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WFTV KAY MELLOR
SCREENWRITERS’ LAB 2024

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SPONSORED BY

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applications are now CLOSED

ABOUT THE LAB

To spotlight and support emerging female writing talent in film and TV, Women in Film & TV UK is hosting our second annual WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab 2024 sponsored by Miss Scarlet Ltd.

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The programme will consist of craft writing masterclasses and workshops led by two course tutors from the film and TV industry, independent writing time to focus and hone your script and a 1-2-1 session with a tutor to offer project guidance. In addition, across the week there will be evening sessions and a special guest from the industry.

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This 5-day writers’ lab is a fully-funded opportunity for 13 screenwriters and will take place from Monday 30 September – Saturday 05 October 2024 at the Arvon Foundation’s The Hurst centre in Shropshire.

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The WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab will be an opportunity for you to build confidence in your craft and develop your writing voice by participating in workshops led by course tutors from the industry, create a network of peers, and have independent writing time to work intensely on one script at final draft stage and develop it over the course of the lab to be pitch ready, in a supportive and distraction free environment.

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We are looking for exciting emerging writers who are actively working on original scripts and are looking to attract industry interest in their work to take them to the next stage of their career; whether that is looking to be represented by an Agent or Manager or pitching your project to independent production companies. 

ABOUT KAY MELLOR 

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Born and bred in Leeds, Kay Mellor was a unique talent in the industry, creating some of the most talked about TV and stage shows in the country. A director, actress and executive producer as well as a writer, Kay was perhaps best known for creating ground-breaking drama series such as Band of Gold and Girlfriends.


Kay was always passionate about mentoring emerging talent – she worked closely with new writers to develop their ideas for television and stage through schemes with the BBC and Leeds Playhouse. Rollem came from her desire to tell real stories, to work with local people and to shine a spotlight on creativity. Rollem continues along the trail she blazed to honour her incredible legacy and ensure the next generation of writing talent get their voices heard. 

Kay was awarded the BAFTA Dennis Potter Award in 1997 for Outstanding Writing for Television. She was appointed an OBE in the 2009 Birthday Honours, and in 2014 she was awarded the Writers Guild Award for Outstanding Contribution to Writing. She also received a Fellowship for significant contribution to television from the Royal Television Society in November 2016. 

APPLICATION PROCESS: WRITER SUBMISSIONS

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR APPLYING 

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The WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab is an opportunity to develop emerging female writers who have some writing experience and are looking to take the next step in their career to achieve their first screenwriting credit in either Film or TV, whether that is finding an agent or pitching their project to an independent production company.

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We are looking for writers who demonstrate a talent for crafting rich characters, exciting stories, fresh perspectives and who have a distinctive writing voice. We want to support writers looking to break through into the industry and help them achieve their first film or TV screenwriting credit.

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This opportunity is for unrepresented writers who do not yet have a professional screenwriting credit and are actively working on a script (or more than one project) that is at final draft stage.

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Writers taking part in the lab will be required to select one of their scripts to develop across the week. The script/screenplay selected by the writer must be original work but can be a series (pilot episode), feature film or short film for either Adult or Young Adult audiences.

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To be eligible to apply to take part in the Kay MELLOR Screenwriters’ Lab you must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

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  • This opportunity is for women and people who identify as women who are unrepresented by an Agent or Manager and do not yet have a professionally produced film or TV writing credit. On this occasion WFTV is defining a writing credit as:  

    • Any film, TV or short film work you have been credited on, and received payment for, as a writer, co-writer or if you have been part of a writers room for 

    • Any film, TV or short film project that has had professional distribution by cinema or streamer 

    • Any film, TV or short film project that has been broadcast on TV or online in the English language 

    • A writing credit for a factual or non-scripted project for writing significant dramatic reconstruction sequences 

    • International writing credits do count if the work is in the English language 

    • Writing credits for self-funded projects are not considered a professional writing credit on this occasion. 
       

  • Writers who have received public funding bursaries and/or grants for projects are eligible to apply.

  • Writers who have projects which are currently under option with a contract agreement in place, or have received paid development with a production company are not eligible to apply.

  • If you receive a film or TV writing credit during the application process or before the Screenwriters’ Lab date your application will no longer be eligible, meaning we can offer this opportunity to another writer.

  • Applications must be made on an individual basis and for one writer only. We are not accepting co-written scripts or projects on this occasion. Applications submitted with a script which is co-written as a writing sample will be ineligible and disregarded.

  • Applicants who are represented by an Agent or Manager in another capacity (e.g. Literary Agent) or represented for their work as a director, actor or producer are eligible to apply.

  • You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of your application.

