Actors Who Write Fellowship

15 Jun 2022, posted by Jeff Gordon

The deadline for this Fellowship has passed; all the winners have been contacted. You can watch our blog for new creative parameters. Inquiries may be addressed to support@writersbootcamp.com.

Fellowship Application Deadline: Saturday, June 25th, 1pm, LA time.

Writers Boot Camp is continuing our support of diverse artists and fresh voices by providing three $2500 full scholarships in the Tuesday, July 5th Basic Training to actors who write–or who aspire to write. Candidates must be available to write 10 hours per week for 12 weeks during the Basic Training process that has supported more than 12,000 writers and filmmakers over the past 33 years.

This month’s theme, “Actors Who Write”, touches on a classic entertainment industry rite of passage, that of artists pursuing their inspiration to expand their creative range and career options. Certainly, an archetype within the industry is an actor catapulted to the A-List by way of creating a role and project vehicle. From Sylvester Stallone’s ROCKY and Chazz Palminteri’s A BRONX TALE to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag or Lena Dunham’s Girls, and let’s not forget Larry David, famously putting himself in harm’s way in Curb Your Enthusiasm.

We are not requiring that the project is commercial in an obvious way or that the role is automatically a franchise character. Of session, at the major studio and network level, that approach to characterization can be highly successful. Often, an actor who writes may also happily design a supporting role, a chance to work. This isn’t to say we encourage tamping down your ambition. If you create a starring role for yourself, so be it–though it can be helpful to consider whether your own casting can justify and carry the budget.

The creative parameters of stories and genres for this Fellowship theme–whether TV series ideas, feature film scripts, theatrical material or books/novels–are wide open in this realm. Your project simply must be topically relevant and you must self-identify on the application as an actor. Pertinent professional experience combined with cogent answers will complement the project idea to determine the three winners.

Eligibility Notes

Writers Boot Camp alumni who have applied to a prior fellowship within the past six months–or who have won before–may apply for fun yet are not eligible to win.

Winners must confirm their availability to participate in Basic Training, along with 10 hours per week for creative exercises and writing for 12 weeks.

Only winners will be notified individually. All non-winners will be notified by email no later than June 30th.

For all candidates who would like to hear the highlights and review of their applications, Writers Boot Camp Founder, Jeffrey Gordon, will host a 60-minute Mini-Camp that all non-winners will be invited to attend as desired.

Our Remarkable Track Record

Since 1989, we’ve enjoyed supporting actors who have made the transition to writing through Basic Training and Professional Membership. Many A-List actors–from Octavia Spencer to Josh Gad, both past Pro Members–completed their first screenplays and early creative material working with us, as well as through Private Consultation with founder Jeffrey Gordon (JG).

There are few places in society for artists to seek and receive personal support. Additionally, our track record of diversity and support of women’s voices is unparalleled. For perspective, the higher percentage of our hundreds of alumni successes and their credits have been achieved by women. While we celebrate our anniversary each October, the first, experimental session conducted by JG was in his living room in March 1989 during his last semester of his MFA at USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program.

You can see countless other movie and TV credits by Writers Boot Camp alumni on our A-List Credits page. Among our favorite alumni–a past staff member–writer-director, Sian Heder, recently won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for her movie CODA. Alumnus Cindy Chupack has won two Emmys for her work on Sex and the City and Modern Family. Steven Sater, a New York Pro Member, won the Tony Award for Spring Awakening.

The Fellowship Application

Please complete only one application per person. Partners working together may apply via separate applications utilizing the same project. Keep every answer to only one single sentence, including your answers to the four topical questions combined into one four-sentence paragraph. Again, alumni who have applied to a fellowship in the past six months–or who have won before–are not eligible to win. Please Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute to Apply!

Fellowship Application Deadline: Saturday, June 25th, 1pm, LA time.

Name:

Mailing Address:

City, State & Zip Code:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

How You Heard About Writers Boot Camp (if through a person, include their name):

Name of Personal Reference & Relationship to You:

Reference Contact (Phone & Email):

Your Occupation or Job Title:

Your Entertainment Industry Background and Experience:

Prior Writing and Filmmaking Experience:

Are you currently working--and can you comment on your employment situation?

Do you consider yourself an actor and what's your experience as an actor?

Please answer these four topical questions in order in only one sentence each within one paragraph--and without including the questions: How has being an actor informed your life and your perspective as an artist? Share with us an extraordinary experience that you attribute to being an actor. What is your view of progress in the world regarding the rights of artists? What historical event or subject regarding the extension of one's personal capacity and self-expression would you like to see updated and how would you specifically revise it?

If you win a Writers Boot Camp scholarship, please state the title and format of the project you will write, and share the premise in a single sentence only. A Premise Line is more than a typical logline and may include up to 50 words, focusing more on the middle of the story and what characters actually do along the 2nd-Act Adventure. If your project is for television, then the A-Story of the first episode will be more relevant than a general series description.

Please include above: Title, Format (Movie, TV Pilot, Book, etc.), and Premise Line (One Sentence Only).

For the purposes of announcing winners, please provide a single-sentence bio about yourself written in third person, including where you're from and where you live, your educational accomplishments, your professional background and entertainment industry goals.

My name below certifies that all my answers on the above application are true. I understand that my email submission will be kept confidential and not shared with anyone outside Writers Boot Camp's staff without my permission. I understand that if I win an award, it is not transferable and if I cannot fully utilize it, then it will be offered to the the next eligible writer. I understand that due to the short timeframe until the fellowship process that only the winners will be notified of their standing by telephone. All applicants will be notified by email with the results and guidelines for additional benefits, if applicable. My name below acknowledges Writers Boot Camp’s pledge of confidentiality regarding my application, answers and project details. I understand that all internal staff discussion of my project idea is in the interest of determining winners. I understand that I am sharing my ideas and answers to be eligible for a fellowship award and that submission of this application does not guarantee me receipt of conceptual notes or story services. I understand that I can protect my material by registering and/or copyrighting my written materials prior to submitting them. I give permission to Writers Boot Camp to verify my information and answers with the above reference and understand that this verification, if necessary, is only for the finalists and only to determine award eligibility.

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