CineStory Residency
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About
Unlike our retreats, which focus on mentorship and education, our residencies focus on generative writing and community building. Residents devote most of their time to writing, away from the demands of daily life. Every day also includes structured time for generative writing exercises, story breaking sessions, and social time.
Residencies are open to TV writers and screenwriters. There are up to 24 residency spots available at this year’s residency. Residency spots are awarded on a first come first serve basis.
RESIDENCY DATES
June 20 – 27, 2025
WHO CAN APPLY
Residencies are open to TV writers and screenwriters.
APPLICATION DEADLINE & FEE
- APRIL 4, 2025, 5 pm PT
- Application Fee – $25
- RESIDENCY FEE
The residency fee for 2025 is $2,975.
The residency fee covers 3 meals per day, air conditioned, private rooms with private baths, parking at all residency locations, individual and group writing space, group writing exercises and story breaking sessions, and social gatherings. Residents are responsible for their transportation to and from the residency.
Please see our Residencies page for additional information.
Benefits
Residents stay in air-conditioned, private rooms with private bathrooms both on the residency main campus and at various off-campus locations that are within walking distance of the main campus. Wi-Fi is available in all rooms as well as on the main campus, where all meals and group events will be held. There is ample communal writing space on the main campus as well.
Idyllwild itself offers numerous coffee shops and other locations for those who prefer writing in public spaces, as well as hiking trails for residents looking for contemplative outdoor time.
In addition to having plenty of unstructured writing time, residents meet daily in small groups led by experienced CineStory staffers to do writing exercises and story breaking sessions aimed at helping residents develop the project they’ve brought to work on. There are also places to take short, unscheduled breaks throughout the day for those who need a quick breather before diving back into their work. Finally, residents and staffers also gather for meals, games, and socializing.
GENERAL SCHEDULE (subject to change):
DAY 1- Afternoon Check-in
- Introductions
- Dinner
- Games and Socializing
- Group Breakfast/Daily Goal Setting
- Small Group Story Sharing Session
- Individual Writing Time
- Group Lunch
- Individual Writing Time
- Small Group Story Breaking Session
- Group Dinner/Reading of the Daily Group Story
- Games and Socializing
- Group Breakfast/Daily Goal Setting
- Small Group Writing Exercise
- Individual Writing time
- Group Lunch
- Individual Writing Time
- Small Group Story Breaking Session
- Group Dinner/Reading of the Daily Group Story
- Games and Socializing
- Final Small Group Meetings
- Closing Brunch/Final Thoughts
Announcements
Rules
- Eligibility: All TV writers and screenwriters.
- Application Deadline: Applications are due no later than April 4, 2025 at 5 pm PT.
- Application Materials: Applicants must submit all of the following:
- a short bio (up to 300 words);
- a logline (up to 150 words) for an original feature screenplay or TV pilot they plan to pursue during the residency; **
- a PDF of that feature screenplay or TV pilot meeting the formatting requirements below;** and
- an artist statement (up to 600 words).
- Formatting Requirements:
- All writing samples must be PDFs.
- Feature screenplays must be 85 - 125 pages excluding cover page. One-hour TV pilots must be 45 - 65 pages, excluding cover page. Half-hour single camera TV pilots must be 22 - 45 pages, excluding cover page. Half-hour multi-camera TV pilots must be 52 - 58 pages, excluding cover page, with double spaced dialogue throughout.
- Body pages must be numbered.
- No additional materials, artwork, illustrations etc. should be attached to the script.
- Screenplays must be in English.
- No substituted pages or other revisions to your script will be accepted once you have submitted your application.
- Application Fee: There is an application fee of $25 that is payable as part of this application.
- Evaluation: CineStory's executive director, creative directors, and residency coordinator make all residency decisions at their sole discretion. Applicants are evaluated primarily on the strength of their TV pilot or screenplay and their artist statement. Applicants who do not satisfy all application rules and guidelines automatically will be disqualified from consideration. CineStory reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to accept fewer applicants than the number of spots available at a residency.
- Notification: Accepted writers will be notified via email by early April. Residency spots are awarded on a first come first serve basis.
**Please note that applicants accepted into the residency may work on any project while at the residency and are not obligated to work on the project submitted with this application.
All residency application rules and guidelines are subject to change without notice.