NBC TV Writers Program
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Benefits
During the eight-month program, writers will create and workshop an original pilot to which the writer retains all rights. They will be paired with programming executives who will mentor them, as they write their original pilot and polish samples for staffing consideration.
The program also consists of weekly evening workshops, focused on developing craft, soft skills, and the business of TV writing. The goals of these workshops are to enhance writers’ creative and professional skills, such as self-branding, pitching, and interviewing, and to increase writers’ knowledge of the TV, streaming, and studio landscape. Throughout the program, selected writers interact with industry professionals, including network and studio executives, showrunners, agents, and managers.
At the conclusion of the program, program writers will be considered for writing positions on NBC broadcast, cable, streaming, and Universal Studio Group series.
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.
SUBMISSION PERIOD
Applications will be accepted June 3, 2024 through June 23, 2024. Applications will not be accepted after 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on June 23, 2024.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must be authorized to work legally in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not offered to program participants.
Applicants must be at least 21 years of age as of September 1, 2024.
Entertainment industry experience is not required.
While in the program, applicants must reside in Los Angeles as weekly workshops are in-person.
Writers who have received a staff writer credit on more than one streaming, cable, or broadcast television scripted series are ineligible and cannot apply.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Those applying must submit a complete application package, which includes the following items:
1. APPLICATION must be completed in its entirety. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
2. TWO ORIGINAL PILOTS that capture the writer’s unique tone, style, and point of view. Applicants retain ownership of these 2 pre-existing pilots which will be used solely for review and evaluation purposes, as part of the application process.
Applicants must select and designate one pilot to prioritize for the first round of review and consideration. Should an applicant proceed to the next round, their second submitted pilot will be reviewed.
Submitted pilots should adhere to the following:
For comedy pilots, follow a four-act structure or Cold Open + three-act structure; for drama pilots, follow a six-act structure or Cold Open + 5 act structure;
- Be between 25-45 pages in length for 30-minute formats (typically comedy); between 45-60 pages for 60-minute format (typically drama);
- Have a clear beginning, middle and end.
The applicant must be the sole owner of all original material submitted.
All script reads are blind so only provide the title on the title page of the pilots. The applicant’s name, email, address, phone number, or any other identifying information should not appear in the filename, on the title page, or any other page of the script.
3. RELEASE FORMS must be completed, signed, and dated, in order for submissions to be accepted. Incomplete release forms will result in disqualification.
4. RÉSUMÉ outlining chronological paid employment history (may include entertainment and non-entertainment positions) and any writing-related honors/awards. Positions must have been held within the past 15 years (two pages or less). Only list compensated positions with the exception of entertainment industry internships and full-time volunteer work at non-profits. If listing writing projects, only include projects that were produced and/or optioned. The applicant’s résumé will provide us an understanding of their work history and insight into their individual life experiences.
5. PERSONAL ESSAYS articulate the applicant’s unique perspective and background as it relates to their storytelling. Applicant must answer both essay questions, and each essay must not exceed 400 words.
Essay Questions:
How does your cultural background and lived experiences shape the way you tell stories and your creative sensibility?
What current or recent show do you most identify with or has a profound impact on you, and what kind of stories would you like to tell if you were staffed on that show? The selected show does not need to be a NBCU series.
(OPTIONAL) LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION from entertainment industry professionals who have read the applicant’s material and can comment on the applicant’s writing ability. Letters of recommendation are strongly encouraged, but not required. Acceptable letters must be on business or personal letterhead, dated in the current calendar year and include the author’s title and/or industry affiliation. No more than two letters per application will be accepted. Letters must accompany the submission and may not be submitted separately via email or mail. Any recommendation letters emailed or mailed to the Program separate from the writer’s application will not be accepted. Letter(s) from agents, managers, attorneys, etc. are considered a conflict of interest and will not be considered.
Any candidate who does not meet the aforementioned criteria will be disqualified.
NOTIFICATION
Due to the volume of submissions received, only those applicants who are selected to participate in the program will be notified. Applicants who are not selected will not be notified. Please check our social media pages for updates on the selection process. Selections will be announced a few weeks before the Program commences.
PRIVACY NOTICE
This Privacy Notice describes how NBC (“we”, “us” or “our”) collects, uses and discloses the personal information you provide to us in this application form and in connection with the NBC TV Writers Program [“the Program”].
We collect your personal information directly from you through this form and your participation in the Program. We will use it to review and process your application to join the Program, for Program administration purposes and to send you communications and updates. We will also use it to comply with the law, to seek legal advice or in connection with litigation with a third party, and to ensure compliance with policies, guidelines and contracts. We will keep your personal information for up to 2 years.
We will not sell your personal information. We will share it with relevant internal teams and with service providers that have been engaged to support the Program. We may also share personal information when required to do so by law, regulation or court order, in response to a request for assistance by a law enforcement agency, or to seek legal advice from external lawyers or in connection with litigation with a third party.
We maintain organizational, technical and physical safeguards to protect your information. These safeguards vary depending upon a variety of factors including the sensitivity of the information we collect and use. Despite all reasonable practices, no security method is infallible.
If you would prefer not to be contacted by us or would like us to correct or delete your personal information, please let us know by emailing privacy@nbcuni.com and inserting “NBC TV Writers Program” in the header.
