NBC TV WRITERS PROGRAM
NBCUniversal Launch
DEADLINE: March 7, 2023 by 11:59pm PST
INFO: The NBC TV Writers Program is our premier program for emerging diverse episodic television writers with the goal of creating the next generation of showrunners and content creators.
The program, which replaces the long-standing Writers on the Verge, develops diverse writers whose distinct points of view and lived experiences provide unique perspectives to the writers’ room.
During the eight-month program, writers develop an original pilot to which they retain all rights. They are paired with NBCUniversal programming executives from the NBCU Television and Streaming portfolio and Universal Studio Group who mentor them, as they write their original pilot and polish samples for staffing consideration.
Writers also attend weekly evening workshops to enhance their creative and professional skills, including branding, pitching, and interviewing, as well as expand on their knowledge of the ever-changing television landscape. Additionally, they have opportunities to learn from and build relationships with industry professionals, including network and studio executives, showrunners, agents, and managers.
At the conclusion of the program, participating writers will be considered for available staff writer positions on NBCU Television and Streaming as well as Universal Studio Group series.
TARGETED PROGRAM LAUNCH: September 2023
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must be authorized to work legally in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not offered to program participants.
Applicants must be at least 21 years of age as of September 1, 2023.
Entertainment industry experience is not required.
While in the program, applicants must reside in Los Angeles as weekly workshops are in-person.
Writers who have received a staff writer credit on more than one streaming, cable, or broadcast television scripted series are ineligible and cannot apply.
MISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Those applying must submit a complete application package, which includes the following items:
APPLICATION must be completed in its entirety. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
2 ORIGINAL PILOTS that capture the writer’s unique tone, style, and point of view. Applicants retain ownership of these 2 pre-existing pilots which will be used solely for review and evaluation purposes, as part of the application process.
Applicants must select and designate one pilot to prioritize for the first round of review and consideration. Should an applicant proceed to the next round, their second submitted pilot will be reviewed.
Submitted pilots should adhere to the following:
(1) For comedy pilots, follow a four-act structure or Cold Open + three-act structure; for drama pilots, follow a six-act structure or Cold Open + 5 act structure;
(2) Must be between 25-45 pages in length for 30-minute formats (typically comedy) or between 45-60 pages for 60-minute format (typically drama);
(3) Have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
The applicant must be the sole owner of all original material submitted.
All script reads are blind so only provide the title on the title page of the pilots. The applicant’s name, email, address, phone number, or any other identifying information should not appear in the filename, on the title page, or any other page of the script.
RELEASE FORMS must be completed, signed, and dated, in order for submissions to be accepted. Incomplete release forms will result in disqualification. Digital signatures are accepted.
RÉSUMÉ outlining chronological paid employment history (may include entertainment and non-entertainment positions) and any writing-related honors/awards. Positions must have been held within the past 15 years (two pages or less). Only list compensated positions with the exception of entertainment industry internships and full-time volunteer work at non-profits. If listing writing projects, only include projects that were produced and/or optioned. The applicant’s résumé will provide us an understanding of their work history and insight into their individual life experiences.
PERSONAL ESSAYS articulate the applicant’s unique perspective and background as it relates to their storytelling. Applicant must answer both (2) essay questions, and each essay must not exceed 400 words.
(OPTIONAL) LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION from entertainment industry professionals who have read the applicant’s material and can comment on the applicant’s writing ability. Letters of recommendation are strongly encouraged, but not required. Acceptable letters must be on business or personal letterhead, dated in the current calendar year and include the author’s title and/or industry affiliation. No more than two letters per application will be accepted. Letters must accompany the submission and may not be submitted separately via email or mail. Any recommendation letters emailed or mailed to the Program separate from the writer’s application will not be accepted. Letter(s) from agents, managers, attorneys, etc. are considered a conflict of interest and will not be considered.
Any candidate who does not meet the aforementioned criteria will be disqualified.
