Category: WriterSlam

  • Update on WriterSlam with Audible!

    For all those keeping on eye on the WriterSlam with Audible competition, we’ve got an update for you!

    The new deadline for this competition is now 23:59pm on Monday 10th August. We’ve decided to move both the finalists workshops and the WriterSlam final event online, to make sure we can go ahead regardless of what restrictions are currently in place. The final will be taking place over Twitch, our first Twitch event, so we’re very excited. The new dates are as follows:

    Deadline for Submissions: 23:59pm Monday 10th August

    Finalists Announced: 11th September

    Finalists Online Workshop: 19th September

    WriterSlam Final Online: 27th October

    If you’ve already submitted, don’t worry, all existing submissions will be included so there’s no need to resubmit!

    Click here to go to the main WriterSlam page and to submit your idea! 

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  • A new spin on WriterSlam with Audible!

    Calling all writers! Win a paid development commission with Audible!

    Following the success of WriterSlam with Amazon Studios, we’re partnering with their sister company, Audible, to find new and exciting scripted projects that are perfectly suited for audio. With over 400,000 audiobooks, Audible Original dramas, podcasts and short stories, Audible are constantly on the hunt for new writing talent.

    We’re looking for new voices who come from all backgrounds. We champion diversity of experience – if you include everyone, you don’t need to exclude anyone.

    Through the WriterSlam, Audible is looking to provide fresh, diverse talent an opportunity to share and develop their untold stories in the form of audio drama with help from industry experts. We’re looking for ambitious and transformational stories that celebrate the medium of audio and spotlight themes of diversity and inclusion. We’re open to all genres with a particular love of Crime and Thriller, Fantasy and mythology (especially those tales inspired by non-Western traditions), SciFi, smart Horror, RomComs, dramatizations of true stories, and History that sheds light on the present. Beyond a great story we look for global appeal, series with the potential to return for multiple seasons, and worlds and characters that will inspire fandoms.

    The winning writer will be selected by Audible’s panel of judges. The winner will receive a paid development commission and will work with Audible’s commissioning editors and casting team to develop a treatment and a one hour pilot episode. A successful pilot may even go on to be commissioned for a full series!

    ‘We’re so excited to be working with the Triforce Creative Network on WriterSlam.We know there’s so much fantastic writing talent out there, and we’re looking forward to celebrating original, emerging storytellers!’ Rachel Naughton, Audible.

    The selected finalists will have extracts of their work performed at a showcase event in London on Thurs 14 May 2020, when the winner will be selected by a panel of judges. The event will be attended by industry guests and a limited number of tickets will be available to the public.

    WriterSlam is open to everyone – you do not have to have an agent or have written anything before.

    Make sure you have a listen to some series on Audible before you submit – you can adapt a script initially conceived for screen or stage or write an original one, but please think carefully about it being an AUDIO script – it is a bit different to it being for TV! Think about ways in which you can experiment with ambitious ideas that might be less achievable on screen.

    Some tips for writing audio drama:

    • The only limit is the listener’s imagination.
    • Your audience can’t see! Be their eyes!
    • Is your dialogue flowing while also providing necessary information?
    • Aim for a variety of characters, voices, locations, and sounds.
    • Don’t overpopulate scenes.
    • Embrace silence as well as sound.
    • Provide concise stage directions, but speech is the most important tool in telling the story.
    • Use subtle signposts for changes in scene, location, and time.
    • Keep things simple.
    • Keep up the pace and hold onto your audience’s interest!
    • There are always exceptions to the rules—be creative!

    You can sign up for a 30 day free trial at https://www.audible.co.uk/

    Submissions are open from Monday 10 February – 11.59pm on Sunday 22 March 2020. For more information on how to submit, go the WriterSlam page.

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  • Try out as a writer for “Have I Got News For You” with Hat Trick Productions

    We’ve joined forces with Hat Trick Productions to help them find fresh new talent for their writing pool on the legendary ‘Have I Got News For You’.

    Maybe you’re a stand up, sitcom writer or you’ve written comedy or comedy gags for radio, podcasts, television or online … Have a look for more details below on what they’re looking for and how to apply.

    Call out for writers with funny bones…

    Hat Trick are looking for new writers to try out for Have I Got News For You. We’re looking for people who are great at coming up with gags and one liners, and who are familiar with the style of the show. Writing for HIGNFY is a unique experience, but it would be great if you had some previous experience as a comedy writer, whether that’s as a stand up, a sitcom writer or perhaps writing comedy or comedy gags for radio, podcasts, TV or online.

