STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers' Intensive
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NALIP and NFMLA have returned with STARZ for another year of STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers' Intensive. The STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers' Intensive provides a unique platform for emerging talents to cultivate their skills and refine their spec scripts with the guidance of esteemed mentors, executives, and established writers.
As part of the 2023 edition of STARZ #TakeTheLead Writers' Intensive, a total of 10 talented writers will be carefully chosen to embark on the first phase of the program. During this stage, they will have the invaluable opportunity to be mentored by seasoned industry professionals while simultaneously crafting an episode treatment and pitch.
The program opens for submissions on Monday, November 13th, 2023 at 11am PT and the deadline to submit is Monday, December 4th, 2023 at 7:59 pm PT.
TIMELINE
● Call for entries opens November 13th, 2023 at 11 am PT
● Call for entries closes December 4th, 2023 at 7:59 pm PT
● Participants announcement January 27th, 2024
PROGRAM DATES
Selected participants must be available for the duration of the following dates:
● Phase 1: February 5th, 2024 to February 16th, 2024
● Phase 2: March 4th, 2024 to March 29th
Benefits
● $5,000USD grant awarded to the four participants who move on to phase 2 of the program
● Opportunity to meet industry professionals and creatives
● Feedback from top executives on your pitch (phase 1 participants)
● Feedback from top executives on your spec episode script (phase 2 participants only)
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Phase One
(2 weeks for participants at approximately 16 hours each week, primarily taking place Monday - Friday)
● One week intensive of meetings and sessions with industry creatives and professionals
● Participants work with feedback and support to develop an episode treatment and pitch
● Culminates in a STARZ Jury hearing pitches, reading treatments and making final cohort selection
Phase Two
(4 weeks for participants at approximately 8 hours each week, primarily taking place Monday - Friday)
● Meetings with STARZ executives to hone spec script
● Feedback from STARZ mentors to refine spec script
● Final review and final set of notes for spec script
● Pitch of spec script
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.
APPLICATION/APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
● Must be a Writer who has had at least one fully completed short or feature narrative film (must be credited as the sole writer) that has been accepted into a film festival AND/OR must have story department related credit (e.g. writers assistant, staff writer, showrunners assistant, script coordinator, etc.) on a TV show
● Applicant must be or become an approved membership tier of NALIP and/or NFMLA
● Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application and legally authorized to live, work and participate in the Intensive in the United States
● Applicants must be individuals from a traditionally underrepresented background in the TV writing industry
● Must accept and agree to program rules, accept program terms & conditions, and sign program release
● Must be available for all program dates outlined in the above referenced TIMELINE
APPLICATION/APPLICANT MATERIALS
● All submission materials must be in English. If the project is non-English language, please include a written English translation
● The first ten pages of an original episodic ½ hour or 1-hour script
● Treatment of the original episodic ½ hour or 1-hour script submitted
● Resume (no more than one-page)
● Writer Statement (no more than one-page detailing what inspired you to apply to this program and what your professional goals are)
● Bio of writer (please include any relevant projects, awards, accolades, festival recognitions, etc.)