The Minority Report
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About
The Minority Report is an industry-vetted fellowship program for the top diverse screenwriters enrolled in undergraduate or graduate educational institutions (Class of 2021 Graduates are eligible). Made by students, for students, it's the first-ever initiative of its kind.
The contest is sponsored by DIVERSO, a student-run film nonprofit dedicated to changing the face of entertainment by empowering the underrepresented storytellers of the next generation.
We offer an extensive professional platform to break into entertainment by connecting our Minority Report Fellows with top companies/executives/mentors and providing individualized guidance and stipend for career development.
Announcement dates are subject to change. (No later than end of January)
Benefits
Each year, the Minority Report Fellowship program changes. Below, you'll find the benefits afforded to the Fellows last season.
LAST SEASON'S BENEFITS
1. Distribution to Agencies: The Minority Report was sent out to over a dozen agents and managers at different companies from Anonymous Content to Paradigm to United Talent Agency.
2. Virtual Panels with Top Industry Professionals
- Shaka King, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
- Ryan Bergara, BUZZFEED: UNSOLVED
- JD Dillard, STARWARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
- Dennis Liu, RAISING DION
3. General Meetings: Our fellows were set up on 5+ general meetings with executives from studios and production companies such as Plan B, Paramount, Universal, Big Beach, JuVee, Tornante, and more.
4. Mentorship: Fellows were matched with experienced writers in the industry based on their personalized style and experience. Mentors provided both career and script guidance.
Industry Jury Members last season included:
Dede Gardner - President, Plan B Entertainment
- Meredith Lavitt - Executive Director, Sundance Ignite
- Ben Lopez - Executive Director, NALIP
- Yahlin Chang - Writer, THE HANDMAID'S TALE
- Michelle Sugihara - Executive Director, CAPE
- Teresa Hsiao - Co-Creator, NORA FROM QUEENS
- Joey Soloway - Creator, TRANSPARENT
- Minhal Baig - Writer/Director, HALA
- Megan Halpern - Vice President, The Black List
- Darell Britt-Gibson - Actor, BARRY, JUST MERCY
- Poorna Jagannathan - Actress, NEVER HAVE I EVER
- Persia White - Actress, GIRLFRIENDS
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.
Please read all instructions and FAQs carefully before you begin your submission process. Applicants can only submit once per category. Any errors or multiple submissions could disqualify your application.Applicants must be Underrepresented writers currently enrolled in a university as an UNDERGRADUATE or GRADUATE student (Class of 2020 Graduates are eligible). They may be graduating at the end of the 2020 calendar year. For eligibility and submissions information, please scroll down and read the Frequently Asked Questions portion.
Please ensure your submission has a cover sheet with only the TITLE of the screenplay. The author's name must NOT appear anywhere in the script in order to preserve anonymity in the judging process. Please specify genre when submitting material.
SUBMISSIONS FORM:
After submission on Coverfly, applicants MUST fill out a submission form which includes a PERSONAL ESSAY and a RELEASE FORM. The submission form can be found here.
Who can submit?
Underrepresented student writers currently enrolled in a university whose script has not been optioned. Screenwriters may not have earned more than $25,000 writing fictional work for film or television. The Minority Report is intended to promote and assist amateur writers exclusively.
Who qualifies as an underrepresented writer?
Underrepresented writers as defined by the Writers Guild of America include:
- American Indian
- Asian/Pacific Islander
- Black
- Latino/a
- LGBTQ
- Women
- Writers with disabilities
Does my script have to be centered around an underrepresented narrative?
No. The script doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with underrepresented narratives as long as it's written by an underrepresented students. Just give us your best work!
What if my script is optioned during the contest?
Your script will still be eligible. In fact, we encourage writers to continue marketing their scripts as they wait for their scripts to be evaluated.
Can I submit a script that was optioned in the past?
Any script that is NOT currently under option or contract can enter the contract. If a pre-existing option has expired, you are eligible to enter.Can I send my script in another language than English?
You may enter the contest, but the script must be written in English so that our readers can read it. If a script has other languages in it as part of the plot, simply denote that the line will be spoken in another language using a parenthetical, e.g. (speaking in Spanish).
What scripts are accepted?
The Minority Report accepts feature scripts, original pilot scripts, and both half-hour and hour-long teleplays. Any script submitted must not be currently optioned at time of submission.
How many scripts may I submit?
Writers may submit a single draft of one script only per category.
Why should my name and contact information not appear on my title page?
To ensure a meritocratic and anonymous judging process, we ask for the absence of a name and contact information. All your contact information can be found by us in your application.
Who is reading my script?
A variety of analysts with script-reading experience. This can range anywhere from executive assistants, directors, agents, writers, and/or studio executives.
Are only digital scripts accepted?
The Minority Report is environmentally conscious and only accepts digital scripts in PDF format.
Is coverage provided?
The Minority Report provides all who enter actionable feedback on their scripts from our industry readers.
You will be notified by e-mail immediately after your script is submitted. If you have received a confirmation e-mail, your script is in our system and no further action is necessary. If you have not received a confirmation e-mail, please check your junk mailbox or filter. If the confirmation is not in either place, e-mail us at hello@dvrso.org for a copy of your confirmation. We will contact you if there is any technical issue with your file.
How long should my script be?
We accept submissions within the page count below for each category:
- Screenplays: 80 - 135 pgs
- Teleplays: 25 - 70 pgs
Scripts shorter or longer will be disqualified.
There is no recommended genre. Scripts from all categories are accepted and will be evaluated according to the execution of the story, originality, and dialogue.
No. The purpose of the contest is to judge the scripts based on the merit of the writing alone.
Yes.
No. Only solo writers may submit.
Yes. However, unless the story is in the public domain, you must have the agreement and consent of the people represented in the script. In order to enter, you must be able to grant the rights to the story you wrote to a producer, should he/she want to option the script.
Securing the rights to the source material is the responsibility of the screenwriter. If you feel that the rights are available, you may certainly enter. Regrettably, we cannot offer any advice on whether or not the rights are available. We recommend that you consult an attorney if you plan to pursue the project, as the question regarding rights -- even life rights -- would eventually come up and need to be addressed prior to anyone's optioning of or buying the script.
Can my script be plagiarized?
The Minority Report and its partners, employees, and/or associated agents claim no ownership nor first right of option to any submitted original screenplay. All ownership and rights to the submitted scripts remain with the original rights holders until and unless other agreements are made.
In addition, all readers will sign confidentiality agreements to ensure that your work is protected.
For any more questions, please message hello@dvrso.org.