Writers’ Access Support Staff Training Program
The Writers Guild Foundation
APPLICATION PERIOD: April 5 - May 10, 2021
INFO: TV writers and producers Tanya Saracho (Vida), Mike Royce (One Day at a Time), and Liz Hsiao Lan Alper (Day of the Dead) have partnered with the Writers Guild Foundation to launch the Writers’ Access Support Staff Training Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative to support the full inclusion and employment of underrepresented groups in the television industry.
The program’s mission is to provide writers who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled writers, and writers over the age of 50, with tools and education to become a writers’ assistant and script coordinator, ultimately resulting in meaningful employment opportunities. These positions have historically been an invaluable way to learn the writing process first-hand, with the ultimate goal of getting a writing job.
Graduates of the program will be included in an ongoing list of trained writers’ assistants and script coordinators (WA/SCs) primarily from underrepresented groups, which will be made available to studios, networks and showrunners, in order to increase the pool of eligible hires. By offering this opportunity to writers who are typically excluded from the writers’ room, we hope to increase representation among television writers, and capture stories from all corners of the human experience.
Applicants will be reviewed by a committee of television creators, executive producers, and showrunners, and writers who previously worked as WA/SCs, including Saracho, Royce and Alper, along with Steven Canals (Pose), Sera Gamble (You), Jenniffer Gomez (Vida), Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz (Love Life), Lindsey Villarreal (Resident Evil), Prentice Penny (Insecure), Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (The Carmichael Show), Brian Tanen (Love, Victor), Liz Tigelaar (Little Fires Everywhere), Danny Chun (The Office) and Sanjay Shah (Central Park).
https://www.wgfoundation.org/programs/writers-access-support-staff-training-program
_____
TV PILOT SCREENWRITING COMPETITION
Launch Pad
DEADLINES:
Late: April 7, 2021
Final: May 9, 2021
INFO: The Launch Pad Competitions have led to more signings, success stories and careers than any other screenwriting competition. With nearly a decade of experience in promoting up-and-coming writers, The Launch Pad Competition has firmly established itself as the premier hub for Hollywood to discover fresh voices and new ideas. We advocate for all of our Top 100 finalists, working with them to share their work with the right industry members to advance their career.
Our prestigious juries of industry members include managers, agents, producers and executives at companies across Hollywood. We also offer exclusive partnerships with management and production companies to give writers an extra leg up.
Through these partnerships, as well as our exclusive mentorship opportunities, we seek to provide as many avenues towards success as possible. No competition will do more to help all of their finalists take the next steps in their careers, and no competition has had as much success in helping writers break into the industry. Enter now for a chance to join this tradition of Launch Pad success.
We are committed to helping writers take meaningful steps in their career, and there is nothing more important in developing your craft than thorough, in-depth notes from a trusted source. We are proud to offer our Feedback Notes program, providing 1-2 pages of in-depth notes on your competition entry, with insight into the story, characters, writing and commercial potential.
https://tblaunchpad.com/competitions/pilot/
_____
DIVERSE VOICES SCREENWRITING LAB
WeScreenplay
DEADLINE: April 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/
_____
NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program
National Hispanic Media Coalition
DEADLINE: April 16, 2021 at 11:59pm
INFO: For nearly twenty years, the NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program has helped launch the careers of more than 200 Latinx writers.
Ten diverse Latinx writers nationwide are selected for a five-week intense writers lab. At the end of the program, these writers will have a half an hour original series pilot, which they will pitch to industry leaders, beginning with our partners at ABC & NBC. Over the 5-week duration writers work with a professional writing mentor, meet and speak with professional industry writers, and build a community of Latinx writers. The program is officially conducted virtually.
Our writers have worked on shows that can be viewed on Netflix, CW, NBCUniversal, HBOMax, Hulu, ViacomCBS, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more.
HOW TO APPLY: Complete an online application, a Walt Disney Television and NBCUniversal Release form, submit one writing sample of any type to include, plays, pilots, specs and books in PDF format. Television scripts are preferred. Please note that writing teams are ineligible. You must be 18 or over to apply.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
Writing sample in PDF format (only one can be uploaded)
Resume or bio in PDF or DOC format
Statement of interest explaining why you want to write for a series, in PDF or DOC format
Signed Walt Disney Television and NBCUniversal release forms in PDF or DOC format (be sure to download the forms from this page, complete, sign, scan and upload to your application)
_____
@BenTheWritersRoom
DEADLINE: April 30, 2021
INFO: @BenTheWritersRoom is an intimate 4-month, virtual TV pilot writing workshop for underrepresented writers of color and LGBTQ+ storytellers shepherded by writer, producer, and showrunner Ben Cory Jones.
