Rideback RISE
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Rideback
Rideback RISE
2024
Reads in Coverfly
Active Since 2023
A non-profit creator and content accelerator for POC storytellers to make commercial film/television that propels narrative change.
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About
- THE RIDEBACK RISE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Rideback RISE is soliciting applications for the second year of the Rideback RISE Fellowship. Based in Los Angeles, Rideback RISE is a prestigious creator and content accelerator that offers visionary POC film and television creators (“Fellows”) a $40,000 stipend, and access to a development fund for the purpose of optioning IP and/or creating visual proof-of-concept materials. The 12-month Fellowship also provides expert in-depth mentoring, resources and benefits to the Fellows while they develop and refine a commercial television or feature film project across all the genres before it is taken out to market. In a supportive and collaborative environment based at the RISE creative campus in Historic Filipinotown, Fellows work closely with the RISE leadership team and receive counsel from notable industry luminaries and award-winning screenwriters, directors, and showrunners, all while building community with fellow creatives. This is an opportunity for exceptional storytellers who desire to tell mainstream stories for a wide audience and possess their own distinct voice, point of view, and perspective.
If you are selected as a Fellow, you will responsible for adhering to and delivering on the key deadlines of incubating your project, such as: breaking story, outline, first draft, rewrite, and a polish in addition to pitch preparation and presentation.
There will also be a number of applicants who will be invited to join the RISE Circle, enabling them to experience select RISE creative and business programming and networking events. The Circle consists of our highest-scoring applicants who become part of our larger RISE creative community. RISE Circle runs for the same term length as the RISE Fellowship. Circle members are encouraged to re-apply for the Fellowship in succeeding years.
OUR MISSION
Rideback RISE was founded in 2022 by producer Dan Lin (THE LEGO MOVIE, IT, ALADDIN, SHERLOCK HOLMES, WALKER). Rideback RISE is a 501c3 non-profit organization with backing from leading partners such as the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, Zelnick Belzberg Charitable Trust, Comcast NBC Universal, UTA Foundation, Horn Foundation and the Murphy Family Fund.
Rideback RISE’s core mission is to support and empower mid-career POC creators from the world of entertainment who aspire to make commercial, mainstream content that is reflective of our multicultural world. Rideback RISE believes that entertainment can bridge cultures, unite people, and be a catalyst for social change. By propelling narrative change and helping to advance racial equity, we are committed to impacting the culture in a more positive, empathetic way.
RISE offers financial, creative and entrepreneurial support to each of our participating creators customized to their specific discipline. RISE equips Fellows/participants to create commercial content that can enter the cultural zeitgeist and ultimately reshape majority opinions. Our aim is to make mainstream entertainment more inclusive by enabling POC creators to tell stories that have broad audience reach.
Through telling new stories, we can come to appreciate other cultures and ways of life. Reality is socially constructed through narrative. A small shift in someone’s mindset can often lead to a cascade of meaningful change around the world.
Benefits
THE PROGRAM
The RISE Fellowship runs for 12 consecutive months and focuses on creative, business, practical, and personal advancement. Each of the Fellows will be paired with a high-level mentor (e.g., an experienced showrunner, filmmaker, producer, executive, etc.) that they will work with for the duration of the Program. Fellows will be selected based on their storytelling and writing abilities, the authenticity of their voice, the strength and commercial viability of their ideas, their willingness to maximize the impact of the resources provided, and their overall suitability for the program.
Program activities will include, but will not be limited to, the following:
-Creative development on each Fellow’s project, including in-depth work on story, character, and script
-Film/TV packaging with guidance on casting and other talent
-Navigating potential financiers and distributors
-Identifying possible buyers and facilitating meetings with executives
-Expert insight and background on the state of the industry
-In-person sessions by industry luminaries in a variety of fields and topics, including craft (directing, producing, casting), legal, pitching, marketing/pr, etc.
