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Writer’s Workshop

by Brandon T.

Use Code: WAN2020 For a $20 Discount!

What is it?

The Writers Assistant Network is teaming up with Roadmap Writers for our fifth annual WAN Writers’ Workshop. It’s an opportunity for ten amazing up-and-coming writers to workshop their material with experienced working writers and other well-established creatives, then get read and likely represented by agents and managers from dozens of major companies.

The ten winners will meet for 12 weeks to workshop each other’s scripts. Each writer will be matched with a showrunner and/or other well-established creative who will come in as a guest to give detailed notes. Previous years’ guests included executive producers, show creators, and other writers from “Jessica Jones”, “Insecure”, “Swamp Thing”, “Swat”, “Power”, “Elementary”, “Dynasty”, “Boomerang”, “October Faction”, “Hand of God”, “Good Behavior”, and many more.

Once the scripts have all been workshopped and are in tip-top shape, they will be sent out to dozens of agencies, management companies, and production companies. More than half of all winners from previous years and two thirds from 2019 ended up finding representation either directly through the program or with its help, with winners landing at companies including Abrams Artists Agency, Affirmative Entertainment, APA, Bellevue, Chemical Imbalance, Fictional Entity, Grade A, Grandview, Good Fear, Gotham, Kaplan Stahler, and many more. Additionally, unlike other programs that send the winners out and never talk to them again, WAN and Roadmap will keep pushing winners to reps and other execs for months or even years after the program is over because we CARE about our winners and are invested in their success.

As when putting together a modern TV writers’ room, writing teams will be treated as a single applicant. Diversity of backgrounds among the participants will be a priority.

Eight of the ten spots are assigned to writers currently working as writers’ assistants or other support staff on TV shows. Two spots are open to the general public — INCLUDING PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE LA AREA. Each year we have had someone Skype in from afar, including from Mexico, North Carolina, and New Zealand.

THE WRITER’S ASSISTANT NETWORK is a professional networking organization for writers currently working as TV assistants — script coordinators, writers’ assistants, showrunners’ assistants, writers’ PAs, and so on. In 2015, WAN launched its first Writers Workshop to find the strongest voices currently working in assistant positions — as well as a couple of writers not working in those positions — to help give them the resources they need to reach the next level.

ROADMAP WRITERS aims to bridge the gap between fresh, talented voices and the industry execs who can make things happen. Roadmap is a hub for writers who have the talent, put in the work, and take advantage of every opportunity to build relationships with executives from all corners of the industry. Roadmap’s motto is “Get Real. Get Ready. Get Traction.” In the past 2 years Roadmap has helped 64 writers get signed to places like CAA, Circle of Confusion, Gotham Group, Gersh, and The Shuman Company. Roadmap is also working with the WGA and the PGA on Gender Diversity Initiatives

Who is eligible?

There are two application categories:

1) GENERAL PUBLIC applications are open to anyone, anywhere. There are TWO slots for the general public.

2) WRITERS ASSISTANT NETWORK applications are open to anyone who, at the time of their application, is working in the writers’ office of a WGA-signatory show (including Script Coordinators, Writers Assistants, Executive Assistants, and Writers PAs), OR working for a writer who has an active development project (ie a project for which she or he is getting paid by a WGA signatory), within the last 8 months. There are EIGHT of these slots.

Applicants in all categories MUST NOT HAVE FULL REPRESENTATION at the time of their application. (Having a manager or agent is fine, just not both.)

Teleplays must be written in English and in standard industry format, with a maximum half-hour length of 40 pages and drama length of 65.

Teleplay must be the original work of the Entrant and may not be based whole or in part on any fictional or non-fictional material, published or unpublished, produced or unproduced for which the Entrant does not have rights.

The rights to the Entrant’s teleplay must not have been previously optioned or sold.

After a teleplay is entered, no new drafts or corrected pages can be made by the Entrant. No exceptions.

Only TV scripts are accepted. No features or shorts.

Entrants must submit teleplays and payment online.

Entrants applying in the Writers Assistant Category without meeting the prescribed criteria will be automatically disqualified without refund of their application fee.

Benefits!

By the end of the program, you will have a script that’s been whipped into top shape by your peers and veteran industry professionals.

The final drafts of your script will be sent out to dozens of agency and management companies that are eagerly looking for new talent, as well as a variety of production companies looking for new material.

At least half of the winners from both the 2016 & 2017 workshops, and 2/3rds and counting from 2018, were signed shortly after their scripts were submitted. And WAN and Roadmap recently set up a new round of meetings for a 2016 winner because we never stop caring about our alums.

Apply Today!

WAN Writers Workshop proudly accepts entries via FilmFreeway.com, the world’s best online submission platform. FilmFreeway offers free HD online screeners, unlimited video storage, digital press kits, and more. Click to submit with FilmFreeway.