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. Two meetings per month with mentors – a master class and a follow-up session – 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.
Congrats to the ’22 Fellows!
Alyscia Cunningham, SURVEYANCE
Joe Dzikiewicz, DOMICIDAL
Laura Kroeger, BIGGER IN TEXAS
Bridget Bell McMahon, TURNING POINTE
Mark Ricche, DYING LOVE
What’s the Plan?
January 10 – Application process starts here. There is a $50 application fee. Applicants must be WIFV Members in good standing.
February 10 – Applications are to be submitted electronically by 5:00 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.
March 20 – 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 2022 – Script Breakdown Master Class with Alison Rosa; mid-month cohort meeting; Rosa check-in.
May 2022 – Director’s Engagement Master Class with Joan Darling and Claudia Myers; mid-month cohort meeting; Darling/Myers check-in.
June 2022 – Acquisition/Distribution Master Class with Steve Douglas-Craig; mid-month cohort meeting; Douglas-Craig check-in.
July 2022 – Casting Master Class with Carlyn Davis; mid-month cohort meeting; Davis check-in.
August 2022 – Financing Master Class with Kurt Klaus, Esq. and Seed and Spark; mid-month cohort meeting; Klaus/Seed check-in.
September 2022 – Film Production Master Class with Jay Schlossberg, Sheila Smith, IATSE, mid-month cohort meeting; Schlossberg/Smith check-in.
October 2022 – Pitch Deck Master Class with Sara Elizabeth Timmins; mid-month cohort meeting; Timmins check-in.
November 2022 – Pitch Master Class with Laurie Scheer and Diana Kerew; mid-month cohort meeting; Make Your Pitch.
December 2022 – 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
Carlyn Davis, Carlyn Davis Casting
SAG-AFTRA
Kurt Klaus, Esq.
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
The WIFV Narrative Script Development Fellowship 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.
