Entertaining Animals Fellowship

30 Aug 2024, posted by Brad Miller

With National Dog Day having just passed on 8/26, we’re celebrating our love for animals and their mark (pun intended) they’ve left on the industry (and our rug!).

Entertaining Animals Fellowship

Apply by Tuesday, September 10th, 2024, Noon (PST) You can apply via the application at the bottom of this page.

Animal lovers rejoice! This fellowship honors the unique stories and situations animals create in our lives, as well as their own. Almost any animal story will be considered for this fellowship.

From the earliest days of TV, we’ve seen animals take center stage with classics like Lassie, Mr. Ed, and RIN TIN TIN. Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks filled the last 50 years+ with iconic animal based film and TV such as BAMBI, 101 DALMATIANS, BABE, and A BUG’S LIFE. More recently, we’ve seen unique standout entertainment like Bojack Horseman and Bluey. Despite the almost infinite forms projects like these have taken, they all have one thing in common—animals!

Books and novels are also welcomed! Charlotte’s Web is an icon in every elementary program for good reason!

While we love to support all writers in their endeavors, for the sake of this fellowship, we are not looking for young children’s animation as the storytelling mechanism is often so different. Examples of this would be Sesame Street or Blue’s Clues where the show is segmented into bite-sized, episodic events with minimal storyline continuity. However, something like Looney Tunes or Arthur, the 90’s TV show, is fine as they are structured to have a fully realized storyline, even if it’s for a younger audience.

Three Fellowship Awards for Writers & Filmmakers

Writers Boot Camp continues our support of fresh voices by providing three $2500 full scholarships to writers in the Monday, September 16th 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.

Get the jump on the competition and get in your application soon!

While applications closer to the deadline are not treated any

differently, historically the earlier ones tend to do better.

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 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: Tuesday, September 10th, 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 an experience with a pet or animal in your own life shaped and informed your perspective as an artist? Considering your project, what compels you to include an animal or animals? When considering a story featuring animals, how do you think a writer should use the unique traits of animals to engage with the audience successfully? Is there an animal story you're inspired by and what idea would you have to update 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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