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New Writing North offers TV writing placements
New Writing North, working with Channel 4, Northumbria University and Lime Pictures, is offering aspiring TV writers from the North of England 12-month placements in either soap or children’s drama production companies.
Three winning writers will receive bursaries of £3,000 each and 12 months of training with staff from Lime Pictures, an independent production company. Two of the successful applicants will be attached to Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks; a third writer will be based in Lime Pictures’ children’s drama department, where "The Evermoor Chronicles" (Disney), "House of Anubis" (Nickelodeon) and "Rocket’s Island" (CBBC) were produced.
They will all shadow the process of script development, from story conference through to broadcast script, and may be offered a paid commission for an episode of a TV show.
Writers can apply online on the New Writing North website, explaining why they want to work in children’s TV and how they could offer a fresh perspective on life in 21st century Britain.
New Writing North said it is particularly looking for writers who are currently under-represented in the industry, including BAME, LGBT and disabled writers.
Claire Malcolm, chief executive of New Writing North, said: “New Writing North and Channel 4 share a commitment to increasing the diversity of writers who are engaged with creating the stories that we see on television. Re-balancing who is writing TV drama helps to better reflect the world that we all represent and opens the doors to exciting new writing that will bring new ideas and energy into the landscape.”
The placements were created as part of the Northern Writers’ Awards, the annual talent development programme run by New Writing North. Last year’s winners, Nuzhat Ali and Sharma Walfall, are currently on placements with RED Production Company and Lime Pictures, respectively.
The closing date for this year’s entries is 3rd February.