NOTIFICATION: Due to the volume of submissions received, only those applicants who are selected to participate in the program will be notified. Applicants who are not selected will not be notified. Please check our social media pages for updates on the selection process. Selections will be announced a few weeks before the Program commences.
nbcuniversallaunch.com/tv-writers-program
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2024 Writer in Residence (WiR) program
Hedgebrook
DEADLINES / FEES:
By March 7, 2023 (by midnight, PST) / $45
From March 8-14, 2023 (by midnight, PST) / $55
INFO: Hedgebrook’s Writer-in-Residence Program supports writers from all over the world for residencies of two to four weeks. The cottage, all meals, and the entire residency experience at Hedgebrook is free to selected writers. Travel is not included and is the responsibility of the writer to arrange and pay for. Up to 6 writers can be in residence at a time, each housed in their own handcrafted cottage. They spend their days in solitude – writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on the property or on nearby Double Bluff beach. In the evenings, “The Gathering” is a social time for residents to connect and share over their freshly prepared meals.
Hedgebrook’s mission is to support visionary women-identified writers, 18 and older, whose stories and ideas shape our culture now and for generations to come. Writers must be women, which is inclusive of transgender women and female-identified individuals. Because gender inequity still occurs in all spaces including literary ones, it is part of our explicit mission to support and promote women’s voices. This application is not for alumnae seeking a return stay.
These residencies will take place February to mid-June 2024.
ACCEPTED GENRES:
FICTION
NON-FICTION
PLAYWRITING
POETRY
SCREENWRITING/TV WRITING
SONGWRITING
hedgebrook.org/writers-in-residence
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2023 EPISODIC LAB
Sundance Institute
DEADLINE: March 8, 2023
APPLICATION FEE: $40
INFO: The Episodic Lab is a six-day program that offers writers the opportunity to workshop a pilot script, while developing their writing and pitching skills. Working with accomplished showrunners, nonwriting creative producers, and executives, the Fellows participate in one-on-one story meetings, craft workshops, and simulated writers’ rooms, which together provide an elevated creative strategy for their material from key industry players in positions to advance their projects and careers.
LOCATION: Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah
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.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS: Applicants are required to submit an original pilot script, their bio, a series logline, a series overview, their personal statement, a thematic statement, additional creative questions, and (optional) links to samples of previous work, along with a $40 nonrefundable processing fee. For further details on the application process, please see our FAQ section.
sundance.org/programs/episodic-storytelling/
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EMERGING WRITER FELLOWSHIP
GrubStreet
DEADLINE: March 13, 2023 at 11:59pm EST
INFO: The Emerging Writer Fellowship aims to develop new, exciting voices by providing three writers per year tuition-free access to GrubStreet’s classes and two Muse & the Marketplace summits. Over the course of one year, each Emerging Writer Fellow will attend a combination of seminars and multi-week courses of their choosing, along with a wide selection of Muse & The Marketplace programming, in order to enhance their understanding of craft and the publishing industry.
OVERVIEW:
The Emerging Writer Fellowship will be awarded to three writers who demonstrate a passion for writing, a commitment to developing their writing abilities, and financial need. Any person 18 and older who demonstrates ability and passion for writing is eligible.
The Emerging Writer Fellowship will provide access to each of the following:
4 multi-week courses
4 one-day (6hr) classes
4 three-hour seminars
Access to a wide selection of 2023 and 2024 Muse & the Marketplace conference series programming
Access to GrubStreet's Education Director and/or other program staff members for quarterly (or as-needed) office hours for personalized mentorship. (Not Required)
The fellowship year begins in May, 2023.
WHO SHOULD APPLY:
This fellowship is open to anyone 18 and older with a passion for writing. The fellowship specifically aims to assist writers in need of financial assistance in reaching their writing goals. We particularly encourage writers of color, ethnic minorities, those who identify as LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and other members of communities historically underrepresented by the literary community to apply.
HOW TO APPLY:
The Emerging Writer Fellowship Application Form will require the following:
A sample of your writing that demonstrates your artistic style and voice. 5-10 pages for prose, screenwriting, or playwriting. 3-7 pages for poetry.
A personal statement -- no more than 500 words please! -- which should include the following:
How you envision using the fellowship.
