We are delighted that our Open Call 21/22 (previously Script Room) is open for submissions from noon today; we can’t wait to get to work reading your work over the coming months.
As we’ve mentioned in previous blog posts and on our recent webinar (watch here), we are making some changes to the way in which we select writers via our Open Call and this year we’ll be using it to select not just our Drama Room group, but also our UK-wide Voices groups. So, all in all, we hope to be able to select up to 100 writers annually through the Open Call alone from across the length and breadth of the UK and in this way we hope to create many more open access points to BBC Writersroom support across the whole of the country.
Because we are using the Open Call to select a larger number of writers across two different programmes we will also be asking some questions within the submission process so that we can get a better sense of who you are and what motivates you as a writer, and so that we can design programmes of support and development that most meet the needs of our writers. This will really help us in the very final stages of selection when we are placing writers within specific groups.
All scripts will be read completely anonymously by the BBC Writersroom team and our team of brilliant and experienced readers, and we ask that you take your name off your script so that you can’t be identified through the reading stages. We think it’s incredibly important that all materials are read anonymously, and this is an integral part of the process and the way the BBC Writersroom operates and always has operated. We want your work to speak for itself. Only the BBC Writersroom team will have access to the answers you submit, and we will only read these when we are at the very end of the reading process and matching writers with their most suitable group.
We will be asking for answers to the following questions in support of your creative script samples. We wanted to share the details and give an indication of the sorts of things we would like to hear from you in relation to each:
Your Writing History
We want to know where your passion for writing has come from and what has kept you writing over the years. Perhaps you started writing in school or college, maybe you started out with a passion for writing plays, short stories or sketches that has grown over the years into something more serious. Please tell us about any work you have done to develop your writing and learn your craft: this could be as straight-forward as writing regularly in your free time, reading scripts in the BBC Writersroom script library, watching lots of TV series and films, watching webinars and talks from writers or being part of a writers’ group online or in your community.
You do not need to have any credits, awards or professionally produced work. We just want to understand your passion for writing and a little bit of the journey you have been on up to this point.
What do you hope to gain and/or what skills and contacts do you hope to develop by taking part in one of our programmes of professional development support? Why do you feel that this is the right time for you to take part?
We want to understand where you are in your development as a writer and your motivation for submitting your work to us. We’re keen to know what you would like to get out of Voices or Drama Room and why you feel you would get the most out of the opportunity now. The answer to this question will be very different for everyone, but it could be as simple as you feel you are now ready to make more industry connections with agents/producers, or you would like to meet and connect with other writers at the same stage as you, or you would like to feel more confident or supported as a writer. Or perhaps you are simply keen to explore and develop your voice within a specific television context after honing your craft in other areas.
Are there any particular subjects or topics you would like the programme to cover?
It is very important to us that we build the most useful and appropriate programmes of development support for our writers. We want to be responsive to the needs of our writers and provide speakers, sessions and opportunities that really help writers to take the next steps in their careers with purpose and confidence. Please don’t be afraid to tell us what would most help you and any topics that you would like to cover or perhaps even speakers that you would like to hear from.
Which TV drama or comedy drama series have you most enjoyed over the last two years and why?
We want to know what you love to watch and how you engage with current TV output. Please tell us which show you never miss, what have you binged over a weekend, which characters have stayed with you and whose brilliant writing has inspired you? Is there a series you wish you had been involved with over recent years? For this question we just want to know what you’ve been watching that was broadcast/released in the last two years and what has surprised/excited/entertained you.
Are there any areas in the UK/Republic of Ireland, other than where you currently reside, that you have a connection to? If so, please explain.
One of our biggest priorities is to represent and develop writers from across the nations and regions of the UK/ROI. It is really helpful for us to be able to map writers to the most appropriate group for them so please let us know if you have a connection to a nation or region which is different from where you currently reside.
Please don’t feel intimidated by these questions, there are no right or wrong answers to any of this and we won’t be using it as a tool to determine who gets selected, for that we want the script alone to speak for you. We will use these questions to help us to ensure we place writers in the programmes which will benefit them the most and help the BBC Writersroom team to design the most useful and inspiring programmes for our writers.
I hope this information is helpful, please do comment below or join us for one of our Open Call online drop-in sessions if you would like to ask any questions or seek further clarity on anything.
Good luck with your submissions, we look forward to reading your work!
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The two main programmes of writer development support we will identify participants for via the Open Call are:
Voices
UK-wide programme (6 x groups UK-wide)
Description:
Voices is a six-month professional development programme for emerging writers who have a strong creative track record in other creative fields (theatre, short film, comedy, spoken word etc) but are new to television writing.
The programme will offer an insight into how the industry works with expert masterclasses, craft sessions, roundtables and discussions providing participants with the core tools and knowledge to write for broadcast television. Writers will hear from industry guests such as professional screenwriters, producers, commissioners and agents, as well as connecting and developing professional relationships with writing peers amongst the group.
We will also help participants to define and develop a TV treatment as part of their time with us on Voices and we will select the strongest idea(s) to receive a dedicated amount of time working with a script editor to refine their treatment and lay the groundwork for an original spec script.
Size:
We will run six Voices groups annually across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. Up to 12 writers per group (circa 70 - 80 across the whole of the UK) will be invited to take part in the six-month programme. The majority of the sessions will take place online via Zoom, however, we hope to bring individual groups together in-person at certain points in the year for networking and/or specific sessions.
Drama Room
(1x UK-wide group)
Description:
Drama Room is a one-year writer development programme for emerging writers who demonstrate a distinctive, original voice and an understanding of the fundamentals of writing compelling stories for contemporary television audiences.
Participants will usually meet once a month (via a blend of in-person events and online) for an initial six months to receive targeted training and development including craft workshops with practical writing exercises, masterclasses, industry introductions and networking events, and writing briefs with the chance to pitch for select writing opportunities across the BBC. Following this stage, participants will receive the support of a professional Script Editor for a further 6 months to develop an original spec script.
The overall aim of Drama Room is to develop and prepare talented emerging writers for the television drama industry by equipping them with the core skills, industry knowledge and connections to set them on the right track to gain BBC broadcast commissions.
Size:
There are normally 15 - 20 writers on the Drama Room programme from across the whole of the UK.
Cost:
Our programmes are all free to attend for successful applicants and we will cover all reasonable travel and accommodation costs as necessary. Participants will also benefit from the ongoing support of the Writersroom team throughout the duration of the programme.
