Everything you need to know about the Channel 4 screenwriting course 2012:-
We are delighted to announce we will again be running the Channel 4 screenwriting course for Channel 4 drama, running from January to June 2012.
We are looking for 12 talented, original and diverse writers who currently have no broadcast credit but wish to write for television drama.
The course will give you a chance to find out how TV drama, particularly Channel 4 TV drama, works, and to write, over a 5 month period, your own 1 hour pilot script for an original series or serial, working with an experienced script editor.
You will also attend two weekends of talks and script meetings at Channel 4’s Horseferry Rd building.
The course is designed so that writers should be able to take part even if in full-time employment (the only attendance is on two weekends, in January and June 2011, and you will have five months to write the required two drafts of a one hour drama script).
Writers will be paid a small fee for attending the course.
Here are all the details on how you can apply:
DATES: 21st and 22nd January 2012, 9th and 10th June 2012
Writers must ensure before entering that they are available to attend both weekends, and to write two drafts of a one hour television drama between 23rd January and 25th May 2011.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants should submit by email a CV and one writing sample. This can be a screenplay, a stage play or radio play, minimum length 30 minutes (novels, treatments, short stories, unfinished screenplays and “shorts” are not acceptable).
The scripts should be original, not episodes of existing drama series.
Email scripts and CV’s to:- 4screenwriting@script-consultant.co.uk
ELIGIBILITY:
Only writers who do not have a broadcast credit as a television or film writer may apply (although produced short films – 20 minutes or less – are exempt).
CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS: Tuesday November 1st 2011.
FEE:
Writers will be paid a fee for participating in the course and for completing two drafts of a one hour script. Writers will grant Channel 4 an option on their script and will be told within six months of the end of the course if Channel 4 wishes to exercise this option.
COURSE CONTENT: GENERAL
The purpose of the course is to offer 12 writers new to television drama an insight into the industry and to provide a “dry-run” of what it can be like to write under a television drama commission, for one hour series and serial drama, and to work with an experienced script editor.
Writers will be expected to write an original, pilot one-hour drama series or serial episode, and 2-3 page outline \ pitch for the series \ serial as a whole. Each writer will be assigned a script editor, who is currently working in the industry, to guide them through this process. The writers will meet with their script editors between the course weekends to discuss how to approach each draft. Second draft scripts will be sent to the script editor and two other writers on the course, for workshop discussions at the second weekend.
FIRST WEEKEND
Writers, directors, producers and script editors in the industry will give talks to the participants on a variety of subjects relating to television drama. There will also be time for writers to discuss their proposals and ideas for their one hour scripts with their assigned script editor.
SECOND WEEKEND
This will be split between a reading of a section of each script by actors on the first day, and discussion and analysis of each of the twelve finished scripts in small groups on the second day, finishing with a screening \ workshop and an overview of the course and of the specific requirements of series and serial television drama.
QUOTES FROM WRITERS ON THE 2011 COURSE:
‘The Channel 4 Screenwriting Course gave us an amazing opportunity to work with extremely talented industry professionals, and to develop a script with their help and guidance was truly invaluable. We came away having learnt so much and having made some great contacts who are still being very supportive even after the course has ended. A great opportunity for any writer trying to get ‘in’ to the industry.’
Natalie Malla & Xara Higgs
‘The weekend courses were fantastic and inspiring. I found the development process fun and I learnt so much. Working with a script editor made me realise that pitches and treatments could become useful tools for me as a writer and have given me confidence when approaching my next project. The course also gave me the courage to write the script I’d always wanted to write. It was so worth travelling from Belfast to attend this course.’
Deirdre Alexander
Philip Shelley
script-consultant
Sept 15th 2011
