Channel 4 Screenwriting Course

The purpose of the course is to offer 12 writers new to television drama an insight into how the industry works and to provide a “dry-run” of what it can be like to write under a television drama commission, specifically for one hour series and serial drama, and to work with them as they write an original drama script.

Writers will be expected to write an original C4 / E4 one-hour drama series or serial pilot episode, and 2-3 page outline / pitch for the series / serial as a whole.

Each writer will be assigned a script editor, who is currently working in the industry, to guide them through this process. Writers will meet at least twice with their script editor and should complete a 2nd draft script before the 2nd weekend of the course. Completed, 2nd draft scripts will be sent to the script editor and two other writers on the course, for workshop discussions at the second weekend.

Writers will be paid a fee for participating in the course and for completing two drafts of a one hour script. All writers will be required to grant Shelley Productions a first option for Channel 4 to acquire all rights in their script and will be told within six months of delivery whether Channel 4 wishes to exercise this option.

Dates

Deadline:

Friday 1st October 2021 at 5.00 pm.

22nd & 23rd January 2022 and 11th & 12th June 2022.

Writers must ensure before entering that they are available to attend both these weekends (in London) and are free to write at least two drafts of an original one-hour television drama between 24th January and 1st June 2022.

First Weekend
Writers, directors, producers and script editors in the industry will speak to the participants on a variety of subjects relating to writing for television, especially writing for series and serial drama. There will also be time set aside for writers to discuss their ideas for one hour scripts with their assigned script editor.

Second Weekend
This will be split between a reading of a section of each script by actors on the first day, and discussion and analysis of each of the twelve finished scripts in small groups on the second day, finishing with a screening / workshop and an overview of the course and of the specific requirements of Channel 4 series and serial television drama.

It is essential to the success of the second weekend that writers submit their scripts on time and make time to read the (2) other writers’ scripts.

Drinks Evening
There will be a drinks evening at Channel 4 in London on the evening of Tuesday July 6th 2022 (TBC) for the course writers to meet industry producers, script editors, literary agents etc.

Briefing Session
Successful writers will be invited to a briefing session at Channel 4 in London on the evening of Thursday December 9th 2021 (before the course begins in January 2022). This is to give them a sense of the current remit for Channel 4 and E4.

Eligibility

  • Only writers who do not have a broadcast credit as a television writer or theatrical release as a feature film writer may apply (although produced short films – 20 minutes or less – are exempt).
  • NOTE: YOU CANNOT SUBMIT THE SAME SCRIPT YOU HAVE SUBMITTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
  • The scripts should be original, not episodes of existing drama series.

Channel 4 Screenwriting

Published on:
14 Sep 2021
Opportunity deadline:
01 Oct 2021

Comments

Add comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *