Writing Academy
Spring is springing, and this year's Writing Academy is opening its doors.
The Academy is designed to help up-and-coming talent to find work on the BBC's Continuing Drama Series - that's Holby City, Casualty, Doctors, and EastEnders.
John Yorke, the BBC's Controller of Drama, explains what it's all about here.
So if you've had work performed professionally on film, TV, radio, or the stage, you can apply to be part of this year's intake.
Comments
This sounds like a great scheme, but why is it exclusive to writers who have had work produced professionally? I haven't, and therefore cannot apply. The fact is, it is extremely hard to get one's work on TV/radio/theatre etc. even when you are a very talented writer. I feel excluded from this opportunity.
It's not only for those people who've had something produced professionally Jan, but also those who've attended a Skillset recognised course - the BA (Hons) in Scriptwriting for Film and TV at Bournemouth University is one example.
When you've just started out, there's lots of opportunities for very new writers - but considerably less for those that tiny bit further along the road: The Nicholl Fellowship for example asks that its entrants have earned less than $3000 for their writing. This is only approx £1400. If you've earned this much writing, it's a great start, but you're hardly established. Perhaps this scheme and others like 25 Words or Less with the Film Council (who want Full Guild members and/or represented writers) want to redress the balance?
BTW, whilst we're on the subject of exclusion, how come my blog is off the blogroll? Was it something I said?? :(