As part of Starz’s Ongoing #TakeTheLead Initiative To support behind-the-scenes and on-screen recording, the network is launching a program to train writers with historically excluded backgrounds in writing for premium cable.
The Starz #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive is a first collaboration with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers and NewFilmmakers Los Angeles. Eligible entrants must come from a background that is traditionally underrepresented among television writers (including all races other than whites). To ensure that participants are positioned to take maximum advantage of the program’s offerings, they must either have had at least one writing credit for a completed short or feature film that has been accepted to a film festival, or have a story department. related credit (such as writer’s assistant, staff writer, showrunner’s assistant, script coordinator) on a TV show.
“It’s incredibly important to empower underrepresented writers of all backgrounds to tell their own stories, and we’re excited to provide a high level of access through this new program,” said Kathryn Busby, Starz’s president of original programming. a statement.
Ten writers will be selected to participate in phase one of the intensive, which will take place from August 22 to September 16 and will involve mentorship from industry professionals to help them develop an episode handling and pitch. A jury will then select four of those writers to advance to phase two, which takes place from October 3 to November 4, where they will write a fully specified script for the episode, with support from industry executives and creatives.
“Through programs and partnerships like these, NALIP is committed to correcting the systemic underrepresentation and chronic misrepresentation of Latine and all BIPOC communities on screen and behind the scenes,” NALIP President Karla Pita Loor said in a statement.
Applications must be submitted by July 29 on the Coverfly portal of the intensive.
“Providing opportunities like the Starz #TakeTheLead Writers’ Intensive are at the heart of NFMLA and NALIP’s missions. Both of our programs work year-round to cultivate opportunities for untapped talent, and we couldn’t be happier to launch this premium TV writing program in partnership with Starz,” NFMLA co-founder and executive director Larry Laboe said in a statement. “The program combines education, access, and a real writer’s room opportunity, and that’s the kind of access that next-generation talent really needs.”