  • You must be a permanent/full time resident of the UK, but do not need to have been born in the UK or have UK citizenship.

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APPLYING TO TAKE PART IN THE WFTV KAY MELLOR SCREENWRITERS’ LAB:

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Please read the below guidelines carefully. As part of the application process candidates must complete the below application form and are asked to submit the following supporting documents which will be read by an industry jury*: 

  1. A sample script of your work (maximum 7 pages, excluding cover page) 

  2. An accompanying pitch document for the script outlining the project (maximum 2 pages, excluding cover page) 

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*Please note incomplete applications will be ineligible and disregarded.  

We strongly recommend that you write and save your responses to the application questions on a word processor such as Microsoft Word, Pages or a Google Document first before copying and pasting them into our Typeform application form.  

Criteria

HOW TO APPLY

Screenwriters Application
  • Applicants will be asked to complete an application form. This is an opportunity to tell us about yourself, your career to date and why you want to take part in the WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab. 

  • As part of the application form you will be asked to upload a writing sample of your own original work. This sample must be an extract from a script and must be no longer than 7 pages (excluding cover page) at final draft stage. Your sample script can be an extract of an original series (pilot episode), original feature film or short film for either Adult or Young Adult Audiences.  

  • Sample scripts must be in PDF format and include a cover page with the following details: title of work and your name. 

  • In addition to a sample script, applicants must also submit an accompanying pitch document for the project including the story synopsis, logline and intended audience and broadcaster or SVOD. This pitch document is an opportunity for you to position your script within the current film or TV market. Pitch documents should be no longer than 2 pages. 

  • Pitch documents must be in PDF format and include a cover page with the following details: title of work, your name.  

  • Please ensure both documents are saved under the following file name format “FIRST NAME-LAST NAME-SCRIPT TITLE”  

  • In addition to submitting your script and pitch document, you will be required to complete an application form to tell us a bit more about yourself, writing career so far and why you would like to take part in the WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab. 

 

Applications opened on Monday 13 May 2024. Due to the high level of interest, applications for this initiative will close once we receive our maximum capacity for submissions or by Tuesday 28 May 2024 at 17:00 (BST), whichever comes first.*

 

*For applicants with access requirements applications will remain open until Tuesday 28 May 2024.

 

WFTV reserves the right to close applications early for this opportunity.  

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We highly recommend you submit your application as soon as possible and in advance of the deadline. It is your responsibility to ensure that you leave enough time to complete the submission process. 

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Applications received after the deadline or once the submission capacity is reached will NOT be considered. 

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Applicants who are long-listed will be contacted and asked to then submit a copy of the full script to be read by a reading panel.

 

The final round of candidates will then be considered by an industry jury, who will award places on the WFTV Kay Mellor Writers’ Screenwriters’ Lab. The jury will be made up of experts from across the Film and TV industry. 

Key Terms for entering the
2024 WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab

This opportunity is for women and people who identify as women who are unrepresented by an Agent or Manager and do not yet have a professionally produced writing credit in film or TV. Please read carefully the eligibility criteria for further details on what is considered a writing credit for this opportunity. 

 

If you receive a film or TV writing credit during the application process or before the Screenwriters’ Lab date your application will no longer be eligible, meaning we can offer this opportunity to another writer. 

 

You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of your application. 

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You must be a permanent/full time resident of the UK, but do not need to have been born in the UK or have UK citizenship. 

 

We are not accepting co-written scripts or projects on this occasion, applications with co-written scripts submitted as a writing sample will be ineligible and disregarded. 

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Applications opened Monday 13 May 2024. Due to the high level of interest, applications for this initiative will close once we receive our maximum capacity for submissions or by Tuesday 28 May at 17:00 (BST), whichever comes first.*

 

*For applicants with access requirements applications will remain open until Tuesday 28 May 2024.

 

WFTV reserves the right to close applications early for this opportunity.  

 

We highly recommend you submit your application as soon as possible and in advance of the deadline. It is your responsibility to ensure that you leave enough time to complete the submission process. 

 

Due to the high number of applications we receive it is not possible to give individual feedback on unsuccessful applications, however we will let you know if your application is unsuccessful. Successful applicants agree to participate in any relevant publicity. 

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION HERE

Please note, we only accept one application per person. Please do not submit multiple scripts.

 

If you'd like to look at the questions before. completing the application form, you can view them here. 

THE 2023 COHORT

In October 2023 WFTV UK launched its inaugural WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab 2023, sponsored by Miss Scarlet Limited, to spotlight and support emerging female writing talent in the film and TV industry.

