EPISODIC LAB 2021
Film Independent
DEADLINES: March 3, 2021 (for Film Independent Members)
INFO: Designed to support writers with original long-form episodic projects, Film Independent’s Episodic Lab will accept a diverse group of 6–8 writers or writing teams and provide them with critical support and mentorship. Through personalized feedback from experienced showrunners, creative producers and executives, Fellows will gain the tools to revise and refine their pilots and navigate a changing industry landscape.
The Episodic Lab helps to further the careers of its Fellows by introducing them to industry veterans who can offer guidance on both the craft and business of writing episodic content. Each Fellow will be paired with a Creative Advisor with whom they’ll work one-on-one and in group sessions to develop their project during the month of July. Additionally, guest speakers will screen and discuss their own work to offer insights into the creative process and industry best practices. A final networking and pitch event will offer Fellows the opportunity to introduce themselves and their work to studio and network executives.
NOTE: The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will award one participant of the Film Independent Episodic Lab a $10,000 development grant. To apply for the Sloan Episodic Lab Grant, apply to the Episodic Lab and provide a statement on how the project fulfills the mission of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The applicant must possess the rights to the script with which they are applying. The teleplay should have a scientific, mathematical and/or technological theme and storyline or have a leading character that is a scientist, engineer or mathematician.
Who Can Apply?
The Episodic Lab is open to any emerging writer applying with a completed draft of a half hour or hour-long television pilot they wish to workshop during the program. Each applicant must be the author of the script he or she submits. The submitted pilot cannot have been pitched at any point to a studio or network.
Writing partners are welcome to apply as teams and need only submit a single application. International applicants are also welcome to apply. At this time, documentary and short-form digital series are not eligible to apply.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit the following materials for consideration:
Required
A cover letter explaining your interest in the Episodic Lab
One complete, original pilot
A series logline
A series description describing the story engine and series arc of the show
Project status and history, including any industry exposure
A series proposal document that includes brief descriptions of the world of the series and its premise and genre, as well as breakdowns for the show’s primary characters and their first season arcs
APPLICATION FEE:
FREE for Filmmaker Pro Members (limited to one waived fee per Membership year)
$45 for Film Independent Members
$65 for non-Members
Selection Criteria
Film Independent is looking for well-written, compelling, pilots with an original premise or vision. The submitted pilot may be original or adapted from optioned source material. Though applicants must submit a completed draft, the Lab is structured to support writers who are still creatively engaged in the writing process; those who welcome feedback and discussion will most benefit from the program as they further develop their work.
The Fine Print
Beyond the application fee, there is no cost or tuition to participate in any of Film Independent’s Artist Development programs.
Film Independent Membership is not required when applying to Artist Development Labs. However, all participants accepted into the Labs are required to join Film Independent at the standard annual General Membership rate of $95.
Applicants will be notified three to four weeks prior to the start of the program.
Applicants invited to participate in the program should plan to be in Los Angeles for the four-week duration of the Lab. Film Independent is unable to subsidize any travel, lodging and/or visa expenses for any participants attending from outside of Los Angeles. Participants are expected to attend all sessions in person.
https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/artist-development/episodic-lab/
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CALL FOR UNDISCOVERED TV WRITERS
Impact x Skydance
DEADLINE: March 7, 2021
INFO: Impact x Skydance is a year-long collaboration between Impact and Skydance TV to source television content from undiscovered writers worldwide through Impact’s innovative, open application and review system with the goal of developing them into global, premium series.
Over the course of the next year, Impact will host call-outs and online submissions across four specific prompts through which writers of all levels from around the world can apply with a well-thought out idea and writing sample. Applications will be vetted via Impact’s review process before a subset of applicants are interviewed. From there, a group of finalists will have their proposed project presented to Skydance by the Impact team. Writers then selected by Skydance will have the opportunity to enter into an if/come agreement with Skydance to develop the project further.
The first two prompts are ‘Premium Drama’ and ‘Grounded, Elevated Sc-Fi’.
Will I work with a Shaper on developing my project? Will there be an in-person program component?
