8-9 May, 2025 | Ballina, NSW

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

Screenworks is constantly scanning the industry to see who is doing interesting work in all aspects of  film and television development and creation.  This year we are excited to have US based screenwriter, script editor and story consultant, Kate Gray, to deliver our annual Writing for TV Intensive. With experience working for Warner Bros and Sony Pictures, Kate has been teaching fundamentals of screenwriting to hundreds of writers around the world.

What makes a TV series compelling? 

Kate will take a deep dive into the fundamental principles of storywork and dissect some of the world’s most successful pilots to see how the pros use these tools. Most importantly, we’ll practice applying these principles to an original series concept of your own – leaving you with the tools to write a successful pilot.

Kate will host an initial online lecture to prepare participants, followed by a two day in-person workshop, culminating with analysis and feedback on each participant’s individual concept. This intensive is designed to support selected regional screenwriters and creative producers to interrogate and polish their TV projects to the industry standard established by broadcast and streaming commissioning executives.

Screenworks’ Writing for TV  Intensive 2025 with Kate Gray is for mid-career regional Australian TV screenwriters who specifically want to develop a TV concept into a more pitchable project.

PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE:

• An online lecture ahead of the workshop, in which Kate will break down the ACE principles, discuss real-world examples, and answer your questions.
• An opportunity to revise your concept prior to the start of the in-person workshop using the tools from the online lecture.
• A two day in-person workshop, in which you will work with Kate and your peers to give/receive feedback and continue revising your original concept.
• A 30 minute individual consultation with Kate on your original concept.

One participant from Screenworks’ Writing for TV  Intensive 2025 will be selected to attend Regional to Global and to participate in a one on one meeting with a relevant guest speaker.

Key Information

• Applications open Tuesday, 18th February, 2025.
• Applications close 5pm Monday 24th March, 2025.
• Successful applicants will be notified by Thursday 10th, April, 2025.
• Nine places will be selectively allocated.
• Application materials will include:
  • 3-5 pages of script (a completed draft is not required, but sample pages should be an excerpt from the concept you are applying with)
  • Short personal bio (1/2 page max)
  • Document summarising your original concept, including:
    • Title
    • Logline
    • Genre
    • Brief series overview, including plot, world, and tone (1 page max)
    • Brief summary of theme and your personal connection to project (1/2 page max)
    • Brief main character(s) descriptions (4-5 sentences per character max)
    • Simple beat sheet of pilot episode (formatted using bullet points, 1 page max)
• The 2 x day intensive workshop will take place in Ballina, NSW on Thursday 8 and Friday 9, May. Participants will be required to book and pay for their own travel/accommodation.
• Successful participants will be required to sign an NDA to ensure confidentiality of all concepts and be prepared to present their story synopsis at the workshop.
• The cost to selected applicants is $280 inc GST.
• Applications are open to writers living in regional NSW. Definitions of regional areas can be found here.
• After assessing the revised materials that have been developed through this workshop, the assessors will award a ticket to Screenworks Regional to Global conference in Lennox Head (18-20 June, 2025) and guarantee a 1:1 meeting with one relevant guest speaker.