-Exclusive screenings and panels with industry icons and filmmakers
-In-depth pitching workshops led by industry executives and creatives
-Personal and career empowerment
-Incubating projects with the goal of setting them up with the top studios, production companies, or other collaborators who are best positioned to help the Fellow continue to advance it
Fellows will be based at Rideback Ranch, a creative campus in LA’s Historic Filipinotown that provides a dedicated workspace and amenities, and is home to several leading entertainment companies.
As stated above, the Fellowship also provides access to the Rideback RISE IP and Visual Development Fund in collaboration with the RISE leadership team, which Fellows may utilize to option underlying rights (novels, remakes, podcasts, documentaries, newspaper or magazine articles, true stories, short films, video games, graphic novels etc.) or create proof-of-concept materials—e.g., concept art, visual teaser for their project or even a short.
The curriculum will focus on and emphasize collaboration, mentorship, networking, and industry access. The key feature of RISE is community: Fellows will be expected to participate in all programming, meet all deadlines, possess a true collaborative spirit with each other, and embody the RISE mission and its values.
Announcements
Sep 9th
Semifinalists
Oct 13th
Fellows
Oct 27th
Circle Members
Rules
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The Fellowship focuses on people of color (POC).
1. Applicant must be at least 21 years of age before the start of the Fellowship Program (i.e., before Dec 6, 2024).
2. Applicant must be a writer and may or may not also be a director, actor, performer or producer.
3. Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, or a Permanent Resident with unrestricted authorization to work in the United States of America.
4. Applicant must have representation with a guild-registered talent agency and/or management company.
5. Applicant must be based in LA or willing to temporarily relocate to LA for the duration of the Program
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
To qualify as a potential Fellow, an Applicant must, in the last three years, satisfy one or more of the following conditions:
-Has previously been staffed and credited in a writing capacity on a produced U.S. scripted television series;
AND/OR
-Has either written OR written and directed a produced feature film;
AND/OR
-Has written and directed a short film that screened at a noted film festival—e.g., Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Toronto, Venice, SXSW, Telluride, etc.
AND/OR
-Has written a spec feature screenplay or teleplay (either original or based on underlying material) that was optioned or purchased by a recognized U.S.-based producer, distributor or studio.
AND/OR
-Has been in or is currently in active development on a project with a WGA-signatory company (e.g. mini-major, studio, network, streamer, etc.)
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants must submit a complete application package by June 30, 2024 that includes the following:
1. A complete APPLICATION FORM. Incomplete or illegible application forms may be grounds for disqualification.
2. A WRITING SAMPLE, screenplay or teleplay. The title page of your script sample should show only the name of your script (and a WGA registration number, if applicable), i.e., do not include your name, your representative’s name or any contact information either on the title page itself or anywhere within the script. The writing sample must be written solely by you, the Applicant, i.e., no shared credits or writing teams, and script cannot have already been produced. Please submit your Writing Sample in the section designated “Sample PDF” on the first page of the application process. (Your 3 Project Ideas will be submitted later in the application process)
3. THREE (3) IDEAS, either original or IP-based, that you aspire to develop into either a feature film or television series. We are genre agnostic. A maximum of one of these ideas can already be in screenplay form as long as the rights to the screenplay are free and clear, it has not previously been exposed to the market place, and that it is WGA registered. (Aforementioned writing samples may be WGA registered but are not required to be.) We would highly encourage you to have at least one of the ideas above be IP-based (a novel, comic book, video game, remake, etc.). For any IP that you are planning to option using the RISE IP fund, before sending in your application, please make sure that either the rights are available or that it is in the public domain. Include a brief outline on how you plan to adapt it.
4. The RELEASE FORM must be completed, signed, and dated in order for an application to be accepted.
5. A RESUME outlining your professional writing credits and other experience. Please do not enclose resumes that are longer than two pages.
6. A PERSONAL ESSAY on life experience(s) you’ve had that have influenced your writing and the stories you want to tell. 500-word maximum.