    Hat Trick will meet with a shortlist of 10 writers for a workshop day in London, with up to 4-5 writers then going forward to ‘try out’ as gag writers on the next series of HIGNFY, which will be filming during April and May 2020. Each writer will attend one or two days during the run, to join a small writing team and work on the show. Writers who get to this stage will be paid a standard day rate fee.

    Who are Hat Trick?

    Hat Trick is one of the largest independent production companies in the media production industry.  Their hits are many and varied and include Father Ted, Whose Line Is it Anyway, Outnumbered, Episodes, Room 101, Dinner Date, Derry Girls and Have I Got News For You.

    Recognising the diversity of audience and the changing landscape of platforms and content providers, they want Hat Trick employees to reflect those audiences and create an environment that truly champions new voices.

    What’s the process?

    1. Apply through the TCN website

    Applications will be open from 03 February 2020 to 11.59pm on 15 February 2020.

    We’d like you to fill out a short application form, including a short paragraph on why you’d like to write for HIGNFY and upload your CV.

    We’ll also be asking you to submit some gags for the “In the news this week…” opening VT section, and for the “And I leave you with news…” still photos at the end of the show. You will probably already be familiar with these sections but here is a link to the latest compilation show with some good examples: HIGNFY Compilation

    On this compilation, the “In the news this week” section can be viewed from 0:21 to 1:10, and the “And I leave you with news…” section can be viewed from 27:13 to the end.

    Go to Stills and VTs to see a selection of pictures and short videos – this is typical of the kind of material you would have to work with on the show. We’d like you to submit 5 gags based on these – you can choose which you use – and add them to your application.

    1. Training Day at Hat Trick

    Up to 10 shortlisted candidates will be chosen by Hat Trick (in collaboration with the TCN) to attend a training day on Wed 26 February 2020 at the Hat Trick offices in Camden.

    The aim of this day is to give you and Hat Trick a chance to get to know each other as well as familiarise you with the HIGNFY writing process.

    1. Try Outs

    Following the training day, up to 4-5 writers will be invited to attend Try Out writing days during April and May when the series is on air, for which they will be paid a day rate.

    1. Next Steps

    Hat Trick are hoping to find some writers who can join the writing team for subsequent series, so those who do well during the ‘try outs’ may well be invited back in the future.

    Who can apply?

    Anyone can apply – although it would help if you have some comedy writing experience, perhaps as a stand up, a sitcom writer or perhaps writing comedy or comedy gags for radio, podcasts, TV or online.

    APPLY HERE

     

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  • Our Amazon WriterSlam Winners

    Congratulations to our #WriterSlam finalist writers who had their work showcased to an industry audience at a fantastic event at The Curtain Hotel on Friday night! Omari McCarthy and Celia Morgan were selected by Amazon as the winners, they will both work with Lydia Hampson, Head of Scripted UK for Amazon Studios over 3-6 months to develop their idea into a full episode script, with the potential for further development into a series for Amazon Prime Video.

    Congrats also to finalists Grace Link, Mikey Jackson and Rashida Seriki – there was a lot of interest from literary agents and production companies, so we’re sure we’ll be seeing all five of these writers’ work on our TV screens very soon!

    Thanks also to the amazing team at Amazon – Georgia Brown, Lydia Hampson and Carlo Frem, as well our fantastic team including Ben Cogan (Casting Director), Fraser Ayres (Director and Script Editor), Minnie Ayres (Producer) and Michael Jacob (Script Editor). The show was hosted by the amazing Chizzy Akudolu and boasted a fantastic cast including Ellen Thomas, Kellie Shirley, Ezra Elliott, Daniel Anthony, Ayoola Smart, Azuka Oforka and Ken Birk. Photos by Joana Saramago.

    Make sure you don’t miss out on our next WriterSlam opportunity and sign up to our mailing list here to be kept up to date: http://triforcepromotions.us3.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=ec1692306ae5525449ed0309b&id=323793f2d4

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  • Announcing Amazon WriterSlam Finalists!

    TRIFORCE CREATIVE NETWORK AND

    AMAZON STUDIOS ANNOUNCE WRITERSLAM FINALISTS

    17:00 Wed 21 August: Director of European Amazon Original Series for Amazon Studios Georgia Brown, announced the 5 finalists of the TriForce Creative Network WriterSlam programme in association with Amazon Studios during her keynote appearance at this year’s Edinburgh TV Festival.

    The 5 writers were selected following a nationwide call out for original ideas, with over 1000 entries from a hugely diverse range of writers, who were invited to submit a synopsis and 15 pages of script.

