Hi everyone,
First off, congratulations to any SAG-AFTRA readers out there! The post-strike world feels weird, doesn’t it?
I just wanted to send out a quick update as, since my last email, the Disney TV writing program and the Warner Bros Discovery Access Writers Program announced their November deadlines.
So here’s a quick rundown of those and all the other rapidly approaching November fellowship deadlines. And as always, good luck!
NOVEMBER DEADLINES:
Black List/Women In Film Episodic Lab (TV): 11/13/23
CAPE New Writers Fellowship (TV): 11/13/23
Nickelodeon Writers Program (TV): 11/15/23
Warner Bros Discovery Access Writers Program (TV): 11/15/23
Disney Entertainment Television Writing Program (TV): 11/17/23
BLACK LIST/WOMEN IN FILM EPISODIC LAB (DUE: 11/13/23)
Four-week development lab funded by The Black List (https://blcklst.com/) and Women in Film (https://womeninfilm.org/), where up to 6 to 8 “promising non-professional television writers who are women, nonbinary, and trans people” will participate in a series of “script development, pitching, peer workshopping sessions, and Master Classes with established writers and industry executives.”
Note: You can apply either through the Black List or the WIF, but each has different deadlines and requirements.
APPLICATIONS OPEN: NOW
DEADLINE: WIF: 11/13/23, Black List: 12/15/23
DATES: 4-week lab with two meetings per week, starts 3/5/24.
LINKS:
WIF: https://womeninfilm.org/updates/episodic-lab-details/
Blacklist: https://blcklst.com/programs/2024-black-list-x-wif-episodic-lab
COST: $40 through WIF (non-members), $30/month hosting fee for Black List
ELIGIBILITY:
Must be the sole and exclusive author of the TV pilot submitted.
You have not received more than $25,000 in aggregate compensation for TV writing work.
Must be available throughout the year for Los Angeles-based events.
SUBMISSION PACKET:
Original Pilot, half-hour or hour-long. Features are not accepted.
Note: You can submit up to three scripts through WIF, but you must submit them with separate applications.
Logline (50 words or less)
Synopsis (250 words or less)
Artist Statement (500 words or less)
Writer Bio (200 words or less)
Writer Resume
CAPE NEW WRITERS FELLOWSHIP: (DUE: 11/13/23)
LA-based program focused on Asian and Pacific Islander writers (but open to writers of all race, color, sexual orientation, etc.), presenting panels, workshops and discussions with writers, producers, agents, managers and executives. Also a writing lab, where each fellow is matched with a high-level industry mentor to help them revise their original script to land their first staff job.
APPLICATIONS OPEN: NOW
DEADLINE: Monday, Nov. 13 - 11:59 PM PST
DATES: March - April 2024 on Monday & Wednesday Evenings (PST)
Typically early spring. Weekday evenings (PT) for appr. 3 hours, twice a week.
LINK: https://www.capeusa.org/cnwf
COST: $65 application fee
ELIGIBILITY:
Applicants should be consistent with CAPE’s mission to champion diversity by educating, connecting, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander artists and leaders in entertainment and media.
Applicants must be 18 years or older.
Applicants cannot have been a staff writer on an episodic program (in any country) or have had a project produced with over $1 million.
Applicants must be able to attend all in-person sessions in Los Angeles. (Transportations and lodging costs won’t be covered.)
Applicants must be able to attend every virtual session on Zoom (held Monday and Wednesday evenings Pacific Time).
All finalists agree to participate in all sessions and meetings.
All applicants should have the legal right to accept paid work in the United States. CAPE does not sponsor or assist with visas
SUBMISSION PACKET:
Complete, original episodic pilot with all identifying information removed. (Under 100 MB)
General release form
Rules & conditions form
Resume (PDF only)
NICKELODEON WRITERS PROGRAM (DUE 11/15/23)
Network-based writers program, offering one year, full-time paid development program for diverse and emerging writers.
Note: there are three different tracks for this program, so you have to choose one: Preschool content (audience age 2-6), Kid’s content (age 6-11), Preteen/Young Adult content (age 11-17). However, your samples do not have to reflect these age groups at all.
APPLICATIONS OPEN: NOW
DEADLINE: 11/15/23
DATES: One year program, starts in January.
LINK: https://writers.coverfly.com/competitions/view/nickelodeon-writing-program
General Info: https://www.nickanimation.com/programs/writing-program/
COST: $0
ELIGIBILITY:
Must be 18 years or older.
Must not have professional TV writing credits. (Although a strong writing background is encouraged.)
SUBMISSION PACKET:
½ hour original comedy pilot
Spec script of current TV show from their approved list. (Listed here: https://www.nickanimation.com/programs/writing-program/)
Completed application questions
Resume (1 page max)
Signed submission release & 1 schedule A for each script.
WARNER BROS DISCOVERY ACCESS WRITERS PROGRAM (DUE: 11/15/23)
Studio-based diversity writing program that “provides a pathway for writers who face inherent barriers entering the episodic television writing space. Such barriers can be due to, but not limited to, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veterans status, socio-economic status or any other unintended barriers. Selected writers will undergo an extensive creative and business curriculum before being put up for staffing opportunities across WBD.”
Applicants are eligible to apply if they've staffed on one or zero seasons of US network or streaming television shows.
APPLICATIONS OPEN: NOW!
DEADLINE: 11/15/23 11:59PM
DATES: Finalists will interview in February/March. All applicants will receive a status update by the end of March 2024. Selected participants will need to be available to come to Los Angeles for an in-person bootcamp week in April/May 2024, as well as attend virtual curriculum throughout the program, which will run throughout the spring/early summer of 2024. Please note: this program is primarily virtual, but those who get staffed on television shows may need to relocate to undergo these WGA jobs in person.”
