WRITERS’ ACCESS SUPPORT STAFF TRAINING PROGRAM
Writers Guild Foundation
DEADLINE: June 6, 2022
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.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
When is it?
The next session will take place August to November 2022. Classes will be scheduled weekly over a 3-month period. The application window will open on May 5th.
Where is it?
Current sessions are hosted online via Zoom.
How much does it cost?
This program is free thanks to financial support from WarnerMedia.
Am I eligible?
This program is designed to uplift underrepresented voices in the television industry. BIPOC writers, LGBTQ+ writers, disabled writers, and writers over the age of 50 are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be interested in pursuing employment in a support staff role.
Who are the instructors?
Sessions will be led by instructors Debbie Ezer (The Good Doctor) and Clay Lapari (Community), who have extensive experience as writers’ assistants and script coordinators for television. The program also features several guest showrunner lecturers to discuss what they look for in a support staff.
What information will I need to provide in the application?
If you intend to apply, please be ready to share the following information:
Your resume
A brief personal statement (500 words or less)
Your writing experience, preferred genres, and creative influences
How many writers will this serve?
16 writers will be selected each cycle.
wgfoundation.org/programs/writers-access-support-staff-training-program
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The Disruptors FELLOWSHIP
The Center for Cultural Power
DEADLINE: Extended to June 10, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST
INFO: The Disruptors Fellowship is an unprecedented fellowship supporting emerging television writers of color who identify as transgender, non-binary, disabled, or undocumented/formerly undocumented. This 3-month fellowship includes mentorship, community building, professional development, master classes and a $6,000 stipend.
The Disruptors Fellowship will provide master classes in TV drama writing, TV comedy writing, pitching, and intellectual property. Fellows will have an opportunity to work on their TV pilot, mentorship from a TV writer, insights from industry professionals, a community of creatives with aligned values.
Yes, you will get paid to work on that project you've been putting off, get mentored by a professional in the industry, and be part of a community of creators!
Participation in this fellowship will not automatically ensure participants will land writing jobs at the end of the fellowship experience. However participants will excel, network, and overall, be empowered as writers in a competitive field to start up and maintain current projects as well as be equipped with language to navigate this complex field.
Our fellowship seeks to incubate writers of color who identify as either undocumented as well as formerly undocumented, transgender, non-binary, gender non conforming and/or disabled.
We encourage screenwriters of color who identify as: queer, womxn, and are above the ages of 21 to apply.
FELLOWSHIP SCHEDULE:
2022 Fellows Notified: Late July 2022
Fellowship Opening Session: August 11, 7-9pm PST
Weekly Thursday Sessions: August 11 through October 11, 7-8:30pm PST*
Virtual Showcase 1: Thursday, November 10, 7pm-9pm PST
Virtual Showcase 2: Thursday, November 17, 7pm-9pm PST
Closing Celebration: Saturday, November 19
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TV RETREAT & FELLOWSHIP
CineStory Foundation
DEADLINE: June 26, 2022
INFO: The CineStory Foundation believes in helping writers find their voice. We’re entering a world in which the ways to tell stories are limitless. Those stories always begin with a blank page. Our goal with the Television Retreat is to educate writers about the unique world of TV storytelling, from the collaborative nature of writing for networks or streaming channels to the independent realm of creating and shooting series for the web.
Structured like the CineStory Feature Retreat, the CineStory Television Retreat takes place over three days in the beautiful mountains of Idyllwild, California. Attendees receive three one-on-one, one and a half hour sessions with CineStory mentors. During these sessions, mentors will give attendees feedback on improving the craft of the script(s) they submitted in advance and will also discuss with writers various aspects of the business of TV writing to help writers better understand TV writers’ various roles in the entertainment industry.
TV writers also will experience what it’s like to sit in a professional writers room run by an experienced mentor. In addition, mentors and writers will gather for meals, drinks, screenings, and other special events.
RETREAT DATES:
April 29 – May 2, 2023
DEADLINES & SUBMISSION FEES:
Early Deadline – June 26, 2022 ($50)
Regular Deadline – July 27, 2022 ($69)
Late Deadline – September 5, 2022 ($81)
Extended Late Deadline – October 10, 2022 ($88)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Quarterfinalists – Early January
Semifinalists – Mid February
Finalists – Early March
Division Winners – Early April
Fellowship Winner – Mid April
TV DIVISIONS:
Original Drama – 1 hour series
Original Comedy – 30 minute series
Original Sci Fi/Fantasy – 1 hour series
Original Children/Family – 30 min series
Pilots only. For division details, please visit our TV Submissions page.
cinestory.org/retreat-fellowship-contests/tv-retreat-fellowship-contest/
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2022 TV PILOT CONTEST
Shore Script
DEADLINES / FEES:
Regular: July 31, 2022 (1 HR $55 / 1/2 HR $50)
Final: Aug 31, 2022 (1 HR $65 / 1/2 HR $60)
INFO: WE HAVE HELPED LAUNCH THE CAREERS OF NUMEROUS WRITERS THROUGH OUR TV PILOT CONTEST. THIS INCLUDES DEALS WITH SONY, YOUTUBE, CBS, & HULU.
OUR TV PILOT CONTEST IS SPLIT INTO 1/2 & 1HR CATEGORIES.
WE ACCEPT ALL GENRES. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU HAVE A BIG BUDGET EPIC OR CONTAINED DRAMA, EACH TV PILOT IS JUDGED EQUALLY. WE, AND OUR ROSTER OF OVER 150 OF THE MOST RESPECTED FILMMAKERS IN THE INDUSTRY, ARE LOOKING FOR WRITERS WITH ORIGINAL VOICES.