    The final script extracts will be performed for an audience of leading industry figures on Friday 06 September and an overall winner will be selected on the night who will receive a paid development commission from Amazon Studios. The winner will work with Lydia Hampson, Head of Scripted UK for Amazon Studios over 3-6 months to develop their idea into a full episode script, with the potential for further development into a series for Amazon Prime Video.

    Previous WriterSlam participants have enjoyed great success including paid development commissions with ITV, Tiger Aspect and BBC Radio 4 and mentoring placements with ITV, Tiger Aspect, Hat Trick and TriForce Productions. The writer behind new Irish drama Blood, Sophie Petzal, took part in Triforce’s very first writing competition at the start of her writing career.

    The selected writers and their projects are:

    Celia Morgan – Sandra’s Girls
    A family of women, who have no idea how to talk to each other, embark on a journey of family intervention therapy in order to uncover the cause of the youngest sister’s psychosis.

    Grace Link – Crack of Dawn
    When Dawn discovers her husband Tim’s gay lover her 22-year-long marriage and stable home-life crashes down around her…in the middle of a hot flush.

    Omari McCarthy – Once Upon A Time in Handsworth
    A Greek tragedy for the working class where misguided youths play the roles of indifferent gods. Set in the inner city of Handsworth, Birmingham, the series follows two teens caught between the dreams of childhood and the hard reality of adulthood.

    Mikey Jackson – Seven Magpies
    One woman. Two traumatic past events. A secret never to be told.

    Rashida Seriki – The Four
    Four young women form a mystical sisterhood as they hone their ancestral powers of witchcraft and use it to enforce their own idea of justice and slay social wrongs.

    Georgia Brown said “We were blown away by the standard of scripts we received and it was incredibly tough to narrow it down to just 5 writers. We’re very excited to see the extracts performed on 6th September and can’t wait to work with one of these amazing writers!.”

    Fraser Ayres (CEO, TriForce Creative Network), said “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading the many fantastic scripts that were submitted, and the final 5 writers reflect the diversity of the wide range of writers who entered. We look forward to bringing these 5 scripts to life and helping these writers move forward in their careers!”

    For more information, go to https://thetcn.com/writerslam/

    ENDS

    NOTES TO EDITORS:

    About TriForce Creative Network (TCN)

    TCN was founded in 2004 by actors Jimmy Akingbola and Fraser Ayres to help increase diversity in the entertainment industry. The company has gone from humble beginnings to becoming the leading networking organisation of the entertainment industry, based around a philosophy of inclusivity, not exclusivity.

    TCN is a unique company, creating opportunities for individuals and companies to develop and thrive within the industry. Its mission is to put talent in front of those with the power to move careers forward, launching careers and supporting talent through numerous events.

    The TriForce network now has over 30,000 members spanning all demographics and levels of the media business. It traverses race, class or position and provides a link to all in the network from the bottom to the top. TriForce’s network consists of casting directors such as Jeremy Zimmerman and Amy Hubbard, actors Sheridan Smith, Aml Ameen, Rafe Spall and Eammon Walker, musicians Jermaine Jackman, Goldie and Ed Sheeran, and theatre practitioners, executive producers and writers.

    Thetcn.com        Monologueslamuk.com                Tfsff.com

     For further information please contact:

     Minnie Ayres – COO, TriForce Creative Network

    [email protected]

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  • Amazon Studios WriterSlam Shortlist!

    The WriterSlam Shortlist has now been announced!

    We are very excited to announce our shortlist for WriterSlam 2019. The shortlisted writers and their scripts are:

    Celia Morgan – Sandra’s Girls
    E. Amato – Majority Rules
    Edward Tew – Flat Earthers
    Grace Link – Crack of Dawn
    Grant Taylor – Shortcutz
    Hannah Robinson – Tesla Girls
    Ishan Ganjoor & Rajiv Karia – Slackney
    Jeffrey Aidoo – Saved
    Lauren Jackson – Take Us Seriously
    Mikey Jackson – Seven Magpies
    Nadene Ghouri – Imerina
    Omari McCarthy – Once Upon A Time In Handsworth
    Racha Sobratee – Being Aisha
    Rachel Main – Castaways
    Rashida Seriki – The Four
    Shay Elliot – The Place for Me
    Stephen George – Deliver or Dai
    Sunnie Sidhu – The Last Age
    Valeria Cutko – Wimbledon Common
    Victoria Ibitoye – The Triple W Society

    What Happens Now?

