha order by first name, script name, location include: