Narrative Script Fellowship
Women in Film & Video DC ⟩ Narrative Script Fellowship
Vision to Viability: WIFV Narrative Script Development Fellowship
Through the nine-month WIFV Narrative Script Development Fellowship, open only to WIFV members, accomplished film professionals will work with 4-6 Fellows to take feature-length scripts from page to production. The scripts will become the basis of collaboration between the mentors and Fellows. Three meetings per month with mentors – will workshop the scripts through all aspects of pre-production and development. The Fellows will also meet monthly, forming a cohort to support each other as they move out of the Fellowship. By program’s end, the Fellows will have a shooting script, budget, a plan to make their films and access funds, OR a project they can successfully pitch to producers outside of their teams. This Fellowship will enhance the local narrative film infrastructure and strengthen the Mid-Atlantic as an independent film production hub.
Welcome to the ’23 Fellows!
Jane Barbara, LAND OF ENCHANTMENT
Alan Field, RICHIE BOY
Kathy Li, REFUGE
Heather Morgan, RIVER BLUFF
Alexis Siegel, OFF BASE
Morgen Whiteman, AFRICAN AMERICAN
Congrats to the ’22 Fellows!
Alyscia Cunningham, SURVEYANCE
Joe Dzikiewicz, DOMICIDAL
Laura Kroeger, BIGGER IN TEXAS
Bridget Bell McMahon, TURNING POINTE
Mark Ricche, THE CONGREGATION
2023 Schedule
March 20, 2023 – Fellows will be notified of their selection. They should plan to devote 15-20 hours/month to the program including meetings and script revisions. It will be a mix of online and in-person programming. Expect to block out Thursday evenings! Fellows will be funded to attend ScriptDC workshops. Mentors and Fellows will provide feedback monthly to identify additional subject matter needs.
April 2023 – Pitch Master Class; mid-month cohort meeting; mentor check-in.
May 2023 – Director’s Engagement Master Class; mid-month cohort meeting; mentor check-in.
June 2023 – Script Breakdown Master Class; mid-month cohort meeting; mentor check-in.
July 2023 – Casting Master Class; mid-month cohort meeting; mentor check-in.
August 2023 – Distribution Master Class; mid-month cohort meeting; mentor check-in.
September 2023 – Financing Master Class and Crowdfunding Master Class; mid-month cohort meeting; mentor check-in.
October 2023 – Pitch Deck Master Class; mid-month cohort meeting; mentor check-in.
November 2023 – Find Your Crew and Pitch Refresher; mid-month cohort meeting; mentor check-in.
December 2023 – Make Your Pitch; Mentors review final presentation materials; final evaluations; congratulations and networking.
Who’s Involved?
Mark Maxey, Rolling Pictures
Alison Rosa, pRoVoking Entertainment
Joan Darling, Director
Claudia Myers, Writer/Director
Steve Douglas-Craig, Lit Vision Media
Anne Chapman, Anne Chapman Casting
SAG-AFTRA
Kurt Klaus, Esq.
Bri Castellini, Seed and Spark
Jay Schlossberg, Media Central LLC/Media Central Films
Sheila Smith, Director of Photography
David O’Ferrall, IATSE 487
Sara Elizabeth Timmins, Life Out Loud Productions
Laurie Scheer, Writing/Pitching Coach
Diana Kerew, Writing/Pitching Coach
Application Process
Application process starts here. There is a $50 application fee. Applicants must be WIFV Members in good standing. Application deadline for the 2024 program will be announced in Fall 2023. Expect an early February deadline.
Applications are to be submitted electronically by 6:30 pm (eastern time). Application process starts here. The applicant must provide:
- Contact info;
- Title and logline for script under consideration;
- Feature-length narrative script OR pilot script with series arc;
- Why you? Why now? Include body of work summary;
- Goal – Are you looking to package the script to sell it or make it yourself?
- Distribution – Theatrical, Broadcast, Streaming, MoW, other;
- Define success for your project.
The WIFV Narrative Script Development Fellowship in 2022 and 2023 is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov. Additional support was received from OCTFME/202 Creates and the Gem Star Foundation.
