BIPOC WRITERS FELLOWSHIP: ADAPTING BOOKS FOR THE SCREEN
The Writers Room 5050
DEADLINE: January 8, 2021
INFO: The Writers Room 5050 and Level 4 Press Present: The BIPOC Writers Fellowship, "Adapting Books for the Screen," beginning March 2021. In this 12-week fellowship, fellows will adapt a book into a feature film screenplay, receive mentorship from industry leaders, a stipend for participating, and more.
The fellowship will focus on adapting a book into a screenplay, the release of fictional feature films for theatrical, streaming, and television movies-of-the-week (MOWs). In the process, BIPOC writers will learn the highest industry standards for developing, writing, financing and producing an adapted feature film project. Each fellow will adapt one Level 4 Press book into a feature film screenplay.
The Writers Room 5050 and Level 4 Press are currently working with top executives, writers, representatives and guest speakers to provide mentorship, feedback, and firsthand industry knowledge.
The BIPOC Writers Fellowship includes but is not limited to:
A 12-week lab taking you from book-to-screenplay
Mentorship on creating and crafting your script
A $750 Writer Stipend to all participants and accepted writers
Expert development notes and assessments by industry professionals
A 'table read' with professional actors
Script Sales and Career Strategy instruction
Pitch deck and high-end marketing collateral created for the project
Live Industry Event to pitch your new script and meet high-end industry decision-makers
For those scripts optioned, setup or sold, there will be financial participation
REQUIREMENTS:
BIPOC Writer: Applicants must be of BIPOC heritage/ethnicity (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color)
Script Submission: Writers must submit a completed screenplay (90 to 120 pages) for consideration
Application Fee: An Early, Regular or Late application processing fee will apply.
Announcements:
Semi-Finalists: January 22, 2021
Finalists: February 5, 2021
Fellows Announced: February 19, 2021
Fellows Begins: Week of March 8, 2021
Fellowship Schedule:
Dates: Wednesdays, March 10th to May 26th, 2021
Time: 6pm to 9pm PST - (1 class per week, 3 hours per class)
Venue: Zoom
SUBMISSION FEE: $60
https://www.writersroom5050.com/fellowship-details
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GULF SOUTH WRITER IN THE WOODS
A Studio in the Woods
DEADLINE: January 8, 2021
INFO: Gulf South Writer in the Woods, a program of A Studio in the Woods and the New Orleans Center for the Gulf South, supports the creative work, scholarship and community engagement of writers examining the Gulf South region.
Specifically, this year we aim to support BILAPOC Speculative Fiction writers working in prose, poetry and stage/screenwriting. Special consideration will be given to southern voices, under-represented communities, and perspectives not often heard. Eligible writers must live in the Gulf South, be from/have heritage in the Gulf South, and/or write about the Gulf South. The awardee will receive a stipend of $5,000, a 6-week residency at A Studio in the Woods over 18 months, Tulane University library access, and staff support from the presenting partners.
DATES The term of the Gulf South Writer in the Woods will be Winter 2021 through Summer 2023. The six weeks of residency at A Studio in the Woods can be scheduled in up to three sessions between July 2021-June 2022.
REQUIREMENTS
Exploration and early development of concept for a significant manuscript
Creative and radical thinking
Participation in six week residency
Giving a public lecture
Design and implement a community engagement event
Participating in a public dinner
ELIGIBILITY Creative writers working in Speculative Fiction in the format of prose, poetry, or stage/screenwriting will be considered. This year we aim to support BILAPOC writers working in prose, poetry and stage/screenwriting who live in the Gulf South, are from/have heritage in the Gulf South, and/or write about the Gulf South. There are no degree requirements. If the applicant is a student, they must be an active and advanced graduate student—in their second year of coursework and beyond. Note that this is an opportunity for a single writer, not a collaborative team or ensemble. Foreign language projects are welcome, however application and primary work sample must be in English.
SPECULATIVE FICTION Speculative Fiction is a broad category of fiction encompassing genres with certain elements that do not exist in terms of the recorded history and observed phenomena of the current universe, covering various themes in the context of the supernatural, futuristic, and many other imaginative topics.[1] Under this umbrella category, the genres include, but are not limited to, science fiction, fantasy, horror, superhero fiction, alternate history, utopian and dystopian fiction, and supernatural fiction, as well as combinations thereof (e.g. science fantasy).[2]
SELECTION PROCESS Every two years, a new Gulf South Writer in the Woods is selected through a jury process. The position will be awarded on the merit of the proposal, the stage of the manuscript, and its potential to result in new and refreshed understandings about this region. We will also consider the impact of the position on the writer’s career trajectory. The next selection process will take place in Winter 2023.
