EPISODIC STORY LAB
Sundance Institute
INFO: The Sundance Institute Episodic Story Lab offers 10 writers an opportunity to develop long-form episodic content in a setting where they can hone their writing skills and learn how to navigate the changing industry. Working with accomplished showrunners, as well as non-writing creative producers and studio/network executives, the Fellows participate in one-on-one creative story meetings, pitching sessions, writers’ rooms, and group conversations focusing on the key creative and tactical elements that are central to their success in episodic storytelling.
- Emerging writers and writer/directors from all mediums, including independent narrative features, documentary, theatre, and fiction, who are developing an episodic series.
- Applicants must have at minimum a completed script for the pilot episode and a 2-3 page series overview that includes a brief description of the premise, genre, central characters and world of the series, as well as a short summary of the story and character arcs for the first season.
- The submitted pilot cannot have been sold at any point to a studio or network.
- Additionally, applicants cannot have sold a pilot or pitch to a studio or network in the past that has been produced.
- The submitted pilot may be original or adapted from optioned source material.
- A priority of the program is to identify and support writers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the television industry.
APPLICATION FEE: $40
IMPORTANT DATES:
- Deadline: February 1, 2017
- Lab Dates: October 5-10, 2017
sundance.org/programs/episodic-storytelling
FRESHWAVE! AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WRITERS
Talos Films + ColorCreative.TV
INFO:This is a joint venture between ColorCreative.TV and Talos Films in conjunction with Sky Vision. They're looking for writers who have an underrepresented voice in mainstream media and have a creative pitch for a Young Adult television series.
AWARD:
- One winning writer will receive $5,000 and their script optioned and produced into an indie pilot.
- The remaining two finalists will receive $1,500 and an option agreement for their script.
INCUBATION MENTORS
- Dana Lynne North, Co-Exec Producer/Writer (INSECURE)
- Justin Simien, Director/Writer (DEAR WHITE PEOPLE)
- Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, Creator/Writer/Exec Producer (unREAL)
- Dan Powell, Exec Producer (INSIDE AMY SCHUMER, UGLY AMERICANS)
- Jermaine Johnson, Manager (3ARTS ENTERTAINMENT)
- Sarah Benincasa, Comedian/Actress/Young Adult Novelist (GREAT, DC TRIP)
DEADLINE: February 5, 2017
freshwave.submittable.com/submit
TV ONE SCREENPLAY COMPETITION 2017
INFO: The TV ONE SCREENPLAY COMPETITION 2017 promotes the production of creative, contemporary, engaging and relatable screenplays that can be turned into original movies for television. Genres include, but are not limited to comedies, romantic comedies, dramas, and family adventures (submissions should be non-period stories). One (1) Grand Prize Winner will be selected from three (3) Finalists and announced at the closing night event of ABFF.
DEADLINE: February 16, 2017
tvone.tv/43771/enter-the-tv-one-screenplay-competition-2017-here/
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Nickelodeon Writing Program
INFO: Nickelodeon has opened applications for its writing program. All applicants must submit a Spec Script that is Comedic; either Live-Action or Animation and based on any of the half-hour television series in the list they provide.
DEADLINE: February 28, 2017
nickanimationstudio.com/writing-program
HBO ACCESS WRITING FELLOWSHIP
HBO
INFO: The HBOAccess Writing Fellowship is designed to give emerging, diverse writers the opportunity to develop a half-hour or hour script suitable for HBO or Cinemax.
The program will select up to 8 diverse writers to take part in a series of master classes held over one week in July at the HBO campus in Santa Monica. Classes will consist of discussions with HBO executives and showrunners and will focus on the craft of writing including structure, story, and character as well as the business aspects of securing an agent and effective networking.
PRIZE: Winners will be paired with an HBO or Cinemax development executive who will serve as his/her mentor over the course of 10 months. Mentoring can be done remotely or in person pending whichever is logistically feasible. In addition, we will hold monthly group meetings during which projects will continue to be work-shopped.
Material created during the program will be considered for production in the HBOAccess
SUBMISSION PERIOD: March 1, 2017 at 9am PST/ 12pm ET - March 4, 2017 at 9am PST/12pm ET
filmfreeway.com/festival/HBOAccessWritingFellowship