Bridge Entertainment Labs

Bridge Entertainment Labs is a resource to the entertainment industry, igniting compelling stories to bridge political and social divides.

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

Eden Stiffman’s latest for the @Philanthropy captures the strategic bet behind our work: inspiring the entertainment industry to create better stories of us: “This Nonprofit Whispers in Hollywood’s Ear About Polarization. They Hope You Tune In.”

Stiffman explains that BEL focuses on turning research into practical insights that storytellers can apply. The goal isn’t to make storytellers “eat their vegetables” or to introduce explicit bridging themes into every story; instead it’s to make small changes that might encourage audiences to think more deeply about a certain character or group. As BEL CEO @StevenOlikara says, stories don’t merely inform people. They shape what feels normal, what feels possible, and who feels recognizable. With Bridge Entertainment Labs, the goal is to move beyond “us versus them” narratives.
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This work is also subtle. As Erica Lynn Rosenthal, director of research at the Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California, puts it, “When people feel like they’re being preached to or manipulated … they tend to shut down and reject the message.” The best stories feel authentic, not didactic.

As Steven says: “If it feels like a lesson, it doesn’t work.”

As Stiffman points out, our work is about reaching a Hollywood that values viewpoint diversity. “There are many more people in the entertainment industry, storytellers we work with who are more heterodox in their views, beliefs, and political opinions, than people would realize,” Steven says. “They almost come out quietly to us. They feel like we are a trusted space where they can truly be their full selves and not have to silence certain parts of them for fear of being canceled.”

And, while this kind of work can be slow, it’s also very powerful. Hollywood has used storytelling to move the needle on issues from drunk driving to gay marriage. Indeed, BEL’s efforts are already driving real change within the entertainment industry. As Steven puts it: “We just see more and more of an effort among storytellers to connect our mission to the work that they’re doing. It’s now really part of the zeitgeist in the industry.”

🙏🙏@flyingwrestler

Link to the article in comments!

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

@StevenOlikara @USATODAY https://t.co/mZt0rAiyam

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

Our CEO @StevenOlikara joined @USATODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss how Hollywood can help bridge our divides.

One highlight:

In storytelling, there's a difference between dead-end conflict and good conflict. Dead-end conflict is where the hero and the villain essentially never move or reconcile at the end of the story. They're stuck on opposite sides of a divide that's seen as stark and zero-sum.

By contrast, good conflict offers an opportunity for finding common understanding. The audience is invited to actually understand the backstory and motives of the villain, to understand that they might not be irredeemable. Audiences are hungry for these sorts of nuanced stories.

Listen to the whole podcast! (Link in comments)

[Steven Olikara @StevenOlikara]

Can movies and TV help Americans move beyond caricature, contempt and political division? It was a pleasure joining @USATODAY’s The Excerpt to discuss.

Watch our conversation here: https://t.co/elBE0utnPh

@BridgeEntLabs @BuildersMvt

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

Link to submit your film: https://t.co/jn9ETJS2ja

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

Filmmakers who have produced narrative and/or documentary films that align with the values of bridge building are invited to submit their content by May 18, 2026 for consideration of inclusion in the Better Together Film Festival (link to submit in comments).

At a time when Americans’ trust in others — and in our institutions — is at an all-time low, and our media is plagued by toxically polarizing narratives, the social fabric of our nation can feel beyond repair. Now is a time for Americans to hear, see, and experience the stories of people coming together across their differences to solve problems together in their neighborhoods and build feelings of belonging in their communities.

In alignment with America’s 250th anniversary this year, the #ListenFirstCoalition — a network of 500+ organizations dedicated to bringing Americans together across divides to build understanding, trust, relationships, and solutions — is excited to host the 3rd Annual Better Together Film Festival. Running throughout July 2026, the mission of this decentralized, national film festival is to leverage the power of value-based storytelling through film and to mobilize bridge building efforts in communities from coast to coast. National in scale, but local in practice, the Better Together Film Festival creates a scalable “onramp” for people of all backgrounds — across a myriad of sectors and local communities — to begin their journeys toward reducing polarization and building unity in their communities.

https://t.co/faQ1mQv1PO

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

Submit your film: https://t.co/jn9ETJS2ja

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

Today, UC Berkeley's @GreaterGoodSC is hosting a screening and live virtual Q&A on storytelling and the science of awe.