SUPPORT The awardee will receive a stipend of $5,000, a 6-week residency at A Studio in the Woods over 18 months, Tulane University library access, and staff support from the presenting partners. We are looking to support projects in the exploratory phase and will endeavor to connect the writer with faculty and experts in relevant fields. We will provide full room and board including food, utilities for living and studio space to selected resident. Resident is expected to cover personal living expenses, additional materials and supplies, and any other expenses relating to the cost of producing work incurred while in the program. Travel and shipping expenses to and from A Studio in the Woods for the residency are also the responsibility of the artist. To better understand project impact, each artist will work with an external evaluator.
GUIDELINES:
Gulf South Writer in the Woods proposals should include the following:
500-word project summary.
Project narrative of no more than five double-spaced pages.
http://www.astudiointhewoods.org/2020/11/18/open-call-for-next-gulf-south-writer-in-the-woods/
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2021 Transgender Film Center Trailblazer Grant
Transgender Film Center
DEADLINE: January 15, 2021, at 11:59 pm CDT
INFO: The Transgender Film Center Trailblazer Grant provides start-up and completion funds for narrative or documentary projects written, directed, or produced by transgender creators.
This year, we are awarding two grants of $1,500 each.
The fund is open to all transgender people, defined by GLAAD as "people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth."
While projects do not need to be explicitly about transgender identity to be eligible, they must be directed, written, or produced by transgender people. Projects submitted to this fund must be completed within 24 months of receiving funding from the Transgender Film Center. For our inaugural year, applicants must be based in the United States and at least 18 years of age.
Applicants will be notified of status in Spring 2021. The Transgender Film Center reserves the right to award fewer grants than announced, or none at all, based on the number of qualifying projects and applications received. The approval of any grant application is within the sole and exclusive discretion of the organization.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGOszT3il226_Mq7vYBVBDE45KPKRXsMYLPY_l_wWpbikj9Q/viewform
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Immigrant Creative Fellowship
Define American
DEADLINE: January 18, 2021
INFO: This fellowship supports immigrant creatives working in narrative art forms as they build their professional practice and network. Recognizing the unique hurdles that immigrant creatives in these fields may face, the six fellows selected for the Define American Creative Fellowship will participate in workshops and conversations around furthering their network and impact, be connected with additional resources, and supported in their community engagement efforts.
The Define American Creative Fellowship is open to creatives in narrative-oriented art forms (writing, filmmaking, visual storytelling, theater, illustration, spoken word, digital journalism, etc.) with at least some experience (professional or amateur) in their chosen medium. This program is uniquely suited to supporting artists who have a deep commitment to their local communities and further developing their creative practice as they shape narratives of American identity.
NOTE: In 2021, the fellowship will be all virtual.
Fellows will receive:
$5,000 stipend
Regular coaching check-ins with Define American staff
Professional development workshops and facilitated conversations
Tools to build community collaborations
Introductions to experienced creatives in their field
Opportunity to apply for additional project-based funding
Application process:
Please review the full fellowship expectations before applying
Complete application form and upload portfolio
Finalists will be contacted by email to schedule a phone interview in February
Who should apply?
Creatives in narrative-oriented art forms (writing, filmmaking, illustration, spoken word, etc.) with some amount of experience in their field.
Immigrant Americans, regardless of current immigration status — undocumented, DACAmented, naturalized citizens, green card holders, refugees, asylum seekers, etc
Creatives that can commit to participating in at least 6–8 90-minute workshops and facilitated conversations
Creatives with a commitment to their local communities
Creatives who will not be enrolled in a degree-seeking program during the length of this fellowship (March – September 2021)
Must be at least 18 years old at time of application
https://www.defineamerican.com/fellowship
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WURLITZER FOUNDATION RESIDENCY
Helene Wurlitzer Foundation
DEADLINE: January 18, 2021
INFO: The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico (HWF) is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational and charitable organization committed to supporting the arts. Founded in 1954, the HWF manages one of the oldest artist residency programs in the USA and is located on fifteen acres in the heart of Taos, New Mexico, a multicultural community renowned for its popularity with artists.
The Foundation offers three months of rent-free and utility-paid housing to people who specialize in the creative arts. Our eleven artist casitas, or guest houses, are fully furnished and provide residents with a peaceful setting in which to pursue their creative endeavors.
The Foundation accepts applications from painters, poets, sculptors, writers, playwrights, screenwriters, composers, photographers, and filmmakers of national and international origin.
Applications are reviewed by a selection committee consisting of professionals who specialize in the artistic discipline of the applicant. Numerous jurors serve on committees for each: visual arts, music composers, writers, poets, playwrights, and filmmakers. Jurors, who know nothing about the artist's demographics, score in five categories based purely on the merit of the applicant's creative work samples.
Artists in residence have no imposed expectations, quotas, or requirements during their stay on the HWF campus. The HWF’s residency program provides artists with the time and space to create, which in turn enriches the artistic community and culture locally and abroad.