No, writers who are selected by Skydance for this opportunity will work directly with the Skydance TV development team on developing their project further.
ELIGIBILITY & LEGAL:
What requirements do I and my project need to meet to apply?
We encourage writers from all backgrounds and experiences to apply: from beginner writer to seasoned professional. You must be 18 years or older and legally capable of entering into the agreements required by the program.
The project you submit must meet the following requirements:
the project is an English language, live action television series
the project is entirely owned by you without encumbrances and there are no attachments to the project, including yourself in any non-writing capacity (e.g. as a director, star, etc.)
the project has not been previously owned or optioned by another party
Do I have to be a US citizen to apply?
No, you do not need to be a US citizen nor located in the US to apply.
If Skydance selects my project, what will my writer deal look like?
Selected writers will be offered an if/come agreement to work with Skydance to develop their project further. If you choose to enter into the agreement with Skydance TV, Skydance will have the rights to develop, shop, and produce your project for the duration of the deal, and you will be paid an initial sum of US$3,500.
If Skydance solicits a script from the writer during the duration of the agreement, script fees will be in accordance with the then-current WGA scale. As the project continues forward, the writer shall also receive additional credits and royalties provided the writer stay engaged.
Can I see the full long-form agreement?
As writers will contract directly with Skydance TV and not through Impact, Skydance shall provide writers with a long-form agreement upon selection.
How do I know you won’t steal my idea?
Impact and Skydance do not repurpose any ideas we may read while reviewing Impact applications. Additionally, no applications will be exposed to Skydance without the applicant’s express written permission. The submission release form, which you can read here, sets forth rights and obligations with respect to your submission.
The Prompts
What does ‘Premium Drama’ mean? What television series are examples?
Premium Drama: This prompt is aimed at finding 60-minute, ongoing drama series that are elevated, commercial, and set within a specific world or lifestyle that provides the series’ engine. Shows like Big Little Lies, Bridgerton, Friday Night Lights, or Empire.
What does ‘Grounded, Elevated Sci Fi’ mean? What television series are examples?
Grounded, Elevated Sci Fi: This prompt is aimed at finding 60-minute, ongoing science fiction series that feel grounded in a realistic, contemporary world. Tonally, they should feel like premium, elevated shows that could air on any premium cable network or streaming service. Shows like Westworld, The OA, Devs, or Counterpart.
Note: We do not want to see shows that are bleak or post-apocalyptic.
Can I submit an idea that does not fit under the prompt?
No, we are only accepting submissions for the given prompts.
Will any prompts be for feature films?
No, we are only seeking television series under this partnership.
https://impactcreativesystems.com/skydance
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EPISODIC LAB
Sundance Institute
DEADLINE: March 10, 2021
INFO: The Episodic Lab: Pilot to Series offers writers an opportunity to workshop an original pilot, and to develop their writing and pitching skills. Working with accomplished showrunners, the fellows will participate in one-on-one story meetings, craft workshops, and simulated writers’ rooms, which together provide creative and strategic tools for success. Part one of the lab will take place October 1–3, 2021, and October 9–11, 2021.
Fellows will reconvene in February for part two of the lab with a polished draft of their lab project. During this time, they will participate in pitch sessions, group conversations about the episodic landscape, and meet with producers and creative executives to discuss next steps and career goals. Part two will take place February 27–28, 2022.
There are two rounds in the application process: in round one, applicants are required to submit the first five pages of an original pilot script, their bio, a series logline, a series overview, their personal statement, a thematic statement, and (optional) links to samples of previous work, along with a $40 nonrefundable processing fee. If selected for round two, applicants are notified by email and have two weeks to submit their full pilot script as well as up to three additional project ideas.
ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at time of application.
The project must be the applicant’s original creation or adapted from optioned source material.
The project must be written in the English language, but it does not need to be intended to be fully produced in English.
The project should be new, or if previously submitted, it must be materially different from any and all versions previously submitted to Sundance Institute. Projects may not be already produced,sold to a third party, or distributed online or otherwise.
Applicants cannot have sold an episodic project (pilot or pitch) to a studio or network in the past that has been shot.
