Writers Guild of America East
INFO: The Made in NY Writers Room initiative will establish a fellowship program to support professional writers of diverse backgrounds in New York City. Eligible writers must meet all application criteria and guidelines including a nomination for submission from a recommending organization or membership in the Writers Guild of America, East, along with a completed application form and properly formatted comedy or drama pilot. Click here for further information on the program.
The program aims to identify emerging writers whose work offers new and diverse points of view. We know that when writers rooms reflect the diversity of New York City, audiences are treated to stories that are more exciting, creative and reflective of their experiences.
ELIGIBILITY: Individual applicants and/or at least one member of each writing team (teams may consist of no more than two people) must be a member of and/or recommended by one of the organizations below:
- Be a member of the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) or be recommended by a member of the WGAE Diversity Coalition
- Be an alumnus(a) of the Ghetto Film School, Tribeca All-Access Program, NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) programs/incubators
- Be recommended by New York Women in Film and Television
- Be recommended by the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts
- Be recommended by a Blackhouse Foundation Board Member
- Be recommended by the Black Filmmakers Foundation
- Be recommended by the Black List
- Be recommended by Asain CineVision
- Be recommended by a member of the Interguild Diversity Coalition
KEY DATES:
- October 20, 2016 – Application Deadline
- December 2016 – Semi-finalists selected
- January 2017 – Finalists selected
- January-March 2017 – Finalist interviews
- April 2017 – Fellows selected
- June-December 2017* – Fellowship Program
SUBMISSION FEE: There is no cost to apply for the fellowship. Writers may register their pilot scripts free-of-charge as part of the application process.
STIPEND: During the 6-month fellowship, fellows will be compensated for all time spent working on Fellowship activities at the rate of fifteen dollars an hour, up to $15,600.
PRIZES:
- Five finalists with the highest scoring comedy scripts will be nominated to the Screenwriters Colony Episodic Comedy in partnership with the Nantucket Film Festival.
- Two finalists with the highest scoring comedy and drama scripts will be performed at a professionally cast and directed live reading at Lincoln Center.
- Up to twelve applicants, either individuals or writing teams will be selected to participate in the six-month fellowship program. Fellows will receive a stipend, participate in educational and professional development programs offered by the WGAE, be matched with a showrunner based on their career interests and produce a table read of their script by union actors.