Sesame Street Writers’ Room
Sesame Workshop
APPLICATION PERIOD: Extended to June 19, 2023
INFO: Sesame Workshop Writers’ Room is a writing fellowship from the creators of Sesame Street. And we’re looking for YOU!
Fresh new writing talent from writers who reflect the diversity of our vast audience. Emerging storytellers who are selected to join the Writers’ Room will receive hands-on writing experience guided by Sesame Street veterans and other media industry leaders. Each participant will develop and write a pilot script for their own original kids concept. Past fellows have gone on to develop their own original content with Sesame Workshop, as well as write for Sesame Street and various programs at Nickelodeon, Disney, DreamWorks, and more!
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Up to 8 writers with diverse identities will be selected
Sessions will take place virtually from September thru November, 2023
Learn from industry writers, producers, agents and executives
Learn and complete all steps of creating an original pilot episode script
Includes eight, three-hour sessions on creating original children’s content
Up to two participants will have the opportunity to receive creative development deals and further mentorship
APPLICATION CHECKLIST:
Resume: this can feature your overall work experience, NOT only writing experience
Original script sample: 11-page maximum, it should NOT contain Sesame Street elements, it can be an excerpt from a larger piece you’ve written, it must be kid-friendly content for viewers up to age 12…we’re looking for great characters and stories that inspire kids to be smarter, stronger and kinder!
Personal statement: tell us about yourself, for example, why you want to write for children’s educational media, how your experiences influence the stories you tell, why you value diversity/representation in children’s media, etc. (up to 250 words)
More info on your script: what’s the bigger picture/idea of your script sample? (up to 100 words)
ELIGIBILITY CHECK LIST:
Participants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Participants must be 21+ years old
No extensive media writing experience, such as having written more than six episodes for a network or cable scripted/narrative series
Participants must be able to attend and complete writing assignments for all 8 sessions, which will be held virtually from September to November 2023
sesameworkshop.org/our-work/fellowships/writers-room/
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BRIClab: Film + TV residency
BRIC
DEADLINE: May 8, 2023
INFO: BRIClab is a multi-disciplinary residency program created to advance opportunities for visual artists, performers, and media makers.
The BRIClab: Film + TV residency track incubates innovative and ambitious documentary filmmakers working on short form, episodic, or feature length non-fiction films. Three residencies will be awarded to create opportunities for emerging to mid-career filmmakers.
RESIDENCY BENEFITS:
A stipend of $2,500.
Up to $6,000 towards production cost (expenses must be pre-approved and documented via invoices and receipts).
Access to courses through BRIC's Media Education program at no fee.
Access to BRIC production studios and post-production resources.
A mentor with industry experience relevant to your project, selected in collaboration with BRIC staff.
A collaborative cohort community with group critiques and access to BRIC networking events.
A public presentation of your work upon completion of the program.
Professional development workshops tailored to the cohort’s interests and needs.
WHO SHOULD APPLY:
You must be:
An emerging to mid-career documentary filmmaker based in New York City, 18 years of age or older, with completed work samples to share. By emerging to mid-career, BRIC means an artist at the early stages of their career with at least one professional film/project completed, not including student films.
Willing to present work and participate in the final screening event, in Spring 2024.
An individual artist and/or a creative team of two.
Either not employed by BRIC full-time, or a non-salaried BRIC staffer who works fewer than 500 hours/year.
We are interested in:
Documentary projects of all lengths (short/feature/series).
Thoroughly-researched, original concepts.
A detailed breakdown of budget and the various ways that the project will maximize the use of BRIC facilities and resources, including edit rooms and editing computers, screening room, desk space, and meeting space.
A specific production timeline leading up to a public screening in Spring 2024. This can be the final project or a works in progress cut.
Films can be in any language; if not in English, work must be subtitled.
STAGES OF PRODUCTION: Open to projects in all stages of production, though a clear production timeline should be presented to include project completion/work- in-progress screening by spring 2024. If proposing a feature length film or episodic series, most footage should already be captured. Shorts in development are eligible, though access should be secured and a clear vision for the project articulated. Post-production should not be complete.
SELECTION PROCESS: BRIClab is prioritizing applications from disabled, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ artists, as part of BRIC’s ongoing commitment towards addressing systemic inequities in creative fields and industries, and as part of efforts to expand access for disabled artists, audiences, and staff. We interpret disability broadly and include neurodiversity, chronic illness, mental health disabilities, and invisible disabilities, as well as disabilities that affect mobility, sight, and hearing. No one will be asked to verify their disability in any way, and we understand disclosure can be a complicated and personal decision.