The project shall not infringe the copyright or any other proprietary right of another individual or entity. The creator/applicant is responsible for all rights pertaining to the project.
http://www.sundance.org/programs/episodic-storytelling
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My Time: A Writer's Fellowship for Parents
The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow
DEADLINE: March 15, 2021
INFO: The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow is pleased to announce the My Time fellowship funded by the Sustainable Arts Foundation. Writers who are also parents of dependent children under the age of 18 are invited to apply. Work may be any literary genre: fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, scripts or screenplays. The successful application will demonstrate literary merit and the likelihood of publication however, prior publication is not a requirement.
The fellowship winner will receive a one-week residency to allow the recipient to focus completely on their work. A $400 stipend is available to cover childcare and/or travel costs. Each writers’ suite has a bedroom, private bathroom, separate writing space, and wireless internet. We provide uninterrupted writing time, a European-style gourmet dinner prepared five nights a week, and served in our community dining room, the camaraderie of other professional writers when you want it, and a community kitchen stocked with the basics for breakfast and lunch.
Fellowship applications must be accompanied by a writing sample and a non-refundable $35 application fee. There is a limit of one submission per application. The winner will be announced no later than March 31, 2021. Residency may be completed at any time during 2021. This may be extended up to twelve months for extenuating circumstances including COVID-19 concerns.
https://www.writerscolony.org/fellowships
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DIVERSE VOICES SCREENWRITING LAB
WeScreenplay
DEADLINES:
Regular: Mar 15, 2021
Final: Apr 15, 2021
INFO: Diverse Voices is a screenplay competition and lab that strives to encourage stories that are told from perspectives that are often underrepresented in Hollywood today. This includes writers of color, womxn writers, writers with disabilities, writers over 40, writers in the LGBTQ+ community, and any other voices that have historically been ignored by Hollywood.
A couple of cool things about this program: since it started in 2015, Diverse Voices has raised over $35,000 for various nonprofit organizations and over a dozen past winners have been signed, staffed, and optioned. All readers for this competition come from diverse backgrounds, and all entrants will receive a page of written feedback on their script from their first round’s judge.
PRIZES: The Diverse Voices Lab is a one-of-a-kind lab experience. Those chosen for the lab will have a long weekend PACKED with workshops to hone their craft, mentorship calls with working writers, and general meetings with studio execs, literary reps, and more. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any emerging screenwriter.
Additionally, the winners get access to ongoing mentorship from WeScreenplay including an initial phone call, guidance for drafting query letters, research methods for finding the right representation, prep before big meetings, and strategic planning for next steps in their careers — all based on the writer’s specific goals.
JURY:
Talitha Watkins - Head of the Management for Issa Rae's company, ColorCreative
Charlie Swinbourne - Screenwriter focused on Deaf Culture
Jen Ray - Literary Manager at Heroes and Villains Entertainment
https://www.wescreenplay.com/diverse-voices/
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Disruptors Fellowship
Center for Cultural Power
DEADLINE: March 19, 2021
INFO: The Center for Cultural Power is pleased to announce the application is now open for the second cycle of The Disruptors Fellowship.
Co-created and launched in 2020 by The Center for Cultural Power and 5050by2020, The Disruptors Fellowship is an unprecedented fellowship supporting emerging television writers of color who identify as transgender, non-binary, disabled, undocumented, and/or formerly undocumented.
This 3-month fellowship for LA-based emerging talent includes mentorship, professional development, master classes and a $6,000 stipend.
https://www.artistdisruptors.org/
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2021 WarnerMedia Access Writers Program
DEADLINE: March 21, 2021
INFO: WarnerMedia is a leading media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content from a diverse array of talented storytellers to global audiences through its consumer brands including HBO, HBOMax, Warner Bros, TNT, TBS, truTV, CNN, DC Entertainment, New Line, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and more.
Formerly the HBO Access Writing Fellowship, the WarnerMedia Access Writers Program is a multi-month pipeline program for lower-level narrative TV writers. The objective of the program is to provide marginalized voices a pathway for entry into the television industry through instruction, mentorship and exposure. Up to 20 writers from across various genres will be selected to be a part of the inaugural cycle in 2021.