    This shortlist will be whittled down to 5 finalists by the TCN and Amazon Studios. We will then invite the 5 finalists to take part in a script workshop on Sat 24 August with renowned Exec Producer Michael Jacob. These 5 writers will be taught how to generate an industry standard pitch and synopsis, as well as receiving in-depth advice and expertise. Writers will also be developing their work with an eye to producing a full script by the end of the workshop.

    The 5 finalists will have their extracts performed at the WriterSlam showcase, on 06 September in London, in front of an industry audience alongside family and friends. 

    What is the prize?

    The winning writer will be selected by Amazon Studios. Following their win, they receive a paid development commission and will work with Lydia Hampson, Head of Scripted, UK for Amazon Studios over 3-6 months to develop their idea into a full episode script, with the potential for further development into a series.

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  • WriterSlam Returns with Amazon Studios!

    Are you a writer looking to break into the TV industry?

    Building on the success of our MonologueSlam UK initiative for actors, WriterSlam UK is our programme to help TV production companies and broadcasters access new and established writers from diverse backgrounds.  These TV industry professionals then support the writers in their career development, providing tangible outcomes for participants.

    We’re looking for new voices for television, who come from all backgrounds. We champion diversity of experience – if you include everyone, you don’t need to exclude anyone.

    For this new WriterSlam, we’re proud to be partnering with Amazon Studios!

    Through the WriterSlam, Amazon Studios is looking to provide fresh, diverse talent an opportunity to share and develop their untold stories with help from industry experts. Our guidelines for submission are simple: we’re looking for stories that celebrate and spotlight themes of diversity and inclusion. Possible topics could explore the experiences of (but are not limited to) gender, LGBTQ+, ethnic, religious, or disabled communities. It can be any genre including drama, comedy, rom-com, thriller. We’re keen to see ideas which have the potential to become returning series, and reflect Amazon’s bold, contemporary approach. Thing big!

    The winning writer will be selected by Amazon Studios. Following their win, they receive a paid development commission and will work with Lydia Hampson Head of Scripted, Amazon Studios, over 3-6 months to develop their idea into a full episode script, with the potential for further development into a series.

    ‘I am so thrilled to be working the Triforce Network on this WriterSlam. There is an abundance of diverse talent in the UK, and it’s up to commissioning platforms like us to work harder in developing and nurturing those voices.’  Lydia Hampson, Head of Scripted, Amazon Studios.

    The 5 selected finalists will have extracts of their work performed at a showcase event in London on Fri 06 September, when the winner will be selected by Lydia Hampson of Amazon Studios. The event will be attended by industry guests and a limited number of tickets will be available to the public.

    WriterSlam is open to everyone – you do not have to have an agent or have written anything before.

    Submissions are open from Thurs 11 July – Wed 31 July. For more information on how to submit, go the WriterSlam page.

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  • WriterSlam Winners!

    We had a fantastic night at Content London for our WriterSlam Final on Tues 27 Nov.

    Performers included Louis Payne, Sarah Hannah, Josef Altin, Stephen Uppal, Jimmy Akingbola, Kim Vithana and Dona Croll. The performed all 6 finalists extracts in front of an industry audience in the stunning Hansom Hall at St Pancras Hotel.

    Our industry judging panel incuded Yule Caise, Simon Mirren, Elizabeth Kilgarrif, Kate O Connell and Kelly Edwards from HBO. All the pieces were performed in front of a packed audience of industry execs and friends and family.

    The judges were so impressed with the standard, they chose not one, but two winners, who each received a £1500 option on their script form C21 Media, as well as development support to help them create a full episode. Our two winners were:

    Naida Redgrave – Wild Island

    Caitlin McEwan – The Push

    All the finalists also got to take part in the C21 WritersRoom Showrunner Masterclass on Thursday and Friday, as well as having lunch with judge Kelly Edwards (SVP Talent Development, HBO). They were also given full delegate passes to all of Content London, so spent the whole week with us there!

    A huge thank you to C21 Media and Content London as well as our finalist writers, actors and our wonderful judging panel for making this possible.

    Here’s to Content London 2019!

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  • WriterSlam Judges Announced!

    We have some amazing judges on our panel for WriterSlam on Tues 27 November.

    Working with C21 WritersRoom and Content London, this judging panel draws drama execs from production companies, channels and studios from all over the world. We’ve got representatives from BBC Drama, HBO and Platform One Media, as well as writers and producers who’ve worked on shows such as Criminal Minds, Spooks and Heroes.

    Check them out here and make sure you grab a ticket to do some serious networking!

    Tickets are £15 and include a free drink!

    BOOK TICKETS

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  • WriterSlam Finalists Announced!

    The WriterSlam Finalists have now been announced!

