CineStory TV Retreat and Fellowship Competition
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About
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 TV Retreat will take place over three days in the beautiful mountains of Idyllwild, California. Attendees will 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 the writer 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 rooms run by an experienced mentor. In addition, mentors and writers will gather for meals, drinks and other special events.
There are three different TV entry categories:
ORIGINAL DRAMA – 1 HOUR SERIES
· The pilot episode of your original one hour drama series (45 – 65 pages, excluding cover page)
ORIGINAL COMEDY – 30 MINUTE SERIES
· The pilot episode of your original single-camera comedy or multi-camera sitcom (single camera pilots, 22 – 45 pages, excluding cover page; multi-camera pilots, 52 – 58 pages, excluding cover page, with dialogue double spaced throughout)
ORIGINAL SCIENCE FICTION OR FANTASY – 1 HOUR SERIES
· The pilot episode of your original series that falls into the Science Fiction or Fantasy genre (below) (45 – 65 pages, excluding cover page)
· Science Fiction – Stories about time travel, space travel, advanced technology, extraterrestrials, post-apocalyptic and alien worlds; examples include “Star Trek,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “The 100,” “Sense8,” “The Walking Dead”
· Fantasy – Stories featuring elements of the fantastic, often including magic, supernatural forces, or exotic fantasy worlds; examples include “Game Of Thrones,” “Once Upon A Time,” “Supernatural,” “The Magicians,” “American Gods”
ATTENDING THE RETREAT/GRAND PRIZE TV FELLOWSHIP
To earn the opportunity to attend the TV Retreat, writers must submit a TV script to the TV Retreat & Fellowship Competition. The division winners, finalist and semifinalists will receive invites to attend the retreat. Any additional spots will be offered to quarterfinalists.
Benefits
The CineStory TV Retreat will take 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.
Every year, CineStory has top-notch industry mentors. Here are some of the past mentors who've attended:
· Steve Tao (Executive at BAD ROBOT)
· Jamie Pachino (Writer: CHICAGO PD, HALT AND CATCH FIRE, FRANKLIN & BASH, FAIRLY LEGAL)
· Jason Brown (Producer: THE EXPANSE, BEN-HUR, AGENT 13)
· David Iserson (Writer/Producer: MR. ROBOT, MAD MEN, NEW GIRL, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE)
· Laura Brennan (Writer: MOST LIKELY TO DIE, HIGHLANDER, ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE'S LOST WORLD)
· Tamara Federici (Writer/Director: CHAPPELLE'S SHOW, THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, THIS JUST IN)
· Josh Goldenberg (Manager)
· Chris Whitaker (Writer/Producer: CHICABEES, MAKERS)
· Kevin Townsley (Writer: LIE TO ME, FOR KEITH'S SAKE, STRAND STREET)
· Aaron Vaccaro (Writer: MIKE & MOLLY)
· Marla White (Executive: RAKE, THE JIM GAFFIGAN SHOW, OUTSIDERS)
· Lorien McKenna (Writer/Producer: RATATOUILLE, UP, BRAVE, INSIDE OUT, THE GOOD DINOSAUR)
· David Baird (Manager)
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Announcements
Rules
At the program's request, Coverfly will automatically remove your title page for you if you include one when submitting to this program.
ATTENDING THE RETREAT/GRAND PRIZE TV FELLOWSHIP
To earn the opportunity to attend the TV Retreat, writers must submit a TV script to the TV Retreat & Fellowship Competition. The division winners, finalist and semifinalists will receive invites to attend the retreat. Any additional spots will be offered to quarterfinalists.
The Grand Prize Television Fellowship winner MUST ATTEND the Television Retreat in order to receive the cash award and other prizes. If a Fellowship winner cannot attend the Retreat, the person will be disqualified and a new winner will be determined.
TELEPLAY RULES & GUIDELINES
Formatting Guidelines
Teleplays must be PDFs and must be pilot episodes.
- Teleplays are judged anonymously; therefore, they must have CLEAN COVER PAGES (i.e., title only on the cover, no author’s name/contact information) and no identifying information anywhere in the body text or in the PDF file name.
- Teleplays must be (a) 45 to 65 pages (excluding cover page) for 1 hour divisions; (b) 22 to 45 pages (excluding cover page) for 30 minute Original Family division and Original Comedy division single camera pilots; or (c) 52 to 58 pages (excluding cover page), with dialogue double spaced throughout, for 30 minute Original Comedy and Original Family division multi-camera pilots.
- Body pages must be numbered.
- No additional materials, artwork, illustrations etc. should be attached to the script.
- Teleplays must be in English.
- No substituted pages or other revisions will be accepted once you have submitted your teleplay.
- Entries that do not meet all Rules & Guidelines will be automatically disqualified and the submission fee WILL NOT be refunded.
Representations & Warranties
As author(s) of the submitted material, my/our submission attests to the following:
- All information I/we have entered herein is accurate.
- I/we are 18 or older.
- The submitted material is my/our original work, with all rights to said work held by me/us.
- I/we will indemnify CineStory, hold it harmless and defend it against all claims, demands, losses, costs, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any stories submitted for the CineStory Television Retreat or on any material developed out of such stories.
- I/we understand that CineStory judges, directors, officers, employees or agents may be exposed to or may develop materials and ideas that may be similar to those of the submitted material. I/we understand and acknowledge that I/we will not be entitled to any compensation from such similar material that is independently conceived and created.
- I/we agree that I/we will never assert against CineStory (or any of its judges, directors, officers, employees or agents) any claim based on an assertion of plagiarism, idea theft, confidential or fiduciary relationship or any other theory relating to the submitted material.
- I/we understand that individual feedback is not provided and that CineStory notifies winners only.
- I/we have read, understood and complied with all guidelines and rules herein, and failure to do so may result in disqualification.
Additional Rules & Guidelines
- Entrants must be 18 or older.
- The Grand Prize Television Fellowship winner MUST ATTEND the Television Retreat in order to receive the cash award and other prizes. If a Fellowship winner cannot attend the Retreat, the person will be disqualified and a new winner will be determined.
- Any teleplay from any genre will be considered. NO FEATURE SCREENPLAYS WILL BE CONSIDERED. Any feature screenplays submitted will be disqualified without refund of the submission fee.
- Entrants must not have sold a project to a network or cable channel in the past 5 years.
- No substitutions of new drafts or corrected pages for entries will be accepted under any circumstances. However, you may submit a new draft as a separate submission accompanied by a separate submission fee and any other required information.
- CineStory notifies winners only. Entrants are advised to check CineStory's website and e-newsletter for judging announcements.
- Entered teleplays may not be optioned, sold or produced at the time of entry.
- Multiple entries are accepted, provided a signed entry form and appropriate entry fee is attached to each submission.
