Screenworks is now inviting applications from regionally-based screenwriters with original romantic comedy features and series for development and production.
Being delivered in partnership with Hoodlum Entertainment, Discovering New Voices – Romantic Comedy is an exciting three-stage program designed to train undiscovered, diverse and talented writers living in regional, rural and remote Australia with specific skills and then place the final selected participant or project team with Hoodlum Entertainment for up to a month to develop a new romantic comedy project. The program is being supported by the Screenrights Cultural Fund.
Hoodlum’s Chief Content Officer Tracey Vieira said, “The team at Hoodlum are a romantic bunch who love a good laugh and a great cry. We also LOVE stories that have something to say, especially from a perspective that we may not get to see on screens. Combine all that with a Friday night, paired up with your significant other, or besties and maybe a glass of wine with dinner, and what you have is a rom-com that is sure to make you happy-cry, blush and sigh with glee. And that’s what we’re looking for! Romantic stories for features and television series that have underrepresented leads and/or come at story from a unique perspective and that have something to say.”
The program will have three stages. Up to twenty participants will be initially selected to take part in a one-day online workshop on writing romantic comedy with Alexa Wyatt, which will be delivered via Zoom on Thursday 16 December 2021. After a further selection process, up to 10 participants will be chosen for a series of one-on-one consultations with Hoodlum Entertainment executives. At the conclusion of Stage 2, based on the relevance and quality of their work, at least one person or team will then be selected to continue working with Hoodlum for up to a month to either develop their rom com project further or work on another project. The selected person will be paid a Storyliner Award Wage Rate plus travel and accommodation costs.
Screenworks CEO Ken Crouch said, “After the success of our Discovering New Voices: Adult Animation program with Princess Pictures earlier this year, we’re excited to be partnering with Hoodlum on a similar initiative to find fresh narrative voices and perspectives in the rom com genre. We’re confident this new program will uncover previously untapped creative talent in regional, remote and rural Australia. Romantic comedy is a very popular genre and people living in regional areas often have very different perspectives on life from those based in metro areas, so we’re very pleased to be providing a portal for those more unusual and innovative ideas.”
To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must be current Screenworks members who have been resident in regional Australia for at least six months. Applicants will need to submit a treatment of up to 10 pages for an original romantic comedy feature film or TV series along with a statement on their inspiration for the idea and why they would benefit from being part of the Discovering New Voices program.
Applications are now open and will close at 5pm AEDT on Friday 5th November 2021.
For more details and to apply, visit https://screenworks.com.au/
The Screenworks and Hoodlum Entertainment Discovering New Voices: Romantic Comedy program is supported by the Screenrights Cultural Fund.
