It’s that time of year again – contest/fellowship/program application time. If you are planning to enter any of the studio-run programs you are very likely trying to polish up a script or two to submit.
Of course, we all know there’s that infernal “personal statement” to be written, and your resume to be updated too.
So, guess what — a couple of changes are coming to the Disney-ABC Fellowship. I happened to attend an information session about the annual program this weekend, and learned the following:
1. It’s no longer a fellowship. At least, in name. The official name is now Disney-ABC Writers Program. This only applies to the writing, not the directing or production, which I believe are still called fellowships.
2. Yes, it’s $50k for one year working in the program. Because there’s a salary involved here a very strong word of warning: Writing partnerships stand a very slim chance of being accepted. The reason for this is primarily that due to the fact that they pay you in this program, they can’t split that pay between 2 people, so you are treated for the sake of the program, as 2 individuals, even if you submit together (which they still encourage you to do). Trouble is, that means 2 writing partners, if they got accepted, take 2 slots in the program. The word of caution delivered at the info session was that the writing sample has to be AMAZING for a writing team to be considered. So, keep that in mind, because clearly WB and NBC do not have this restriction and seem to actually like getting 2-for-1 in a writing partnership.
3. NO MORE NOTARY!! This was greated with loud applause. If you’ve ever applied to the program before, you know what a pain it can be trying to get your application notarized in time for the deadline. So, this year they are moving to submissions on CD. You’ll be asked to send your script, resume, statement and other materials on a CD-ROM (saving trees!) You will need to print out the application so it can be signed, and they ask that you scan it back in as a .PDF with your signature and put that with the other materials to submit on CD. Still, small price to pay (meaning, none) to now submit in a much more logical manner.
4. They still don’t accept pilots. Do not even put them as a supplemental work (if requested). You must submit either a half-hour or hourlong spec of an existing show (does NOT have to be an ABC show).
The application and instructions will go live on June 1st, which is the first day submissions will be accepted. The deadline is July 1st. You can go to their website here.
Finally, thanks to Screenplaylab.com for holding the information session!
Posted under writing
This post was written by Shawna on May 26, 2010