A description of your relationship to writing. By this we mean: what excites you about it? What does it mean to you personally?
How the fellowship will help you in your growth and success as a writer.
Your writing and workshop history (Note: Prior workshop experience at GrubStreet is not required).
grubstreet.org/programs/emerging-writer-fellowship/
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DIVERSE VOICES SCREENWRITING LAB
WeScreenplay
DEADLINES:
Regular: March 15, 2023
Final: April 15, 2023
INFO: Diverse Voices is a dynamic virtual screenwriting lab with a proven track record of helping elevate stories that are told from perspectives that are often underrepresented in film and TV today. This includes writers of color, women writers, writers with disabilities, writers over 40, writers in the LGBTQ+ community, and any other voices that have historically been ignored by Hollywood.
A minimum of 4 winners will be selected to participate in this career-changing lab!
All readers for this lab come from diverse backgrounds, and all entrants will receive a page of FREE written feedback on their script from their first round’s judge.
Over a dozen past winners have been signed, staffed, and optioned as a direct result of their Diverse Voices Lab meetings. Past finalists and winners have signed with companies including Heroes & Villains Entertainment, 3Arts, Zero Gravity, APA, ColorCreative, and more. See some of our past WeScreenplay success stories.
wescreenplay.com/diverse-voices/
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NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program
The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC)
DEADLINE: March 26, 2023
APPLICATION FEE: $0
INFO: For nearly twenty years, the NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program has helped launch the careers of more than 200 Latinx writers.
10 Latinx writers nationwide are selected for a virtual 8-week intense writers lab. At the end of the program, these writers will have either a half-hour or hourlong original series pilot, which they will pitch to industry leaders. Over the 8-week course of the program, writers work with a professional writing mentor, meet and speak with professional industry writers, and connect with a community of Latinx writers.
NHMC graduates have worked on shows that can be viewed on Disney, Netflix, AppleTV+, CW, NBCUniversal, HBOMax, Hulu, Viacom CBS, Amazon Prime, Telemundo and more.
This program is virtual, to run Monday-Friday evenings, and Saturday mornings over the course of the 8 weeks. On-screen participation in all meetings is mandatory.
Virtual Program Run Dates: 5/30/23 – 7/21/23
FAQ:
Do I have to be Latino to apply?
No, the program is open to people of all races and ethnicities.
Is the NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program open to all ages?
No, you must be at least 18 years of age to participate in the program.
Do you have to be a U.S. Citizen to apply to the program?
No.
How much does it cost to apply?
Thanks to our sponsors, the NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program is completely free from the application to the program itself.
What kind of writing sample should be submitted? Is there a length restriction? Can I submit more than one?
Please submit a properly formatted script. We will accept the following:
1-hour (max 59 pages)
Half-hour (max 35 pages)
Feature (max 110 pages)
Only ONE writing sample can be submitted.
Will the judges provide feedback on the work that I submit for my application?
Due to the amount of applications received, judges are unable to provide feedback on submitted work.
Will you return my application materials that were submitted if I am not accepted?
No, any materials submitted will not be returned to the owner.
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New Voices Fellowship
Humanitas
DEADLINES / FEES:
Regular: March 30, 2023 / $45
Final: April 14, 2023 / $50
INFO: The New Voices Fellowship is a four-month mentorship program for emerging television and screenwriters who are exploring the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way. The program identifies and empowers five writers each year who are currently working on a 30- or 60-minute pilot or feature film screenplay. These are stories and people who, for varying reasons, may go overlooked by the traditional marketplace.
Humanitas also recognizes the importance of mentorship and the changing nature of apprenticeship in Hollywood, and how advancement in the film and television industries involves social access and community building.
With that in mind, through mentorship, workshops, conversations on professional development, and networking opportunities, New Voices equips writers with the tools needed to advance their careers. Fellows are paired with a mentor, invited to the September 2023 Humanitas Prizes event, and receive a trophy and $7,500 stipend.
Since 2010, 63 fellows have completed the New Voices program, with many becoming showrunners, producers, directors, and staff writers.