GUIDELINES:
Literary artists may upload writing samples in .pdf format using the application form above. Alternatively, literary artists may choose to mail hard-copies. Include a cover sheet containing your contact info and table of contents, but please omit names and contact info on the writing samples themselves.
• Writers: samples should not exceed 35 double-spaced pages
• Poets: a maximum of six poems.
• Playwrights: include one complete play.
• Screenwriters: include one complete screenplay.
Digital work samples are accepted and encouraged for applications from visual artists and composers. Applicants should prepare to submit five work sample files when filling out the online application form. Acceptable file types for images include jpg, gif and png. Accepted types for audio files are mp3 and m4a.
Filmmakers must mail a DVD or USB-drive containing up to 30 minutes of video which represents no more than five different samples of your work.
APPLICATION FEE: $25
https://wurlitzerfoundation.org/apply
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2020 FICTION PODCAST CONTEST
Shore Scripts
DEADLINE: January 21, 2021
INFO: Podcasts are kind of a big deal! Over 100 million people in USA listen to at least one Podcast a month and that rate is increasing by 20 million year on year. Fiction podcasts are taking a century’s worth of entertainment in radio plays and pushing the boundaries to tell stories in fresh and innovative ways, quickly becoming the fastest-growing sub-section of this booming industry. Many writers, including our Judges, have forged successful careers for themselves through Podcasts. Hollywood’s taking notice too! More and more of these shows are being adapted for Televsion: Homecoming, Limetown, Carrier, Left Right Game & LORE to name but a few.
The beauty of the fiction Podcast format is that it allows you as a writer to be completely free to tell the story you wish to tell, without having to factor in the budgetary constraints of filmmaking. Our Podcast Contest offers more in funding and prize money than any other.
In collaboration with our winning writers, Shore Scripts will produce both episodes, making use of our industry connections to find talented cast and crew. We will look to attach a named actor/actress to each episode to further elevate the show and draw in a larger audience. Once both episodes are live, we will contact commissioners in an attempt to greenlight the series. The writers have final say on all potential commissioning offers.
This is a great opportunity to get your work commissioned and voice heard in this ever-growing industry. You don’t even need to write an episode from scratch. Perhaps you have a screenplay, novel or stageplay that could be adapted to fit this medium. Read our How to Adapt my Screenplay into a Podcast for some pointers.
We accept screenplay, radio and stageplay format. Check out our Rules and FAQ’s for all the info.
AWARD:
Two winners will be chosen to have their pilot scripts produce, each with a budget of $5,000
Plus, each winner will also receive $1000 Cash!
https://filmfreeway.com/ShoreScriptsFictionPodcastContest
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Call for Applications: Cultural Mentorship Funding Program
Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) / Netflix
DEADLINE: January 22, 2021 at 5pm EST
INFO: ISO is partnered with Netflix to provide new funding opportunities to support training, capacity building and culturally specific approaches for Indigenous on-screen content creators.
The goal of Cultural Mentorship program is to offer the opportunity for Indigenous producers, directors and writers to engage in cultural mentorship, engagement, learning, and protocols work during the development phases of their project. This may include travel and fees to engage with Elders, language speakers, knowledge keepers and/or community members to develop the project.
1. Application Questionnaire (view and download here). Please download the questionnaire, complete it, and upload it into the application form when you are ready to apply.
2. Project Budget
3. Bio (max 500 words)
4. Letter from mentor or community confirming engagement in this process
5. A letter of confirmation from mentor and apprentice
6. Resume/CV for project lead
Eligibility Requirements:
The Cultural Mentorship Program is open to the following applicants:
Indigenous Individuals: Indigenous creatives may apply directly to serve as an apprentice on a production. In this case, the production and/or specialist who will be serving as a mentor may be Indigenous or non-Indigenous.
Indigenous Productions must be Indigenous-controlled (minimum 51% ownership by person/s who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis from Canada);
For the purposes of ISO programs, “Indigenous” is defined as status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples residing in Canada.
For both programs, funding is available for fiction, non-fiction, or documentary screen-based projects in all genres. The following types of productions are eligible:
Short works
Feature-length works
Television series
Web series
VR, 360, digital and interactive works
FUNDING: Maximum funding $15,000
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Emerging Filmmakers Grant
Pentimenti Productions
DEADLINE: January 31, 2021
INFO: Pentimenti Productions, the arts nonprofit and film production company behind the critically acclaimed 2014 documentary "Hairy Who & The Chicago Imagists," and the upcoming 3D feature-length film about artist H.C. Westermann, "Westermann: Memorial to the Idea of Man If He Was an Idea," is pleased to announce the re-opening of the Pentimenti Emerging Filmmakers Grant.