BRIClab review panels reflect BRIC’s values and artists, and will be inclusive of disabled, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ reviewers. Panels are made up of BRIC staff, alumni artists, and active participants in relevant fields. Evaluation will be based on how the goals of the proposed projects match up with resources available; relevant work samples; and the creation of diverse and representative cohorts. Artists will receive final word from BRIC by the end of June 2023.
bricartsmedia.org/briclab/briclab-film-tv
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Writers Exchange Programme
Warner Bros. Discovery / Wall to Wall / Royal Exchange Theatre
DEADLINE: May 8, 2023
INFO: New programme alert! Are you a writer for stage based in the North of England looking to break into TV?
Warner Bros. Discovery, Wall to Wall and the Royal Exchange Theatre are looking for 5 writers to take part in our Writers Exchange Programme.
Successful applicants will write a one-hour TV pilot script with the support of a professional Script Editor from Wall to Wall, as well one-to-one meetings with a Dramaturg from the Royal Exchange Theatre to discuss their stage work and receive expert advice.
Five writers will be selected to embark on the six-month scheme where they will be supported to develop their writing for screen and stage. This bespoke development opportunity will provide a rare insight into how the TV industry works with guidance and support from the WBITVP production company, Wall to Wall North, while further nurturing their writing for stage with the Royal Exchange Theatre.
During the programme, a unique package of workshops and bespoke development opportunities will be offered. Successful writers will work towards writing a one-hour TV pilot script, giving them the opportunity to experience the collaborative process with the support of a professional Script Editor. In addition, the writers will be offered two one-to-one meetings with a Dramaturg from the Royal Exchange Theatre, where they will have the opportunity to discuss their stage work and receive expert advice and feedback.
PROGRAM CRITERIA:
To be eligible, applicants must:
Currently reside in the North of England - defined as Yorkshire and Humber, North-West and North-East England.
Be at least 18 years old
Not have any screen credits (TV/Feature Film) at the time of applying
To be selected for the programme, applicants will need further demonstrate through the expression of interest and writing sample* that they:
Have a distinctive voice and a drive to tell ambitious stories that will connect with a wide audience.
Have an interest in writing for screen and a commitment to forging a career as a writer across media.
Would tangibly benefit from the opportunity of structured support and a bespoke developmental journey.
*The sample can be an extract from a longer piece. Please note that if selected for the longlist, you will be asked to submit a full length piece of work, this can be the complete version of the extract or a different piece of work.
You can apply for The Writers Exchange Programme by answering the questions using the submittable form below.
PROGRAM TIMELINE:
Submission window: 18 April 2023 – 8 May 2023
Shortlisted applicants notified: 22 May 2023
Deadline to submit longer piece of writing: midday 26 May 2023
Final Interviews: 19 June 2023 – 20 June 2023
Final outcomes: Week beginning 21 June 2023
Training programme kicks off (9 sessions throughout the period of 6 months): 13 July 2023
*Subject to change
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE:
Writers will need to be available for in person sessions* at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester** on the following dates:
13th & 14th July – SESSION ONE – afternoon of 13th to evening of 14th July
18th August – SESSION TWO
15th September – SESSION THREE
20th October – SESSION FOUR
17th November – SESSION FIVE
18th December – SESSION SIX
warner-access.com/programs/wbd-access-writers-exchange-programme
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50TH ANNIVERSARY FELLOWSHIPS FOR ARTISTS OF COLOR
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA)
DEADLINE: May 15, 2023
APPLICATION FEE: $30
INFO: Conceived during VCCA’s 50th anniversary year in 2021 and established in 2022, the 50th Anniversary Fund provides free first-time VCCA residencies for 50 artists of color a year.
Each 50th Anniversary Fellow receives a free residency of up to two weeks at Mt. San Angelo, VCCA’s artist residency program in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. All VCCA residencies include a private studio, a private bedroom with en-suite bath, three prepared meals each day, and access to a community of more than 20 other artists in residence.
APPLICATION DETAILS:
Eligibility: Artists of color (writers, visual artists, and composers) who have not previously been in residence at VCCA
Length of Fellowship: Up to two weeks with flexible scheduling
Next available for:
Winter 2024
Residencies Available: January 2 – April 30, 2024
Application Deadline: May 15, 2023
Notification by: August 31, 2023
To be considered as a 50th Anniversary Fellow, complete the “Application for Mt. San Angelo Residencies, VCCA in Virginia,” selecting your fellowship interest in Question 2.