Former New Voices fellows include Will Pascoe (Absentia), J. Holtham (Supergirl, Jessica Jones), Jeanine Daniels (Snowfall), Rashaad Ernesto Greene (The Chi, Searching for Alaska), Carlito Rodriguez (Empire), Emily Silver (Finding Carter), Martin Zimmerman (Ozark), Obiageli Odimegwu (All American), Eric Anthony Glover (Tom Swift), and Eugene Ramos (The Dragon Prince).
PPROGRAM COMPONENTS:
Mentorship: Fellows are paired with award-winning showrunners for one-on-one mentorship focused on their project. Written notes are provided over a series of meetings. Former mentors include: Alan Ball, Jenny Bicks, Janine Sherman Barrois, Scott Z. Burns, Steven Canals, Matt Carlson, Liz Craft, Sarah Fain, Tom Fontana, Gary Glasberg, Gary David Goldberg, Deborah Goodwin, Marc Guggenheim, Hart Hanson, Chris Harris, felicia henderson, Winnie Holzman, David Hudgins, Jason Katims, Jay Kogen, Bill Lawrence, Ali LeRoi, Melanie Marnich, Justin Noble, Nancy Pimental, Rashad Raisani, Robin Schiff, David Shore, Patrick Sean Smith, Robin Swicord, Pam Veasey, Ligiah Villalobos, Ben Watkins, and David Zuckerman.
Conversation & Workshops Series: The Humanitas staff and the New Voices Advisor invite fellows to join a series of conversations and workshops focused on the most pressing issues facing emerging television and screenwriters. Topics have included the art of the pitch, general meetings, networking, representatives, “branding” yourself as a writer, the guilds, first jobs, career longevity tips, and more. Fellows are also encouraged to attend Humanitas public programming efforts like Industry 101 and participate in a mock writers’ room near the conclusion of the fellowships.
Professional Development & Networking: In addition to the community cultivated through the New Voices Conversation and Workshops Series, New Voices aims to present fellows with at least one networking opportunity per year. Once the New Voices Fellowship has concluded, the fellows’ creative materials and contact information are collected in the New Voices Fellowship Talent Guide and distributed to the Humanitas agents and managers network. New Voices Fellows also receive invitations to community events throughout the year.
Stipend: Each fellow receives a $7,500 stipend.
Humanitas Prizes 2023 Event: Fellows will be invited to attend the 2023 Humanitas Prizes Luncheon, which is currently planned as an in-person event in Beverly Hills, California in Autumn 2023.
NEW VOICES FELLOWSHIP CALENDAR:
February - April 2023: Application period
May - July 2023: Script evaluation
August 2023: Finalist interviews and New Voices Fellow announcement
September 2023: New Voices Fellows recognized at Humanitas Prizes event in Beverly Hills
September 2023 - January 2024: Fellowship period
Early 2024: New Voices Live (culminating celebration)
SUBMISSION MATERIALS:
Original 30- or 60-minute pilot, or feature film screenplay
Logline
Brief synopsis (~250 words)
Supplementary materials: bio, resume, and a short artist statement that speaks to the applicant's professional aspirations and why they felt compelled to write the submitted project.
ELIGIBILITY & ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
Applicants must be 21 years of age or older at time of application.
Applicants do not need to be a U.S. permanent resident and/or citizen but must be residing in the US during the fellowship. Humanitas is unable to provide Visa support for writers overseas.
Applicants must be available to participate actively in all dimensions of fellowship programming, including mandatory workshops, virtual gatherings, and virtual public programs.
The New Voices Fellowship is for emerging television and screenwriters who 1) do not have a manager or agent, 2) have not been previously staffed as a writer in a scripted television series’ writers room, and 3) have not otherwise received payment for produced scripted feature film or television writing services prior to the submission period. Writers paid for options on unproduced scripts or for writing services on unproduced treatments, micro-budget features, or on unproduced projects outside the WGA’s jurisdiction and below WGA-established minimums should contact Humanitas with details on their situation to determine eligibility.
Applicants are strongly advised to only submit one application and script per year.