This grant endeavors to support work by up-and-coming female, non-binary, and/or LGBTQ voices. In keeping with Pentimenti’s mission, eligible projects must pertain to art or artists in some capacity, although they needn’t necessarily be a documentary. The recipient of the Emerging Filmmakers Grant will be determined by an appointed jury and approved by Pentimenti’s board. We are pleased to announce that the 2020-21 jurors include Amber Love, Cody Corrall, and Allison Cochrane.
Please direct any questions about application materials or eligibility requirements to Pentimenti Executive Director, Harrison Sherrod: harrison@pentimentiproductions.org
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1D-8_q_ggNF91gGRD5gZH6N46Mp5WZsX5nC7eUnNrqPo/viewform?gxids=7628&edit_requested=true
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SCREENWRITING FELLOWSHIP
ScreenCraft
DEADLINES: Regular - January 31, 2021 / Final - February 29, 2021
INFO: Past ScreenCraft-winning writers have been hired by producers, optioned their projects to major studios, and signed with top representatives at CAA, WME, 3 Arts Entertainment, United Talent Agency, Anonymous Content, Paradigm Talent Agency, Untitled, ICM, Writ Large, Bellevue Productions, Romark Entertainment, Lit Entertainment and many others.
The chosen Fellowship recipients will receive ongoing professional support and a special trip to Los Angeles for meetings, mentorship and personal introductions to key entertainment studio executives, producers, literary managers and agents. To apply, simply submit your feature film script or original television script, along with an optional cover letter that expresses your vision and background as an emerging writer.
Apply now and join a thriving community of talented screenwriters with meaningful connections to industry mentors.
2020 Fellows will meet with the following Hollywood manager mentors:
Adam Kolbrenner, Lit Entertainment, renowned boutique literary management company known for such clients as Nicole Perlman, Aaron Guzikowski, Justin Marks, Greg Russo, Jonathan Mostow and many more
Kailey Marsh, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, the management company behind such stars as Brad Pitt, Amy Adams, Rachel Brosnahan, Rachel Weisz, Adam Sandler, Vin Diesel and many more
Ari Lubet, 3 Arts Entertainment, the management and production company behind such shows as Orange is the New Black, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Silicon Valley, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, The Mindy Project, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Saint George and more. Clients of 3 Arts Entertainment include such legends as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, Maya Rudolph, Kevin Hart, Mindy Kaling, George Lopez, Matt LeBlanc, BJ Novak, James Franco, Charlie Day, and many more!
Scott Stoops, Good Fear, the management company behind such notable talent as Evan Daugherty, James Duval, Tiffany Dupont and Billy Brown
Jake Dellman, Verve Talent and Literary Agency, the agency behind many great writers, directors and actors as Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World), Greg Russo (Mortal Combat), Emily Carmichael (Pacific Rim: Uprising, Jurassic World 3) and many more!
Tracy Kopulsky, MXN Entertainment, the management company behind such celebrated filmmakers as Diablo Cody, Melina Matsoukas, Jesse Andrews and Amanda Marsalis
Alex Platis, Untitled Entertainment, the management company behind such stars as Jared Leto, Penelope Cruz and Naomi Watts
https://screencraft.org/fellowship/
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EPISODIC LAB
Realness Institute / Netflix
DEADLINE: January 31, 2021
INFO: Realness Institute’s mission is to unearth the wealth of African stories – stories from the continent, told with an honest and unapologetic point of view by African filmmakers. Their Episodic Lab will focus on developing pitch documents with selected writers for series content of all genres.
6 writers will spend 3 months in an online ‘writers room’ format. They will work with a script consultant and a creative producer to fully develop their story concepts into an episodic pitch. Along with creative training, writers will receive feedback from NETFLIX’s series development team.
Selected writers will receive a stipend of $2000 per month to dedicate 3 months to cover their living expenses as they develop their ideas.
At the end of the lab, selected writers will have the opportunity to pitch to NETFLIX and have their series developed for production.
Should the pitch not be picked up for production, the development rights of the story revert to the writer.
ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants must be from South Africa, Kenya OR Nigeria only.
Concept must be set in South Africa, Kenya OR Nigeria
Writer/writing team* with either Film or Television experience *only one writer will be able to participate if selected.
Any genre, must be fictional
Series Language: English and/or local language *Please note that the working language of the lab is in English and all documents must be delivered in English.
Creators should not be committed to a producer or a director to participate in this lab.
APPLICATION:
You will be required to fill in the following in the online application:
1 paragraph of your story idea,
1 paragraph description of the story world,
1 paragraph description of the tone and references for the series,
½ page bio of writer or per writer if writing team,
10 words description of each main character,
8x one- line episode ideas;
and two writing samples of which you are the sole writer (10 page max.) It could be any writing but preferably a synopsis, a treatment or a short script or scenes of a long form one.
You must also pay a 30 Euro Application Fee via Paypal (Wire Transfer option of R550.00 available for South African participants only).