Distinctly Independent Fellowship

27 Jun 2024, posted by Brad Miller

THE DEADLINE FOR THIS APPLICATION HAS ENDED. PLEASE DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS FELLOWSHIP. THANK YOU!

Distinctly Independent Film Fellowship

Tell Us About Your Character-Driven Indie Movie

About Identity & Personal Revolution

Apply by Friday, July 12th, 2024, Noon (PST)

Fellowship Application Deadline: Friday, July 12th, Noon, LA time. You can apply via the application at the bottom of this page.

As we honor Independence Day at the true start of summer in LA on the 4th of July holiday, consider your independent film ideas and stories about personal choices of identity and breakthrough!!

This fellowship theme of “Distinctly Independent Film” is a unique offering in the illustration of a character’s personal evolution in which a breakthrough in life can represent an inspiring indie story. In keeping with the Independence Day theme, consider what fireworks will spark within the context of the dramatic circumstances of your story.

By “your” story, we don’t necessarily mean it will be autobiographical. The wide range of pertinent genres, including historical drama, while inherently spiritual, will focus on an exciting 2nd-Act Adventure connecting very practical challenges to the exploration of intimacy. The best projects will NOT depict purely internal explorations or obviously faith-based or faith-adjacent reflections. Focused genre entertainment will win out within modest budget ranges, of session.

Commemorating our country’s own revolution, breaking away from tyranny, we’re emphasizing indie movies (read: modest budget) that focus one’s declaration of identity and stand against injustice within familiar arenas and circumstances. This may include escaping trauma, leaving a bad relationship, standing up for integrity in academics or the workplace, or fostering open communication within a family setting.

The key will be to identify the Main Character’s distinctive personal choice and how that’s uniquely entertaining.

Movies such as NORMA RAE, a classic, and WINTER’S BONE, an important pivot point in Jennifer Lawrence’s career, are examples of projects that could fit this category. While possibly bigger, star-driven vehicles movies, PHILADELPHIA, HORRIBLE BOSSES, and MARRIAGE STORY could all qualify per their subject matter. Modest budgeted projects from MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE to FIRST BLOOD and KISSING JESSICA STEIN and SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE–arguably the film that launched a thousand films–while all different genres and story concepts – would also fit the criteria as they speak to characters surviving or carving their life path amid situational adversity.

Writers Boot Camp continues our support of fresh voices this month by providing three $2500 full scholarships to writers in the Saturday, July 20th Basic Training. Candidates must be available to write 10 hours per week for 10 weeks during the Basic Training process that has supported more than 12,000 writers and filmmakers over the past 35 years. While we celebrate our anniversary each October, the first 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.

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 10 weeks without risk of dropping due to outside conflict or work opportunity. Only winners will be notified individually. All non-winners will be notified by email within a few days of the selection of winners.

Our Remarkable Track Record and Diversity Emphasis

There are few places in society for artists to seek and receive personal support. No one does what we do and with as much depth of process. Writers Boot Camp’s tools are meant to empower your own authority. The tools and materials are more a language for collaboration and for describing your creative goals than a formula to fit your story.

Writers Boot Camp’s remarkable success of supporting diversity and a range of creative voices is unparalleled in the business. Over the nine years Fox Diversity sponsored writers through Basic Training, 50% of the writers attracted staff television jobs, including top showrunners today.

In fact, women represent a higher percentage of our overall alumni success stories—and through the years we’ve awarded nearly half a million dollars in fellowship awards to writers and filmmakers of diverse heritage, highlighting opportunities for women of color.

You can see countless other movie and TV credits by Writers Boot Camp alumni on our A-List Credits page.

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: Friday, July 12th, Noon, LA time.

Name:

Mailing Address:

City, State & Zip Code:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

How You Heard About Writers Boot Camp:

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?

Please answer these four topical questions in order in only one sentence each within one paragraph--and without including the questions: How has a specific struggle for independence in your own life shaped and informed your perspective as an artist? Share with us an extraordinary experience that you attribute to distinguishing your own feelings and perspective on a particular topic. What is your view of progress in the world regarding individuality and self-empowerment? What historical event or subject regarding evolution or personal revolution 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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