The Newfoundland & Labrador Writers’ Room Pilot Program is a unique opportunity designed to foster and develop the talents of screenwriters in Newfoundland and Labrador. This intensive 3-month program, running from January to March/April, pairs four established writers and one writer’s assistant with a seasoned showrunner to develop a pilot script for a show in development, while also advancing their own individual projects.

 

Commitment:

  • Showrunner Sessions: evenings a week (8 hours) dedicated to working with the showrunner on the pilot script. Beginning in January this portion of the program will run until mid-late February. The group will return in late March/early April to conclude the program after spending 1-1.5 months working on their own projects.
  • Individual Project Work: Two evening a week (4 hours) focused on developing their own projects, with support from mentors. 1-1.5 months beginning in Late February/March.

 

Deadline: Submission deadline is early December 6th, 2024.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Established writers with experience of the industry
  • Ideally, applicants should have at least one piece of work produced (film, short, TV series, etc.)
  • Transferable writing skills will be considered for those without produced credits.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Resident

Submission Materials

  1. Completed Application Form
  2. Writing Sample
    Submit a writing sample of your work. This could be an excerpt from a screenplay, teleplay, or any original script that showcases your storytelling and writing skills.

    • File Format: PDF
    • Max Pages: 10 pages
  3. One-Pager for Television Idea
    Submit a one-page description of a television series idea you wish to develop. The one-pager should include:

    • Title
    • Logline (a brief summary of the show’s premise in 1-2 sentences)
    • Genre and Tone (e.g., drama, comedy, sci-fi; light-hearted, dark, etc.)
    • Setting and Time Period
    • Main Character(s)
    • Series Overview (a brief synopsis of the show’s concept, primary themes, and potential direction for the story)
    • File Format: PDF
    • Max Length: 1 page
  4. Resume

 

Please Note: You are not required to have an incorporated company at the application stage. However, if your application is successful, you will need an incorporated company to participate in the program

 

If you have questions about the eligibility criteria, please reach out to Industry Development Manager, Jennifer Dempsey at [email protected]

 

Download an application here.