* If the application fee presents a significant barrier to application, please write to vcca@vcca.com by May 10, 2023, to request an application fee waiver.
VCCA intends the term artist of color to broadly include those creating original work in a wide variety of literary, visual art, and/or musical/sound disciplines who self-identify as part of one or more of these U.S. census groups: American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian; Black or African American; Hispanic or Latinx; Middle Eastern or North African; Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; Multi-Racial. If you have a question about whether VCCA’s studio spaces would be suitable to the nature of your creative work, please write to Artists Services at vcca@vcca.com in advance of the deadline.
Applicants must submit an online application by the deadline, complete with recent work samples, a project description, and a variety of biographical and logistical details. VCCA no longer requires letters of recommendation. Applicants will be considered for a VCCA residency and as many funding opportunities for which they are eligible.
vcca.com/apply/fully-funded-fellowships/50th-anniversary-fellowships-for-artists-of-color/
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Marble House Project artist residency
Marble House Project
DEADLINE: May 31, 2023
APPLICATION FEE: $35.00
INFO: Marble House Project is a multidisciplinary artist residency program (ie: Fiction, Non Fiction, Poetry, Playwriting/Screenwriting, Film and Video, etc.) 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. 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.
RESIDENCY DATES FOR 2024:
March 5th - 26th
April 2nd - April 23rd
April 30th - May 21st
May 28th - June 18
September 17th - October 8th
October 15th - November 4th
ABOUT THE RESIDENCY:
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. The residency is an opportunity to develop and carry out practices of mutual support, group conversation, and to cultivate adaptive relationships with the environment. This can take the form of discussions with guest multidisciplinary artists, thinkers, and activists and other individual and group activities that benefit our community of residents.
Residents will be paired and asked to cook for shared dinners three times over the course of their residency, Monday-Friday. . Each session culminates with a short video interview and artists are invited to share their work with our community and each other. 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 and staff. 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.
marblehouseproject.submittable.com/submit
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THE 2023 GEORGIA LIST
The Black List
DEADLINE: June 15, 2023
INFO: The Georgia List is a new opportunity for all writers with close ties to the state of Georgia to submit their feature scripts, pilots, plays, and musicals. The Black List has partnered with Collective Moxie and Trilith Studios–with support from additional partners 3Arts Entertainment, Fifth Season (formerly Endeavor Content), Content Talent South, the Alliance Theatre, and Art Farm at Serenbe–to identify and curate a list of the ten best unproduced features, pilots, plays, and musicals from writers with a connection to Georgia.
Writers who are new to the Black List may request a fee waiver for one free month of hosting and one free evaluation. 75 fee waivers will be distributed in order of request. When requesting a fee waiver, writers will have to disclose what their close tie to Georgia is, and the Black List and partners will have the right to approve or reject each request based on eligibility.
After submissions close on June 15, 2023, representatives from each supporting partner will read the shortlisted feature scripts, pilots, plays, and musicals and provide input on which scripts show the most promise. The final ten writers on the Georgia List will be announced at the 2023 Georgia Summit in October 2023.
The writers on the Georgia List will meet with managers from 3Arts and Content Talent South for possible representation, and executives from Fifth Season for a potential development deal. The Alliance Theater will mount a staged reading of one of the scripts on the List.
Two writers from the List will also become Artists in Residence at the Art Farm at Serenbe. These two writers will each receive a $10,000 grant and mentorship from Jamie Linden (WE ARE MARSHALL, DEAR JOHN).
IMPORTANT DEADLINES:
October 20, 2022 - Submissions open on blcklst.com
May 14, 2023 - Purchase deadline for paid evaluations / Deadline to use Fee Waiver
June 15, 2023 - Submission deadline
June 16, 2023 - Shortlist writers notified
September 16, 2023 - Georgia List writers notified
October 2023 - Announce List at 2023 Georgia Summit
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Writers who submit to the Georgia List must have a close tie to the state of Georgia. Close ties to the state can include but are not limited to:
The writer is from the state of Georgia
The writer grew up in the state of Georgia
The writer currently lives in the state of Georgia
The writer went to college in the state of Georgia
The writer is a part time resident of the state of Georgia
The writer has spent significant time with family in the state of Georgia