The goal of @BenTheWritersRoom is simple: to train and equip new writers with an expertly crafted script that not only meets current industry standards, but also serves as a viable calling card to forge their path as a professional writer.
In the workshop, writers will learn how to clearly and articulately pitch a series concept, structure and write a pilot, give and receive notes in a virtual writers’ room setting, and how table reads operate. They will also gain insight into what it takes for a series to be developed, produced, and run from the ground up. Every other work session, Ben Cory will invite a guest Showrunner to join the session. During the last 30-45 minutes of the meeting they will speak to the writers, offering personal and invaluable insight into the business and the craft of writing.
At the end of the program, a panel of showrunners will read and evaluate scripts. The script which garners the highest rating will receive a “live” table read where their words will be brought to life by celebrity actors and actresses before a room of industry leaders in Los Angeles.
Who can apply?
Writers of all genres (comedy, drama or dramedy) and formats (playwriters, web-series creators, reality TV writers/producers, etc.) are welcome to apply. Requirements that must be met are as followed:
Applicant must be a writer of color or an LGBTQ+ writer
Applicant must be over the age of 25
Applicant must not have ever been paid or garnered profits as a professional writer in any capacity
Application Materials
One-page bio. 400 words max. (Save Document as FirstNameLastName_Bio)
One paragraph synopsis of a feature film based on a real life experience. The writer must also specify the feature type. Ex: Comedy, Drama, Dramedy, Horror, Sci-fi, Rom-com, etc). 200 words max. (Save Document as FirstNameLastName_Synopsis)
One-page resume or CV (Save Document as FirstNameLastName_Resume)
Link to one of the following: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
Signed “Submission Agreement Form”(Save Document as FirstNameLastName_SubmissionAgreement)
Writing Sample: First 15 pages of a previously written movie or TV script (this sample should be separate from the synopsis you are writing for this workshop). (Save Document as FirstNameLastName_WritingSample)
https://www.benthewritersroom.com/2021-cycle-3-application
_____
2021-2022 Writers Mentoring Program
ViacomCBS
DEADLINE: May 1, 2021 by 11:59pm PT
INFO: In its sixteen years, over 100 emerging diverse writers have graduated from the ViacomCBS Writers Mentoring Program. Over 75 careers have been launched. The goal of the program is to positively impact the presence of diverse writers throughout the industry.
There are many different paths writers can follow to get their first foothold in being hired in television. As part of its ongoing commitment to create additional access for writers of diverse backgrounds ViacomCBS’ Office of Global Inclusion has launched a different kind of writers program which highlights one of those paths.
The focus of this eight month 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. The Writers Mentoring Program is not employment and there is no monetary compensation. It is, instead, a structured program of career development, support, and personal access to executives and the decision-making processes, with the goal of preparing aspiring writers for later employment opportunities in television. Each participant will be teamed with an executive mentor.
A ViacomCBS 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. Once a week, participants will be invited to attend a small workshop-style meeting with various ViacomCBS show runners and other industry professionals. Speakers include executive producers, agents, managers, development and current executives and show runners. The purpose of these gatherings is for participants to gain a better understanding of how the business works from many different perspectives as well as creating the opportunity to make critical networking connections.
Another important part of the program is the opportunity for each participant to spend time observing in a writers room, as well as in the ViacomCBS current and/or development departments. Each participant will have help in creating a rigorous career action plan and there will be on-going support in evaluating and achieving those goals. Another important benefit of the program is the development of a close-knit peer support group that will sustain participants through the program and beyond.
The ViacomCBS Writers Mentoring Program helps aspiring writers to understand the unwritten rules of breaking in and moving up. It is a combination of mentoring and networking opportunities. Program opportunities such as mentoring, workshops, and observing can be scheduled around participants’ existing work commitments.
In order for a participant to get the most out of the Program a meaningful commitment of time and effort are required. It has been found that in order to derive the greatest benefit from the program, participants should be available to:
1) attend a once a week (evening) workshop and
2) attend meetings or observe in various situations for a minimum of five full days (not necessarily in sequence) over the course of the eight-month program.
The primary focus of the ViacomCBS Writers Mentoring Program is to provide access and opportunities for talented and motivated diverse writers. Aspiring diverse writers with a strong desire to write for ViacomCBS television series are encouraged to apply.
You must be 21 or older to be eligible. All completed application materials must be received between March 1, 2021 and May 1, 2021. Any submissions received before March 1st or after May 1st, 2021 will not be considered. No hand delivered submissions will be accepted. Finalists will be notified in mid September 2021 (or such later date as may be determined by ViacomCBS). The program is scheduled to begin in October 2021 and continues through April 2022. ViacomCBS reserves the right to make adjustments to program schedule as necessary.