TV RETREAT & FELLOWSHIP
CineStory Foundation
DEADLINE: December 3, 2023
SUBMISSION FEE: $90
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:
May 3 – 7, 2024
RETREAT FEE:
The retreat fee for the 2023 Feature Retreat is $2,200 for individual participants and $3,000 for teams (who participate in all retreat events as a team).
The retreat fee covers meals (a light breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and all retreat events, including informal sessions, one-on-one meetings, social gatherings (cocktail parties, etc.).
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Quarterfinalists – Late January
Semifinalists – Late February
Finalists – Mid 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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STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers' Intensive
STARZ / NALIP / NFMLA
DEADLINE: December 4th, 2023 at 7:59 pm PT
INFO: NALIP and NFMLA have returned with STARZ for another year of STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers' Intensive. The STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers' Intensive provides a unique platform for emerging talents to cultivate their skills and refine their spec scripts with the guidance of esteemed mentors, executives, and established writers.
As part of the 2023 edition of STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers' Intensive, a total of 10 talented writers will be carefully chosen to embark on the first phase of the program. During this stage, they will have the invaluable opportunity to be mentored by seasoned industry professionals while simultaneously crafting an episode treatment and pitch.
The program opens for submissions on Monday, November 13th, 2023 at 11am PT and the deadline to submit is Monday,
TIMELINE:
Call for entries closes December 4th, 2023 at 7:59 pm PT
Participants announcement January 27th, 2024
PROGRAM DATES:
Selected participants must be available for the duration of the following dates:
Phase 1: February 5th, 2024 to February 16th, 2024
Phase 2: March 4th, 2024 to March 29th
BENEFITS:
$5,000USD grant awarded to the four participants who move on to phase 2 of the program
Opportunity to meet industry professionals and creatives
Feedback from top executives on your pitch (phase 1 participants)
Feedback from top executives on your spec episode script (phase 2 participants only)
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
Phase One
(2 weeks for participants at approximately 16 hours each week, primarily taking place Monday - Friday)
One week intensive of meetings and sessions with industry creatives and professionals
Participants work with feedback and support to develop an episode treatment and pitch
Culminates in a STARZ Jury hearing pitches, reading treatments and making final cohort selection
Phase Two
(4 weeks for participants at approximately 8 hours each week, primarily taking place Monday - Friday)
Meetings with STARZ executives to hone spec script
Feedback from STARZ mentors to refine spec script
Final review and final set of notes for spec script
Pitch of spec script
writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/starz-writers-intensive#about
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OPEN CALL FOR SCRIPT SUBMISSIONS
BBC Writersroom
DEADLINE: December 5, 2023 (by noon)
INFO: BBC Writersroom's Drama Room is a 1-year writer development scheme for writers.
We work with around 12 writers on the Drama Room scheme every year, to develop their craft skills and knowledge of the industry. During the first 6 months of the programme, writers receive workshop sessions exploring character, structure, different mediums of storytelling, practical writing exercises as well as industry masterclasses with writers, producers and agents. There are also networking and ad hoc pitching opportunities (often in continuing drama, audio drama and children’s). The writers are paired up with Script Editors for 9 months to develop an original spec' script, which they focus on for the second half of the programme.
The aim of the scheme is to encourage and develop the best in new drama writing and to give these writers the opportunity to build strong connections with producers and help them gain BBC broadcast commissions.
bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunities/send-a-script
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ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE FELLOWSHIP
Newberry Library
DEADLINE: December 15, 2023
INFO: Newberry Library provides fellowships for writers, artists, and other humanists.
FELLOWSHIPS:
The Arthur and Lila Weinberg Artist-in-Residence Fellowship for Independent Researchers
This fellowship is for writers, journalists, filmmakers, visual and performing artists, and other humanists who wish to use the Newberry’s collection to further their creative work. Preference is given to individuals working on projects that focus on social justice or reform.
Stipend: $3,000/month
Length: 1 month
Who can apply: Applicants must be working outside of traditional academic settings.
newberry.org/research/artists-in-residence
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WIF Writer Fellowship
Women in Film
DEADLINE: January 8, 2024
INFO: Created in honor of our 50th year, the WIF Fellowships reflect our commitment to advancing the careers of women, nonbinary, and trans people across all areas of the industry.
This year-long program assigns each Fellow an intimate cohort of those on the same career path. Each cohort is teamed up with Mentors who will help guide them through group mentoring sessions, and with Guest Speakers who will present workshops and panels aimed to demystify the more nuanced areas of the industry. Connections are made to cohorts of other disciplines through intentional networking opportunities throughout the year.
With an eye on career advancement, each Fellow will also receive individualized career strategy sessions throughout their year in the program to identify immediate steps that can be taken to help the Fellow achieve their goals or brainstorm the best professional paths forward.
All those accepted to the Episodic Lab will become WIF Fellows with additional Writer Fellows accepted through both the Episodic Lab and Fellowship applicant pools (applicants only need to apply through one of the applications — please see the FAQs below for more information). Though our Financing Intensive is currently on hiatus, we will include many aspects of that program within our Producer Fellowship.
It is our belief that a true culture shift includes support and community for every entertainment industry role. To that end, if you don’t see your role represented in the list of application options, we still encourage you to apply.
FELLOWSHIP SPECIFICS: Each Fellow will meet within their cohort for a year of master classes, networking, and community building. Fellows will also receive 1:1 career strategy sessions and mentoring from a professional with extensive experience in their field, either in groups or individually (depending on Mentor availability). Fellows are expected to have at least six sessions with their mentor(s) within a 12-month period. Dates and locations will be determined solely by mentors, and may continue to be virtual for the time being.
REQUIREMENTS:
You must be local to Los Angeles in order to participate.
You must have a clear career focus that you can articulate in your application.
We anticipate the WIF Fellowship as having both virtual and in-person elements, some of which may be mandatory. In order to attend in-person events, fellows must be able to provide proof of current vaccination, subject to CDC guidelines relating to boosters, and willing to test for COVID-19 prior to events.
FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Episodic Lab – all selected participants will also be Writer Fellows
Writer Fellowship – we will provide fellowship opportunities to a small group of applicants that are not accepted into the Episodic Lab and/or apply directly to the Fellowship. Please see the FAQs below for more information.