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Hosted at the Arvon Foundation’s Lumb Bank house located in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, the 5-day writers’ lab programme consisted of craft writing masterclasses and workshops was led by course tutors Lisa Holdsworth (Ackley Bridge, Call the Midwife, Waterloo Road) and Olivia Hetreed (Girl with a Pearl Earring, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Wuthering Heights). 

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In addition, evening sessions included a conversation with Happy Valley creator and writer Sally Wainwright OBE, and Life in Pictures – a retrospective look at Kay Mellor’s work with Yvonne Francas-Mellor and Gaynor Mellor, Managing Director and Creative Director at Rollem Productions.

FAQs

FAQs

What IS CONSIDERED A PROFESSIONAL WRITING CREDIT?

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You can read the eligibility criteria here which outlines what a professional writing credit is considered for this opportunity.

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I currently have a script under option, am I eligible to apply? 


Writers who have projects which are currently under option with a contract agreement in place or have received paid development with a production company are not eligible to apply. 

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Why is a script sample and pitch document required as part of the application process?

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This opportunity is for writers who are currently at final draft stage of a script with a developed project idea and are looking to take the next step to achieving their first film or TV screenwriting credit, whether that’s finding representation or pitching your project to a production company. For your submissions, the script sample and the pitch documentbhave to be the same idea.  

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Over the course of the lab, writers will have opportunity to work on and develop one script across the week. 

Your script and pitch document will be read by a reading panel and industry jury to get a sense of your writing style and project idea so the jury can determine whether it is at the right stage to benefit from the opportunity. 

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What’s the selection process?

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All eligible application forms (i.e. those that meet the eligibility criteria and have complied with the submission requirements) are reviewed by WFTV. Long-listed candidates will then have their scripts read by a panel of readers.  

Applications of shortlisted candidates will then be reviewed by a jury of experienced industry figures who will award the 13 places to writers.

 

Applicants will be updated on the status of their application in Summer 2024. 

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I’m freelance and don’t know my work schedule – what happens if I can’t make the Lab dates? 

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In order to make the most out of the lab, all writers awarded a place must be available to attend the course for the full five days, Monday 30 September – Saturday 05 October 2024. 

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Of course, we all understand that life gets busy and sometimes work commitments can’t be altered however to make the most of this opportunity candidates must be available to attend the full retreat and we encourage you to keep the dates pencilled in your diary. 

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What happens if I receive a screenwriting credit in Film or TV before the Lab takes place? 

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If you receive a film or TV writing credit during the application process or before the Screenwriters’ Lab date your application will no longer be eligible, meaning we can offer this opportunity to another writer. 

 

Is there an age restriction for applicants on the scheme? 

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You must be over the age of 18 at the time of application.

 

I would like to submit a script I have co-written with another writer, should we submit a joint application form? 

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No, applications must be made on an individual basis and for one writer only. We are not accepting co-written scripts or projects on this occasion. 

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Can WFTV accommodate access requirements? 

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At WFTV we want our events to be accessible for everyone, if you have any access requirements please let us know within your application. Please contact admin@wftv.org.uk if you’d like to discuss in more detail.

 

Do I have to pay a fee to take part in the Screenwriters’ Lab? 

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All places on the WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab are fully funded.  

For the opportunity to be financially accessible to all candidates, a discretionary bursary is available for limited contributions towards travel and access if this is a barrier to attending. 

 

Is it possible to save my answers on the Typeform application form? 

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Unfortunately it isn’t. We strongly recommend that you write and save your responses to the application questions on a word processor such as Microsoft Word, Pages or a Google Document first before copying and pasting them into our Typeform application form.

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Should I have received a confirmation email after I have submitted my application? 

 

Yes, after submitting your application you will receive a confirmation email. 

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Do I have to be a member of WFTV to apply?

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No. You do not have to be a member to apply. If you are awarded a place on the lab we would expect you to become a member by the time the programme starts in September.

THE WFTV KAY MELLOR'S SCREENWRITERS' LAB
IS SPONSORED BY MISS SCARLET LTD.

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Miss Scarlet Limited has produced five series of Miss Scarlet and the Duke / Miss Scarlet (Alibi/MasterpiecePBS).

 

Miss Scarlet is the story of the fictional Eliza Scarlet who through her persistence and determination becomes London’s first female private detective. The Miss Scarlet team is composed of Patty Lenahan Ishimoto, Patrick Irwin, Jin Ishimoto and Harvey Myman together with creator/showrunner Rachael New and her writing partner Ben Edwards.

 

In addition to Miss Scarlet and the Duke their span of credits includes The Fall, Clean Sweep and Trollied. The driving force for the team is to produce compelling, story-driven content with an authentic voice to meet the demands of a discriminating global television audience.

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