TELEVISION / DIGITAL SERIES - APRIL 2016

DIVERSE VOICES SCREENPLAY CONTEST

WeScreenplay

INFO: WeScreenplay’s contest is focused on promoting and encouraging diverse voices and stories. The contest encourages stories that are told from perspectives – through the author and/or characters (ethnic minorities, women, women over 40, LGBTQ members, senior citizens, faith-driven characters, etc.) – that are often underrepresented in Hollywood today. The contest accepts Features, TV Pilots, Web Series, and Shorts.

PRIZES:

  • Grand Prize - $1,654 ($1,000 in cash, $654 in prizes) + Script Distribution to Managers, Producers, and Agents
  • Honorable Mention by Category - $654 in prizes each
  • Finalists (Top 20) - $69 in prizes each

DEADLINE AND FEES: April 15th, 2016 ($49 entry fee)

wescreenplay.com/contests/diverse-voices

 

TV ONE SCREENPLAY COMPETITION

INFO: The 2016 TV One Screenplay Competition was created to encourage and promote the production of creative, contemporary, engaging and relatable screenplays that can be turned into original movies for television. The program is designed to:

  • Encourage filmmakers to offer a fresh perspective and submit contemporary stories with a focus on the American black cultural experience with wide audience appeal.
  • Encourage filmmakers to creatively center around entertaining, heart-felt and relatable topics that resonate and appeal to African American audiences.
  • Expand upon the genres/formats that tell these entertaining stories. Genres include, but are not limited to comedies, romantic comedies, dramas, and family adventures (submissions should be non-period stories).

PRIZES:

  • 3 Finalist prizes and 1 grand prize will be announced at the closing night event of 20th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF).
  • Each Finalist will receive a trip to the ABFF in Miami, Florida, taking place June 15, 2016 through June 19, 2016 and the opportunity to have a scene from their screenplay read by actors at a Table Read.
  • The Grand Prize winner will receive Five Thousand Dollars ($5000.00) and the opportunity to have their screenplay developed and produced to premier at the 2017 ABFF.  

DEADLINE: EXTENDED to April 27, 2016

abff.com/tv-one-screenplay-competition/

 

2016 SCRIPT PIPELINE TV WRITING CONTEST

INFO: Script Pipeline is searching for the next extraordinary television writer. Finalists are given exposure to Script Pipeline’s industry partners (approximately 200 qualified contacts). The intent of the contest is to circulate exceptional material, launch careers, and push scripts closer to production.

PRIZES:

Grand Prize Winner – $10,000, announced August 2016:

  • Exposure to Script Pipeline’s industry network and a personalized circulation plan
  • 1-on-1 consultation sessions with the Script Pipeline development team

Runner-up – $1,000, announced August 2016:

  • Exposure to Script Pipeline’s industry network and a personalized circulation plan
  • 1-on-1 consultation sessions with a development executive 

The Grand Prize Winner and Runner-up will also receive the following finalist benefits:

Finalists (8) – announced July 1st, 2016:

  • Exclusive invitations to private industry/writer events throughout the year
  • Circulation to 200 companies and long-term development assistance

Semifinalists – announced late June, 2016

Quarter-finalists – announced mid-June, 2016

SUBMISSION FEE: $50

DEADLINE: May 1, 2016

scriptpipeline.com/shop/tv-writing-contest

 

CBS WRITER’S MENTORING PROGRAM

The CBS Diversity Institute

INFO: CBS’ Diversity Institute has launched a six-month writers program to provide access and opportunities for talented and motivated diverse writers. The focus of the program is on opening doors: providing opportunities to build relationships with network executives and show runners; to support new and emerging writers in their efforts to improve their craft; and to develop the interpersonal skills necessary to break in and succeed. Each participant will be teamed with a mentor (a CBS network or studio executive) with whom they will meet on a regular basis, to discuss their work, get creative feedback on their material and get advice and support in furthering their career. In addition, participants will be invited to attend a small workshop-style meeting once a week with various CBS show runners and other industry professionals and will be given the opportunity to spend time observing in a writing room, as well as in the CBS current and development departments.

DEADLINE: May 1, 2016

cbscorporation.com/diversity/diversity-institute/writers-mentoring-program/

 

NHMC TV WRITERS PROGRAM

National Hispanic Media Coalition

INFO: The NHMC Television Writers Program is an intensive scriptwriters workshop to prepare and place Latinos in writing jobs for the major television networks. The program was created in accordance with NHMC’s mission to improve the image of American Latinos as portrayed by the media, and increase the number of American Latinos employed in all facets of the media industry and with the idea that if there are more diverse writers present at the writer’s table, more diversity will be reflected on TV. 

The television scriptwriters workshop is designed to familiarize participants with the format, characters and storyline structure of specific shows that are currently on the air. The five-week, total immersion workshop is mentored and guided by former NBC V.P of Script Development, Geoff Harris and is conducted in Burbank, CA. A total of 10 writers are accepted nationwide from an established network of non-profit agencies, schools, universities, guilds and media organizations. The program normally takes place in the Fall of each year, wrapping up before Thanksgiving.

Participants must be willing to take a leave of absence from work or school, as the program is a full time commitment (Monday-Friday).

The NHMC Television Writers Program is for seasoned writers who are capable of writing at least a one half-hour comedy or a one-hour dramatic television script in English within a five-week period of time. Each selected participant is expected to complete at least one script by the end of the five-week session, which will then be read by network executives. Those writers whose scripts show promise will be interviewed and mentored by the network executives with the objective of placing them on a show.

AWARD: $250 per week (plus Southwest Airline vouchers, housing, and meals will be provided to accepted participants who hail from out of state).

SUBMISSION DATES: April 4 - August 7, 2016

nhmc.org/writersprogram

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