Watch Wowsabout, a brand-new preschool special created by Halle Stanford (Emmy® Award-winning executive producer) and Dorien Davies (executive producer, writer, and principle puppeteer). The story follows an unlikely pair: Ronald, a careful, rule-following young pig determined to become a junior ranger; and Roxy, a musical, free-spirited hedgehog searching for the park's "magical giants." The special invites children and the adults in their lives not just to watch awe — but to feel it, recognize it, and name it for themselves.

Also included is a conversation with Halle and Dorien, and insights about the science of awe from Dr. Dacher Keltner.

The Greater Good Science Center is a peer in the bridge-building space. We’re excited to attend this event and to learn more about how awe can tie us all together.

Register here: https://t.co/MpyCEVqOxO

[#ListenFirst Project @ListenFirstProj]

Have you watched “Fire Pit” yet? This series brings together two people from very different backgrounds to gather around a fire together. Season one included opposites like a conservative influencer and a drag queen.

[#ListenFirst Project @ListenFirstProj]

Congratulations to @BridgeEntLabs on this feature in The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

BEL serves as the entertainment arm of the bridge-building, and this article features their fantastic work.

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

@Philanthropy https://t.co/s8AsJjaAkS

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

Eden Stiffman’s latest for the @Philanthropy captures the strategic bet behind our work: inspiring the entertainment industry to create better stories of us: “This Nonprofit Whispers in Hollywood’s Ear About Polarization. They Hope You Tune In.”

Stiffman explains that BEL focuses on turning research into practical insights that storytellers can apply. The goal isn’t to make storytellers “eat their vegetables” or to introduce explicit bridging themes into every story; instead it’s to make small changes that might encourage audiences to think more deeply about a certain character or group. As BEL CEO @StevenOlikara says, stories don’t merely inform people. They shape what feels normal, what feels possible, and who feels recognizable. With Bridge Entertainment Labs, the goal is to move beyond “us versus them” narratives.
.
This work is also subtle. As Erica Lynn Rosenthal, director of research at the Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California, puts it, “When people feel like they’re being preached to or manipulated … they tend to shut down and reject the message.” The best stories feel authentic, not didactic.

As Steven says: “If it feels like a lesson, it doesn’t work.”

As Stiffman points out, our work is about reaching a Hollywood that values viewpoint diversity. “There are many more people in the entertainment industry, storytellers we work with who are more heterodox in their views, beliefs, and political opinions, than people would realize,” Steven says. “They almost come out quietly to us. They feel like we are a trusted space where they can truly be their full selves and not have to silence certain parts of them for fear of being canceled.”

And, while this kind of work can be slow, it’s also very powerful. Hollywood has used storytelling to move the needle on issues from drunk driving to gay marriage. Indeed, BEL’s efforts are already driving real change within the entertainment industry. As Steven puts it: “We just see more and more of an effort among storytellers to connect our mission to the work that they’re doing. It’s now really part of the zeitgeist in the industry.”

🙏🙏@flyingwrestler

Link to the article in comments!

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

@EdenStiffman @Philanthropy https://t.co/s8AsJjaAkS

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

@EdenStiffman's latest for @Philanthropy captures the strategic bet behind our work: inspiring the entertainment industry to create better stories of us “This Nonprofit Whispers in Hollywood’s Ear About Polarization. They Hope You Tune In.”

Stiffman explains that BEL focuses on turning research into practical insights that storytellers can apply. The goal isn’t to make storytellers “eat their vegetables” or to introduce explicit bridging themes into every story; instead it’s to make small changes that might encourage audiences to think more deeply about a certain character or group. As BEL CEO @StevenOlikara says, stories don’t merely inform people. They shape what feels normal, what feels possible, and who feels recognizable. With Bridge Entertainment Labs, the goal is to move beyond “us versus them” narratives.
.
This work is also subtle. As Erica Lynn Rosenthal, director of research at the Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California, puts it, “When people feel like they’re being preached to or manipulated … they tend to shut down and reject the message.” The best stories feel authentic, not didactic.

As Steven says: “If it feels like a lesson, it doesn’t work.”

As Stiffman points out, our work is about reaching a Hollywood that values viewpoint diversity. “There are many more people in the entertainment industry, storytellers we work with who are more heterodox in their views, beliefs, and political opinions, than people would realize,” Steven says. “They almost come out quietly to us. They feel like we are a trusted space where they can truly be their full selves and not have to silence certain parts of them for fear of being canceled.”