    We are very excited to announce our finalists for WriterSlam 2018 in association with C21 WritersRoom and Content London. We had a huge number of submissions and decided to select 6 scripts for the final. The finalist writers and their scripts are:

    Caitlin McEwan – The Push

    James Brennan – The Unguvernable

    Naida Redgrave – Wild Island

    Steadman Gbajumo – Undercover

    Tsonko Bumbalov – Endless Forest

    Terry Clark – Familiar People

    What Happens Now?

    The 6 finalists will take part in a script workshop with renowned Exec Producer Michael Jacob. These 6 writers will be taught how to generate an industry standard pitch and synopsis, as well as receiving in-depth advice and expertise.

    The 6 finalists will have their extracts performed at the WriterSlam event at Content London at 8pm on 27th November at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. The event is open to the public and will have a large industry attendance, so should be a great networking event. To come along and support new talent, book your ticket here.

    What are the prizes?

    All finalists will receive a complimentary ticket worth £899 to The International Drama Summit at Content London (November 27-29). They will also receive a place on the two-day WritersRoom Showrunner Masterclass. (November 29/30), as well as a working lunch with Kelly Edwards, HBO’s SVP of talent development during Content London.

    The winner will also receive a £1500 script option including one-year development deal that will see notes on the script given by a collection of leading showrunners and drama business executives.

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  • WriterSlam Returns!

    WriterSlam Returns in partnership with the #1 global drama industry festival; Content London and C21 WritersRoom! 

    Are you a writer looking to break into the TV industry?

    Building on the success of our MonologueSlam UK initiative for actors, WriterSlam UK is our programme to help TV production companies and broadcasters access new and established writers from diverse backgrounds.  These TV industry professionals then support the writers in their career development, providing tangible outcomes for participants.

    We’re looking for new voices for television, who come from all backgrounds. We champion diversity of experience – if you include everyone, you don’t need to exclude anyone.

    For this new WriterSlam, we’re proud to be partnering with the world’s leading drama business conference and festival; Content London. This event, which takes place between November 26 and 30, sees 2000 of the world’s leading drama executives come into town to meet and plan their future scripted strategies.

    Building on their development of new talent through script competitions and the C21 WritersRoom, C21 will be using its unique position in the international drama market to partner with other production companies to bring unique and original scripts to an international audience.

    Through the WriterSlam, Content London is looking to provide fresh, diverse talent an opportunity to share and develop their untold stories with help from industry experts. They’re looking for writers with exciting, original ideas for drama projects with an international appeal, across the breadth of the scripted drama genre, including thrillers, procedurals, one off dramas and comedy drama.

    The winning writer will be selected by the WritersRoom team, which includes some of the world’s leading showrunners, responsible for series including Heroes, Spooks and Criminal Minds. Following their win, they will receive a £1500 option and work with the WritersRoom team over 12 months to develop their idea into a full episode script, with the potential for further development into a series.

    David Jenkinson, C21Media’s editor-in-chief & managing director, said: “Through our Writers Room initiative at Content London we are aiming to develop some of the most exciting new writing talent and connect it with the global drama business. Everyone is in town for this event, from Amazon and Netflix to the US networks and drama commissioners from around the world. We can provide unique access to these executives and help emerging writers develop with the international drama market in mind.”

    The five selected finalists will have extracts of their work performed at Content London’s International Drama Summit on Tuesday 27th November, when the winner will be selected by a panel of judges. The event will be attended by international TV execs as well as UK industry.

    Our last WriterSlam winner was Katrina Smith-Jackson, who won with her drama Tilbury Rush. She developed the script with Sky and TriForce Productions, culminating in an industry table read and has since signed with renowned literary agency Casarotto Ramsey and Associates.

    WriterSlam is open to everyone – you do not have to have an agent or have written anything before.

    Submissions are open from 09 October 2018 and will close on 27 October 2018. For more information on how to submit, go the WriterSlam page.

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  • Content London Partners with TriForce Creative Network

    We’re very excited to announce that TriForce Creative Network will be partnering with C21’s international drama conference, Content London in November 2018.

    As well as showcasing TriForce Short Film Festival finalist’s work to an industry audience, we’ll also be hosting a WriterSlam event at the conference, with many delegates from across the globe expected to attend.

    It’s a fantastic opportunity for the talent we support to be seen by scripted execs from both the UK and the US, and helps us further our aims to offer as many career development opportunities as we can to the talent we support.

    We’ll be announcing more information about the WriterSlam event shortly, so make sure you’re signed up to the mailing list so you don’t miss out.

    You can read all about the partnership in C21 here.

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