Entertainment
Netflix on the hunt for ‘undiscovered writers’ from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in new scheme
Netflix is looking for ‘new and undiscovered writers’ who stem from ‘underrepresented racial and ethnic groups’ as part of a new scheme.
The Screenwriters Fellowship, which has been created by writer and showrunner Bisha K Ali in association with both the streaming service and Sky, is now looking for submissions.
Six successful applicants will be given the chance ‘for a year long programme of professional development’, according to the Netflix Screen Writers’ official website, with a bursary of £22,568.
Netflix UK shared the news of the scheme on Twitter, encouraging potential applications to apply via the website.
The platform and Sky are looking from writers from Black, Asian and other racial and ethnic backgrounds that are often unrepresented in the entertainment industry.
Successful candidates will get the chance to spend a year writing a specialist script for an original idea, as well as a paid placement writing for a Netflix or Sky series.
They will also be able to take part in production shadowing, as well as workshops and theee mentoring meetings with Bisha over the course of the year.
Submissions will be assessed by an experienced script reader, while shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview. The final candidates will then be selected by a panel of industry experts.
In a statement, Anne Mensah, head of original series at Netflix UK, said: ‘The Screenwriters Fellowship will provide outstanding writers with the support, networks and tools to find a home in our industry. Importantly, they will receive a bursary to provide them with financial support during the programme.
‘We’ve worked to design a programme that not only tries to remove some of the barriers to entering our industry, but provides the space, time and financial security to help writers develop their craft.’
Bisha added: ‘I am thrilled to be working alongside Netflix to launch our new Screenwriting Fellowship. Although my hope is that one day there will be no need for programmes like this to exist, this fellowship serves as an attempt to move toward a more inclusive industry.
‘Both a champion of mine and a champion of other underrepresented creatives, Netflix is committed to doing things differently – which is instrumental if we want to see change.’
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