7. Contact information for THREE (3) entertainment industry professionals you have worked with who can provide a recommendation for you. TWO (2) must be supervisory (supervisors, managers, showrunners, etc. that you reported to) references and ONE (1) can be a direct report (someone you have supervised) or peer reference. Please DO NOT include contact information for agents, managers, or lawyers.
After the Rideback RISE Selection Committee has reviewed all the applications, we will narrow it down to a smaller group. If you make it to that group we will contact you to re-confirm both your availability for the Fellowship (Dec 6, 2024 - Dec 6, 2025) and to organize an in-person interview. We will select the Fellows at the end of the interview process.
Applicants can only submit their application package once.
SUMMARY
-Rideback RISE will provide each of the selected Fellows with a stipend of $40,000 paid over the course of 12 months. In return, for the duration of the Fellowship, each Fellow agrees to work on generating a market-ready project (e.g., screenplay, series pitch and bible, pilot script, etc.) and meet key deadlines along the way which will vary depending on the Project.
-Each Fellow will have access to our IP and Visual Development Fund in order to option IP or create proof of concept materials.
-Rideback RISE does not take ownership in any Fellows’ screenplay or any other materials created under the Fellowship. Fellows remain the sole owner of their projects.
-At the end of the Program, Fellows will work with Rideback RISE to choose the next steps for their project. The overarching goal of the Fellowship is to help the Fellow achieve their best version of success with their work.
KEY DATES
June 1, 2024 – Application Period Opens
June 30, 2024 – Application Period Closes
September 2024 – Finalist Interviews
October 2024 - Fellows/Circle notified
Dec 7, 2024 - Y2 Kickoff
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What makes someone a good candidate for the Rideback RISE Fellowship?
You will need to be a commercially-minded storyteller who is enthusiastic about creating fresh, compelling content that can be released to a wide audience. You will have already developed a vision of your own, but you will be open to input from your peers and keen to benefit from their counsel. You will have the self-discipline necessary to get the work done on your own project and be willing to function as part of a group and share your experiences.
What makes a project idea suitable for the Fellowship?
Ideas should be built on an Applicant's strong voice and specific point of view while bringing new perspectives on concepts, characters, themes, genre and/or worlds. Ideas should feel commercial yet distinct.
Do I need to reimburse Rideback RISE for its investment?
No. And, as stated above, Rideback Rise does not take any ownership of any scripts, outlines, treatments or other materials that are either submitted as part of your application or subsequently created as part of the Fellowship.
What is the RISE Fellowship time commitment?
The Fellowship will begin on Dec 7, 2024 and run through Dec 6, 2025. Fellows should expect regular meetings with their Mentors, other industry professionals, the Rideback RISE team, as well as ongoing interaction with other Fellows, and participation in weekly activities during the day and in the evenings.
What are Fellows’ obligations to Rideback RISE?
Fellows must be available to actively participate in the Fellowship curriculum, attend all scheduled sessions and in general fulfill any tasks required of them including meeting key deadlines on their projects.
Are there extensions past the 12-month commitment?
No. However, we welcome previous Fellows/Circle Members as active members of our Alumni network.
What is the acceptable format for submitted material?
Please submit all material in PDF format on the Application Page.
Is there an application fee?
No.
When does the application period open?
Submissions open at 12:01am PDT on June 1, 2024.
When will the application period close?
Submissions close at 11:59pm PDT on June 30, 2024.
When will interviews be held?
Interviews will be held in Los Angeles in September 2024.
Are Fellows allowed to participate in other programs similar to this one in concurrence?
This will be considered on a case-by-case basis to be discussed with the RISE leadership team.
May Fellows work on other projects during the RISE Fellowship?
Yes. Fellows can develop other projects so long as they are able to fulfill all of their commitments to the Fellowship.
How many Fellows will be selected?
We will select a number of Fellows based on the strength of the application pool.