COST: $0
ELIGIBILITY: “Applicants are eligible to apply if they've staffed on one or zero seasons of US network or streaming television shows.” “The program is open to all those who are 18 years or older, live in the United States and have the right to work in the United States.”
SUBMISSION PACKET:
Two Original Scripts:
SAMPLES SHOULD BE:
NO LESS THAN 30 PAGES (per sample)
NO MORE THAN 65 PAGES (per sample)
ORIGINAL WORKS ONLY (No spec scripts will be accepted)
SAMPLE "A" SHOULD BE YOUR PREFERRED SUBMISSION
These two samples must be in the same genre (e.g. two drama scripts, two comedy scripts) and must be between 30 and 65 pages in length. Accepted genres: Comedy, Drama or Dramedy.
Please note: all submitted samples must be live action, original scripts, not spec scripts and not animation scripts.
FROM THE SUBMISSION INFO: “We are looking for nuanced storytelling with original, multi-dimensional and unique characters that reflect our audiences. We want stories that champion distinct voices and points-of-view in authentic worlds.
Most importantly, the samples submitted should show the unique voice of the writer.
Please submit two original samples within the same genre, so we can adequately evaluate your writing capability.”
Resume (For writing teams, upload both resumes in one file.)
Bio (250 words or less, For writing teams: please upload one bio that includes both of your information.
Personal Statement #1 (500 words): Talk about your writing process and how it has evolved over the years. How are you a different writer than you were at the beginning of your writing journey?
Personal Statement #2 (500 words): What are some challenges or barriers you've faced while pursuing a career in writing? How have you overcome these challenges and how have they shaped your voice and point of view?
Intro Video (90 seconds or less): This is a video of you introducing yourself and addressing the following prompt: “How would you describe your voice as a director/storyteller? What types of stories are you excited to tell?”
Please include your name and what city you're based in, as well.
NOTE: For writing teams: please submit one video together.
Signed submission release form.
DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION WRITING PROGRAM (DUE: 11/17/23)
Formerly known as the Disney/ABC Writing Program, This studio-based program offers diverse writers one-year employment contracts with the goal of staffing them on DGE shows.
Note: There are two additional scholarships for diverse writers you can apply for, but you can only submit for one or the other, but not both:
The Eunetta T. Boone Comedy Writer’s Scholarship: winner will be considered for staffing on a Disney Branded Television show during the program year.
The FX John Singleton Scholars Initiative: winner will be considered for staffing on an FX Networks show during the program year.
APPLICATIONS OPEN: NOW!
DEADLINE: 11/17/23
DATES: One year full-time program, starting early 2024. Finalists contacted Winter 2023/24, Program writers selected Dec. 2023 or Jan. 2024
LINKS: https://sites.disney.com/ctdi/application/ (New link for 2023!)
(General Fellowship Page): https://sites.disney.com/ctdi/ (New link for 2023!)
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/disneyabcctdi/
COST: $0
ELIGIBILITY:
Must be eligible to work in the US.
Must be 21 or over by 12/1/23
SUBMISSION PACKET:
Script One: Original Pilot Script “capturing the writer’s unique tone, style and point of view. This sample must be live-action content; animation samples of any form are not accepted. This sample should tonally translate to the type of programming broadcast, airing or streaming on DET. This will be the primary script for consideration of your application. It cannot be changed or replaced after submission. This sample must not have been submitted in a previous application.”
Exhibit “A”: Script Summary Form
Script Two: Secondary Original Pilot Script “capturing the writer’s unique tone, style and point of view. This sample must be live-action content; animation samples of any form are not accepted. This sample should tonally translate to the type of programming broadcast, airing or streaming on DET. This sample may have been submitted in a previous application and will receive the same score as before.”
Exhibit “B”: Script Summary Form
Resume (2 pages or less) “outlining chronological salaried employment (which may include entertainment and non-entertainment positions). Only list jobs or positions where compensation was received, with the exception of entertainment industry internships and full-time volunteer work at non-profits. Please also list any courses or training you have taken to develop your craft as a writer. Please do not list undergraduate coursework.”
Staffing pitch (1,500 characters max): “‘Pitch’ yourself as a potential staff writer on a current DET series (broadcast, cable, or streaming). Before completing this section, please make sure you have a solid command of the breadth of programming across DET, as well as the particular show you are pitching yourself for; accepted series includes those confirmed to return for the 2023-24 season. In your pitch, please specify:
1) why you think you would be a good fit for the particular show you selected,
2) how you identify with that show (whether it’s through a character, series theme, series storyline, series location, premise, etc.), and
3) what you think you could add to this particular writers’ room. The pitch should address why you’re a fit, and not why you like the show or its impact.
Personal essay (3,000 characters max): “a story from your life experience that conveys your unique perspective and/or multi-cultural sensibility.”
Boone scholarship pitch (optional, 1,500 characters max: “Please share why you are applying for the Boone Scholarship. Specifically, share how familiar you are with Eunetta T. Boone’s life and work, your connection to the shows she ran, and, if selected for the scholarship, how you plan to honor Ms. Boone’s legacy in a Disney Channel writers’ room.”
FX John Singleton Scholar Initiative. (Optional, 1,500 characters max: “Please share why you are applying for the Singleton Scholars Initiative. Specifically, share how familiar you are with John Singleton’s life and work, and your connection to the shows he created/produced/directed. Please also share how and why you think you’re a great fit for an FX Networks writers’ room.”
NOTE: Applicants may submit to either the Boone scholarship or the Singleton Initiative, but not both.