And, while this kind of work can be slow, it’s also very powerful. Hollywood has used storytelling to move the needle on issues from drunk driving to gay marriage. Indeed, BEL’s efforts are already driving real change within the entertainment industry. As Steven puts it: “We just see more and more of an effort among storytellers to connect our mission to the work that they’re doing. It’s now really part of the zeitgeist in the industry.”

🙏🙏 @flyingwrestler

Link to the article in comments!

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

@EdenStiffman's latest for the @Philanthropy captures the strategic bet behind our work: inspiring the entertainment industry to create better stories of us “This Nonprofit Whispers in Hollywood’s Ear About Polarization. They Hope You Tune In.”

Stiffman explains that BEL focuses on turning research into practical insights that storytellers can apply. The goal isn’t to make storytellers “eat their vegetables” or to introduce explicit bridging themes into every story; instead it’s to make small changes that might encourage audiences to think more deeply about a certain character or group. As BEL CEO @StevenOlikara says, stories don’t merely inform people. They shape what feels normal, what feels possible, and who feels recognizable. With Bridge Entertainment Labs, the goal is to move beyond “us versus them” narratives.
.
This work is also subtle. As Erica Lynn Rosenthal, director of research at the Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California, puts it, “When people feel like they’re being preached to or manipulated … they tend to shut down and reject the message.” The best stories feel authentic, not didactic.

As Steven says: “If it feels like a lesson, it doesn’t work.”

As Stiffman points out, our work is about reaching a Hollywood that values viewpoint diversity. “There are many more people in the entertainment industry, storytellers we work with who are more heterodox in their views, beliefs, and political opinions, than people would realize,” Steven says. “They almost come out quietly to us. They feel like we are a trusted space where they can truly be their full selves and not have to silence certain parts of them for fear of being canceled.”

And, while this kind of work can be slow, it’s also very powerful. Hollywood has used storytelling to move the needle on issues from drunk driving to gay marriage. Indeed, BEL’s efforts are already driving real change within the entertainment industry. As Steven puts it: “We just see more and more of an effort among storytellers to connect our mission to the work that they’re doing. It’s now really part of the zeitgeist in the industry.”

🙏🙏@flyingwrestler

Link to the article in comments!

[The Chronicle of Philanthropy @Philanthropy]

Hollywood is great at telling each America the story it wants. But what if TV and films could help people see across divides? A look at how @BridgeEntLabs trying to make that happen.

“People are not likely to change deeply held beliefs after watching one show or film. But they might start to see something differently,” says the director of research at @USC's Norman Lear Center.
https://t.co/h9IjMY0Qvg

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

@THR https://t.co/AECvFKhIVM

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

We’re thrilled to have been supporting The [Conserv]atives, an upcoming documentary about conservative climate activists.

Filmmaker Nadia Gill explains in @THR that when we assume that climate change is just a left-wing cause, we’re falling prey to what researchers call the “perception gap.” The truth is, broad majorities of Americans across the political spectrum care about our climate. We need more storytellers willing and able to tell the stories of the conservative hunters, fishermen, wildland firefighters, cowboys, and more who care deeply about preserving the environment for the next generation.

From the article, by Nadia Gill: “Authentic cross-partisan storytelling is not a compromise. It is, at this point, the only approach we haven’t tried.”

Link in comments!

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

Happy Earth Day!

@United_ByNature – powered by @NINP_org – is rebranding conservation to make it fun, rewarding, and something every American feels called to be part of.

With their new online show "The Fire Pit," they're showing that Americans still care deeply about protecting our wild places, and the best way to spark real change is by meeting people where they already are: in culture, not politics.

The “Fire Pit” YouTube series brings together two people from very different backgrounds around one of humanity’s oldest rituals: gathering by a fire. Season one included opposites like a conservative influencer and a drag queen.

We’re excited to see a show that prioritizes surprising connections between folks who initially might think they don’t have very much in common. By the end, viewers are left with the sense that communing with nature creates connection, even between the most unlikely pairs. Who would you bring to your campfire?

https://t.co/Zf64CTqA16

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

https://t.co/Ktti8Oa7zm

[Bridge Entertainment Labs @BridgeEntLabs]

Happy Earth Week!

Applications are open for @redfordcenter’s Grants Program, which offers up to $40,000 per selected project to support environmental documentary filmmakers.

We've been thrilled to partner with the Redford Center to help empower storytellers to break out of their bubble when making stories about mother nature.

Link in comments to apply for a grant.

#EarthDay #RedfordCenterGrants