If selected for the RISE Fellowship, will I be guaranteed a produced script?
No.
How are the matches made between the Fellows and Mentors?
Matches are made based on career interests and Mentor availability.
How will I be informed as to whether or not I have been chosen to participate in the Fellowship?
Selected Fellows/Circle Members will be notified directly via phone and/or email as well as through their representatives. Those not selected will be notified via email.
If I am selected as a finalist to participate in the in-person interview, will RISE reimburse my travel expenses?
No.
If I am selected into the RISE Fellowship, but do not live in Los Angeles, will RISE reimburse my relocation costs?
No.
Must I be present and LA-based for the duration of the Fellowship?
Yes.
How do I know my submission has been received?
Once you click on “Complete Order,” you should see a message on your computer verifying receipt. You will also receive a confirmation email.
Will you contact me about the status of my application?
No. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot provide status updates or notify those who have not been accepted.
May I apply to RISE Fellowship using a script I co-wrote?
No. You must be the sole author of any material submitted with your application.
Do I need to have literary representation (agent and/or manager) to apply?
Yes. Agents must be guild-franchised and managers must be with recognized firms in good standing.
If selected into the RISE Fellowship, will I need to disclose current projects in development and attachments?
Yes. Any projects in development must be disclosed in writing during the application process.
Are scripts not registered with the WGA prior to submission acceptable as one of my designated project ideas?
No. Any scripts submitted as one of your three project ideas must be registered with the WGA prior to submission. Scripts registered with any other organizations or affiliations will not be accepted. Scripts submitted as writing samples are not required to be WGA registered.
Who will review my submission?
A combination of producers, executives, and high-level creatives affiliated with RISE along with professional, qualified readers will review all submissions.
Do I have to submit a release form for my script?
Yes.
Where can I find the Release Agreement form?
The Release Agreement can be found on the application page.
How do I submit the release form?
After you have read and approved the release agreement, please print the form and fill out all required fields. The completed and signed agreement should then be scanned and uploaded as a PDF document onto the application submission site.
Are digital signatures acceptable?
No. The release form must be hand-signed. Applicants who fail to upload a completed and hand-signed agreement will be disqualified.
What is the purpose for providing a resume?
Your resume will provide understanding of your work history and insight to your individual life experience.
How long should my resume be?
Your resume should be no longer than two (2) pages.
Do I need to provide a cover letter?
No.
Should I provide a list of my completed scripts in my resume?
No.
Should I provide a list of my references in my resume?
No.
What should I focus on when writing my personal essay?
The personal essay is an opportunity for RISE to know you as a storyteller. Thus, as you prepare your essay, consider what makes you and your voice unique.
What should I be cautious of when writing my personal essay?
Be careful not to repeat your professional history in your essay as that information will be represented by your resume.
How long should my personal essay be?
Personal essays should be 500 words or less.
Are industry recommendations mandatory?
Yes. Recommendations from two (2) supervisory industry professionals (not including agents, managers or lawyers) along with one (1) direct report or peer industry professionals are necessary to be considered for the RISE Fellowship. Please provide name, title and contact information for your three references.
How is “industry professional” defined?
Industry professionals are persons who currently or previously worked in entertainment media (e.g., film, television, streaming services, etc.). Examples are network, studio and production company executives, producers and showrunners.
May I provide a recommendation from my literary representatives?
No. Recommendations from representatives (e.g., agents, managers or attorneys) will not be accepted.
If I was in the 23/24 RISE Circle, may I apply to the Fellowship this year?
Yes! We encourage you to re-apply.
If I was in the 23/24 RISE Residency, may I apply to the Fellowship this year?
Yes. You may re-apply for the Fellowship.
If I was in the 23/24 RISE Fellowship, may I apply to the Fellowship this year?
No. 23/24 Fellows are not eligible to be a Fellow again. However, Fellows may be invited to join the Circle if they are among the highest scoring applicants.