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APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED FOR THIS SCHEME.  

We received over 3000 entries for 4screenwriting 2012 (compared to 650 for 2011) and the standard of the submitted scripts was impressively high.

The choice of the 12 writers for the course was a very difficult one but we have now contacted those 12 writers and if you haven't heard from us then you have not been short-listed for the 2012 course.

We apologise for not being able to respond to each applicant individually and would like to thank you very much for your interest in the 4screenwriting scheme.

Please look out for details about the 2013 course on the 4talent website in the autumn of 2012.

The process will open again for applications in towards the end of 2012.

We were looking for 12 talented, original and diverse writers who currently have no broadcast credit but wish to write for television drama.

This course gave you a chance to find out how TV drama, particularly Channel 4 TV drama, works, and to write, over a 5 month period, your own 1 hour pilot script for an original series or serial, working with an experienced script editor.

The lucky 12 will also attend two weekends of talks and script meetings at Channel 4’s Horseferry Rd building.

The course is designed so that writers should be able to take part even if in full-time employment.

Writers will be paid a small fee for attending the course.

Eligibility:

Only writers who do not have a broadcast credit as a television or film writer may apply (although produced short films – 20 minutes or less – are exempt).

CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS:

Tuesday November 1st 2011.

Fee:
Writers will be paid a fee for participating in the course and for completing two drafts of a one hour script. Writers will grant Channel 4 an option on their script and will be told within six months of the end of the course if Channel 4 wishes to exercise this option.

Course content - General:
The purpose of the course is to offer 12 writers new to television drama an insight into the industry and to provide a "dry-run" of what it can be like to write under a television drama commission, for one hour series and serial drama, and to work with an experienced script editor.

Writers will be expected to write an original, pilot one-hour drama series or serial 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. The writers will meet with their script editors between the course weekends to discuss how to approach each draft. Second draft scripts will be sent to the script editor and two other writers on the course, for workshop discussions at the second weekend.

First weekend:
Writers, directors, producers and script editors in the industry will give talks to the participants on a variety of subjects relating to television drama. There will also be time for writers to discuss their proposals and ideas for their 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 series and serial television drama.

Quotes from writers on the 2011 course:
‘The Channel 4 Screenwriting Course gave us an amazing opportunity to work with extremely talented industry professionals, and to develop a script with their help and guidance was truly invaluable. We came away having learnt so much and having made some great contacts who are still being very supportive even after the course has ended. A great opportunity for any writer trying to get 'in' to the industry.’

Natalie Malla & Xara Higgs

‘The weekend courses were fantastic and inspiring. I found the development process fun and I learnt so much. Working with a script editor made me realise that pitches and treatments could become useful tools for me as a writer and have given me confidence when approaching my next project. The course also gave me the courage to write the script I’d always wanted to write. It was so worth travelling from Belfast to attend this course.’

Deirdre Alexander