Channel 4 has teamed up with writing agency New Writing North and Northumbria University to find new writers from the North of England.
The writing scheme is open anyone who is new to television, with three successful candidates being placed within independent production companies Lime Pictures and Bonafide Films, where they will undergo mentoring to develop their writing skills.
They will also each receive bursaries of £3,000 to support their time at Lime Pictures or Bonafide Films, along with a nine-month package of training and development from staff at the production companies.
Two writers will work on Lime Pictures’ award-winning serial Hollyoaks and will shadow the process of developing a script, from first draft to broadcast. At the end of the development period they may have the opportunity to undertake a paid commission for an episode of the serial drama.
The third writer will spend nine months being mentored by Bonafide Films, which is currently in production on The Last Post, a drama written by BAFTA winner Peter Moffat, for BBC One. The writer will develop a new idea for a television drama during their time here and at the end of the process their first episode may be commissioned.
The Northern Writers’ Awards are the annual writing development programme run by New Writing North, which has supported more than 200 writers since 2000. Previous winners Sharma Walfall and Nuzhat Ali, have recently been commissioned by Lime Pictures and RED Production Company, where they initially spent their placements.
Judges at Channel 4 and Northumbria University Writing for Television Awards are looking for northern writers and entries are encouraged from those who are currently under-represented in the industry, including Black, Asian, minority ethnic, LGBT and disabled writers.
Lee Mason, Commissioning Executive for Drama at Channel 4 said: “Channel 4 has a great track record in seeking out and nurturing new talent and launching the careers of some of our industry’s most talented and creative people which is why we continue to support the Northern Writers Awards.”
Entrants should be new to television writing, but may be published or produced in another form. You can only enter online at www.northernwritersawards.com.
Entries are open until the 2nd of February 2017.