The virtual program will kick-off in mid-July 2021 and continue through January 2022, meeting 1 – 2 times per week, covering the business of television and the creative process. The final leg of the workshop will focus on script development and the creation of a new sample. At the conclusion of the program, the WarnerMedia Equity & Inclusion group will work with the participants to find potential staffing opportunities within the enterprise.
An Advisory Council comprised of established producers (Sara Hess, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Sarah Schechter, Bird Runningwater, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Sonya Winton-Odamtten, Jonathan Kidd, Bill Lawrence, Mindy Kaling and Ben Stephenson) and executives (Casey Bloys, Chief Content Officer, HBO and HBO Max and Channing Dungey, Chairman Warner Bros. Television Group) within WarnerMedia will help conduct a rigorous interviewing and screening process to select up to 20 writers across various genres for the inaugural seven-month program. Additionally, this Advisory Council will consult on the curriculum and lead master classes for the workshop.
All participants will be mentored by upper-level writers who will offer their perspective on their creative growth and career advancement.
Eligibility criteria:
Must have the right to work in the US.
Must be 18 years of age or older
Must not have been staffed on more than one TV show
Writers from historically underrepresented backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply.
Program timeline:
Submission window: Monday, March 8 – Sunday, March 21, 2021
Video interviews: Mid-June 2021
Cohort notification: By end of June 2021
Workshop begins: Mid-July 2021
Workshop ends: Late January 2022
https://warnermediaaccess.submittable.com/submit
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2nd Scriptwriting Competition
Reel Sisters
DEADLINE:
Early Bird: March 31, 2021
Regular: May 21, 2021
Final: May 31, 2021
Extended: June 18, 2021
INFO: Reel Sisters is hosting our 2nd Scriptwriting Competition and giving screenwriters a chance to win cash awards including the top prize of $1,000 with opportunities to get featured in African Voices magazine, our website, a table read and one-on-one script consultation with an industry professional!
Scripts must be written by women of color. Feature length films, television pilots, short films and web series are eligible. Reel Sisters is the first Oscar qualifying film festival in the nation for women filmmakers.
The Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series is a two-day annual film festival founded by African Voices magazine and LIU's Media Arts Dept., Brooklyn Campus. Established in 1997, Reel Sisters (www.reelsisters.org) is dedicated to providing opportunities for women of color to advance their careers in the film industry. Reel Sisters accepts films written, directed, or produced by women/non-binary filmmakers of color. Reel Sisters is the first Academy Qualifying Film Festival for short narratives devoted to women of color across the globe. Reel Sisters is an IMDb qualifying film festival.
APPLICATION INFO: YOU MUST SUBMIT PRODUCTION STILLS/PHOTOS and a TRAILER for your submission to be ELIGIBLE AND COMPLETE. You can screenshot photos from your film if you were unable to hire a photographer.
PLEASE NOTE: Reel Sisters is scheduled to be held Oct. 23-24, 2021 at the Alamo Cinema Drafthouse and other NYC venues but due to the pandemic the festival may be held virtually to keep our audience safe. Join our mailing list & visit our website for updates: www.reelsisters.org.
Reel Sisters is a competitive festival and films are selected by an independent jury. Please submit films early as deadlines are final. The festival provides quality customer service and does not offer fee waivers. The fee covers a small fraction of the administrative costs for running a professional Oscar qualifying film festival.
Reel Sisters accepts all genres and formats with a special interest in submissions from animated and web series producers. Send us films that will make our audience “cry, dance, laugh, sing and explore." The festival curates events throughout the year so all entries will be considered for Reel Sisters Tea & Cinema series. Join our worldwide community of film professionals in celebrating stories produced, directed and written by women of color!
https://filmfreeway.com/ReelSistersoftheDiasporaFilmFestival
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Marble House Project
DEADLINE: April 1, 2021
INFO: Marble House Project is a multidisciplinary artist residency program that fosters collaboration and the exchange of ideas, by providing an environment for artists across disciplines to live and work together. The residency integrates sustainable practices, including small-scale organic food production and waste conservation. Residents sustain their growth by engaging with the grounds while working on their artistic practice. Marble House Project is founded on the belief that the act of creating, whether in the studio or in nature, is how human potential expands and community thrives.
