Checking in with some opportunities news

Things have been busy. Like, really busy. And I apologise for not blogging a bit more regularly. Normal service will hopefully be resumed soon. But in the meantime here some new competitions and opportunities I recently heard about:

Courtesy of Hayley McKenzie, check out a new short script fund for UK Screenwriters.

Not new but courtesy of Screendaily, more information about Industrial Scripts and their Talent Connector programme.

Courtesy of Bang2Write, Bafta Rocliffe Forum has been asked if we know of writers with a short film script that would suit Arabic sensibilities for a Dubai director - got something? Email us scripts@rocliffe.com

And, a director has contacted Rocliffe looking for a short script led by a strong, female character. Email outline to scripts@rocliffe.com

Finally, courtesy of Phill Barron, another Circalit short script competition. The deadline for entries is 10th September 2011. Scripts should be no more than 5 pages in length.

That's all for now folks.

Sixty Second Stories

Sixty Second Stories is a global survey of cinematic storytelling from a new generation of filmmakers. Emerging filmmakers from all over the world are being asked to produce Sixty Second Stories - the best ninety stories will become a feature film. The feature will premiere at the 2012 Berlinale, before playing festivals around the world.

Deadline: 3rd October 2011

To find out more, download an entry form and preview some of the other films submitted so far, visit the Sixty Second Stories website.

Graduate Trainee Scheme for Junior Script Editor

These sorts of jobs very rarely get advertised so it sounds a bit awesome for a new graduate:

Leading UK drama indie Mammoth Screen (www.mammothscreen.com) is introducing a Graduate Trainee Scheme for Junior Script Editors. The successful applicant must have graduated in 2010 or 2011, and will be offered a year’s contract (from September) at Mammoth’s London office, working on a wide variety of projects in development and production. We are looking for a hard working team player with an incisive mind, good imagination and a genuine passion for storytelling. Please write a 1500-word critique of a British terrestrial TV drama which has transmitted in the last month, telling us what you liked and didn’t like about it, and giving constructive suggestions as to how the script could have been improved. Please send your applications to enquiries@mammothscreen.com - Deadline 18th July.

Apply with CV here

Coming Up 2012 - Deadline Extended!

Just in case you thought you missed it - the deadline is now Tuesday 28th June

Full details can be found here

Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award 2011

It's that time of year again Part II:

Each year The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awards the Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award.

The competition is designed to motivate non-American novice writers under the age of 30, and to offer them the recognition and encouragement that might lead to a successful career in television scriptwriting. Entrants are asked to create a completed half-hour to one-hour English-language television drama script for a family audience. The deadline for submissions is July 1st.

The winner will be flown to New York City to be presented with an award and a US$2,500 prize at the International Emmy® World Television Festival on November 19, 2011. The winning script will be read by actors in front of an audience at the Festival, and the winner will be invited to take part in the red carpet festivities at the 39th International Emmy® Awards on November 21, 2011.

Application forms can be downloaded here

I've blogged about the award and my experiences with it numerous times. Click on the labels below and that should take you to everything you need to know.

As in previous years, if anyone wants to read my script The Storyteller they are welcome to. Just email me at the usual address, jezfreedman"at"hotmail.co.uk and keep to the one and only rule - it's for your personal use only.

Shameless plug as ever - if anyone wants feedback on their entry before they send it off (not much use after is it - boom) then details of my service can be found here. Don't leave it to the last minute though. For one thing, it makes my head hurt. For another, hoping that my feedback is useful, you'll want time to redraft before you send it.

Best of luck everyone

Pitch For FREE Online With Talent Circle

I've been a bit slow on the uptake on this but it's a great initiative spearheaded by Lucy together with Talent Circle. Pitching, writing loglines and a synopsis is a skill in itself that almost bears no relation to writing a script. But like most things they share this in common - the more you practice the better you get. Here are the details:

Want to pitch for FREE, online?

First you need to register with Talent Circle (this is free).

To place a pitch on the bulletin, there are a few things you need to know first. First off, we've introduced some guidelines for pitches. We ask that all pitches follow this format:

1) Title

2) Genre

3) Format (ie. short, feature, web series, treatment, etc)

4) Logline (25-30 words max)

5) Short Synopsis (60-100 words maximum)

6) Writer Bio (2 short sentences max – ie. Credits? Projects? Screenwriting MA? Blog URL? Etc)

In order to pitch, you need to post to the NOTICEBOARD. Here's how you do it:

1) Log in and create a "submit a posting"

2) Select "Notice (or just about everything else)"

3) Choose your email response.

3) Fill in the details (remembering the guidelines above please!)

4) Under "classification" choose "Script Pitch" - Submit and you're done!

FYI - We ask that writers only submit two pitches a day and to check their pitches have gone up BEFORE submitting duplicate postings. If for any reason your pitch is declined in the first instance, we will give a reason why and a second opportunity to submit.

LAST OF ALL:

Writers pitching on the bulletin are expected to be looking to connect with other writers, producers, directors, etc and to welcome communication from colleagues. However, if YOU are offering constructive criticism to writers on their pitches, please be aware of the TONE and CONTENT of your messages! Excessive negativity/confrontational attitudes to pitches placed on the site are NOT WELCOME and will be not be tolerated by Talent Circle.

GOOD LUCK!

Please pass this great FREE opportunity on to all your writing friends.

Coming Up 2012

It's that time of year again:

Coming Up 2012

COMING UP is currently the only talent scheme in the UK where emerging filmmakers have the opportunity to make an authored drama with a guaranteed network broadcast. Now in its tenth year, Channel 4 and Touchpaper Television continue their commitment to innovation, experimentation and new voices.

Commissioned by Channel 4 and produced by Touchpaper Television, part of the Zodiak Media Group, the aim of the series is to create eye-catching, innovative, challenging films.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR COMING UP 2012

We will make 7 films for a half-hour Channel 4 slot.

What do we look for?

Bold, original and surprising ideas with strong voices – unafraid of ambition, wit, urgency and fearless entertainment. Films that can be shot in four days on a limited budget.

Who can apply?

We are looking for the best fresh and talented filmmakers out there.

• Writers who have not had an original single, series or serial broadcast on UK television. Writers who have contributed episodes or series and serials (eg a long-running soap) are now eligible to apply.
• Directors without a primetime TV drama credit.
• Writer/Directors: We will accept submissions from writer/directors who meet the criteria for writers and directors as per above, but excellence in both disciplines must be shown to be considered in this category.

Submissions from multi-cultural and regionally-based filmmakers are encouraged.

How to apply:
Application forms are available here.

Submissions accepted by POST ONLY to:
COMING UP 2012
Touchpaper Television
3-6 Kenrick Place
London W1U 6HD

Deadline for Applications: 1pm on Thursday 9th June 2011