Scripts must be an original work. Adaptations or reimaginings of true events or fictional stories are acceptable; by submitting you acknowledge you have secured all rights needed to adapt any material.
Former semi-finalists and finalists are eligible to reapply so long as they meet all other criteria. Former semi-finalists and finalists are advised that all application materials must have undergone notable revisions, including and especially the script sample if it is the same project as previously submitted.
Previous recipients of the Carol Mendelsohn College Drama Award and David and Lynn Angell College Comedy Award are eligible for the New Voices Fellowship so long as they meet all other eligibility criteria.
Former New Voices Fellows are not eligible to reapply.
Current Humanitas staff and interns are not eligible for the fellowship.
Assessment to determine finalists weighs the quality of the applicant’s script, the script’s relevance to Humanitas mission, and the quality of the applicant’s supplementary materials. All finalists are interviewed on Zoom. These meetings cover the submitted project, career aspirations, and play an essential role in determining who is selected for the annual New Voices Fellowship cohort.
Should a writing team be selected for the fellowship, the stipend will be split evenly amongst the writers.
While the New Voices Fellowship accepts materials from all writers, writers with diverse backgrounds and social identities historically underrepresented in media are highly encouraged to apply.
humanitasprize.org/new-voices-fellowship-2023
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THE WRITERS LAB US 2023
TWL US
DEADLINE: March 31, 2023
FEES:
Standard Entry - $60.00
Member Entry (WIF & Film Fatales) - $40.00
Standard Entry with 1.5-page WeScreenplay Feedback - $145.00
Member Entry with 1.5-page WeScreenplay Feedback (WIF & Film Fatales) - $125.00
INFO: TWL US is a retreat focusing on project, craft and career development for women and non-binary screenwriters 40+. Currently accepting Features and TV Pilots.
The Writers Lab US will be conducted in-person, outside New York City. Writers selected to participate are expected to provide their own transportation to and from New York City. TWL provides transportation between New York City and the retreat itself, along with food and accommodations at the retreat venue.
During the retreat writers undergo deep development work, with revision guidance and career support from the experienced TWL team and some of the industry’s best writers and producers in one-on-one and group sessions.
The Writers Lab US is produced by co-founders Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon, with New York Women in Film & Television. It is presented in collaboration with the Writers Guild of America, East, with in-kind support from The Black List, Falco Ink, Film Fatales, Filmarket Hub, and Roadmap Writers.
It is supported by Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Kate Hall & Gary Lynch.
BENEFITS:
Writers gain:
Individualized feedback, insights and guidance on their selected projects and their craft;
Understanding of industry standards, practices, expectations and predilections, and strategies and resources for navigating them;
A community of peers and a network of relationships that can extend well beyond the program;
Exposure and opportunities beyond the Lab, as well as the resources and year-round supplemental programming of The Writers Lab.
The Lab aims to build skills, confidence and community, and to prepare writers for collaborative work and market demands.
The Writers Lab network of producing, partnering and supporting entities has included:
TWL US co-founders Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon
New York Women in Film & Television
Untamed Stories producers Julia Berg and Ruth Spencer
TWL US Mentors & Speakers: Susan Cartsonis (What Women Want), Lisa Cortés(Precious), Amy Fox (The Conners), Daniela Gonzalez (Good Fear Content), Pamela Gray (A Walk on the Moon), Rita Hsaio (Mulan), Melissa James Gibson (House of Cards), Meg LeFauve (Inside Out), Robina Lord-Stafford (Moonshine), Riva Marker (Beasts of No Nation), Leah Meyerhoff (Film Fatales, I Believe in Unicorns), Gina Prince-Blythewood (The Woman King), Erica Saleh (One of Us is Lying), Tracey Scott Wilson (The Americans), Susan Seidelman(Desperately Seeking Susan), Mary Jane Skalski (The Station Agent), Kiwi Smith (Legally Blonde), Robin Swicord (Memoirs of a Geisha), Frida Torresblanco (Pan's Labyrinth), Pat Verducci (True Crime), Jamie Zelermyer (Focus Features).