Marble House Project accepts approximately 60 residents and is open to artists living in the United States and abroad. You must be at least 21 years old. Residencies run from April through October, scheduled into six three-week residencies and one two-week family-friendly residency for artists with children. Please note that if you apply to the family friendly residency, it is a specific date within the artist in residency application. Each session accommodates eight artists and is specifically curated to bring together a diverse group of creative workers, to maximize potential for collaboration and dialogue while in residence and beyond.
All residents live together in the historic, eight-bedroom Manley-Lefevre house, a communal space organized around responsibilities-sharing systems which highlight sustainability and community. All residents will be paired and asked to cook for shared dinners three times over the course of their residency, Monday-Friday. A substantial amount of the food we provide comes from our organic garden, which also serves as a space for gathering and an educational tool. Residents are invited to help with planting, harvesting, and maintenance. While not required, our hope is that you will spend some time in the garden alongside your studio practice. Each session culminates with ART SEED, our public open house weekend event. Artists are invited to share their work with our community through artist talks, readings, performances, and open studios.
Marble House Project provides private bedrooms, food, private studio space, and artist support. We are not able to cover costs related to travel or materials. There is no fee to attend the residency.
Applications are accepted in all creative fields including but not limited to writing, dance and choreography, performance, music composition and sound, film and video, visual arts, and culinary arts. Applications are reviewed by a jury of alumni, staff, and outside experts, and artists are selected based on quality of work, commitment to practice, and project description. Please choose the application that best describes your work. Two artists may apply together as a collaborative, and should complete one application. Within each application you will be asked to select the session dates best for you. You may choose the family friendly residency only if you will be bringing your children. Family friendly applicants may select additional dates if willing to attend without your children.
Marble House Project does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. For exact dates, more information or questions about the residency, visit our FAQ page. If you still have questions you may contact info@marblehouseproject.org.
APPLICATION FEE: $35
https://marblehouseproject.submittable.com/submit
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NEW VOICES
Humanitas
DEADLINES / FEES:
Regular Deadline: April 1, 2021 ($75)
Extended Deadline: May 17, 2021 ($85)
INFO: In 2010, Executive Director Cathleen Young created NEW VOICES with the vision of discovering, developing and launching a new generation of talented writers under the mentorship of Hollywood showrunners and studio partners.
Every year, NEW VOICES selects up to six writers through a rigorous selection process. Candidates are asked to submit a script and participate in personal interviews. Once matched with a mentor, the writers have three months to further develop their script under their mentors’ supervision. After the script is honed, HUMANITAS sends it to a partnering studio or network executive. The winning writers are given recognition at the annual awards ceremony and are awarded with a $7,500 grant.
We are looking for well-written scripts with compelling stories and developed characters. Any genre is accepted as a 30-minute pilot, 60-minute pilot, or feature film screenplay. We accept only one application and script per year. To be eligible a TV writer can have experience up to and including "Executive Story Editor", and feature writers cannot have earned more than $25,000 writing fictional work for film.
TIMELINE
Announcement of semi-finalists and finalists: August 2021
Annual awards event: September 2021
A SIGNATURE HUMANITAS NEW VOICES STORY MUST:
Challenge us to use our freedom to grow and develop.
Confront us with our individual responsibility.
Examine the consequences of our choices.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
One original 30-minute pilot, 60-minute pilot, or feature film screenplay (name redacted)
Logline
Brief synopsis (1 paragraph)
Depending on what deadline you submit your entry by, there is a different fee to submit to NEW VOICES. Candidates will submit payment with their application.
If you are selected as a Semifinalist, you must prepare:
Letter of interest (1 page, double-spaced)
Resume (no more than 2 pages)
Bio (1 page, double-spaced)