Ron Taylor Scholarship 2023

18 Feb 2023, posted by Jeff Gordon

THE TIME FRAME AND APPLICATION FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN BEING APPRISED OF THE SCHEDULE, PLEASE WRITE TO Brad@WritersBootCamp.com.

In honor of diversity executive and friend of Writers Boot Camp, Ron Taylor, who recently passed suddenly, we’re offering one roster spot in our 10-Week Basic Training ($2500) starting Saturday, March 4th. Please Note: Only Writers and filmmakers who attended our Diverse Artists Social on Saturday, February 18th at our new HQ at Bergamot Station are currently eligible to apply.

Ron Taylor Scholarship 2023

Stories Championing Diversity

Free Application by 5pm, LA time, Wednesday, February 22nd

Honoring Ron Taylor, Diversity Executive, Writer & Friend

Ron Taylor, a writer himself, was the creative executive responsible for Fox Diversity, with whom we worked for nine years running. Most recently, he taught development in the Peter Stark Program at USC, coincidentally where JG received his MFA in Producing–and where in his last semester he created Writers Boot Camp. JG spent much time with Ron, who personally reviewed writers’ material and preparing them for the support they received through Writers Boot Camp/Fox Diversity. His patience and positivity were unparalleled in the entertainment business. 50% of the writers supported by us in the nine years landed staff writing position, including many now-top show runners.

In honor of Ron and his wonderful contributions in support of the expansion of opportunities for diverse artists, Writers Boot Camp will be providing a $2500 Basic Training scholarship to one artist attended our Diverse Artists Social and who is self-identified as being of diverse heritage. As with every award we offer, the winner will be selected based on their creative experience, professional background, inspiration articulated–and on their project’s potential made clear in the Premise Line submitted.

Writers Boot Camp supports individuality of voice and a wide range of diversity of content. This month’s Fellowship is designed specifically to support African American and Black filmmakers and writers. The relevance of the subject goes beyond the motivation of protest against racial injustice and police aggression. Our recently deepened comprehension of systemic racism in the United States–seen through the prism of history–has made it ever more crucial to explore stories of the ingrained preemption of true equality and opportunity for people of color.

Writers Boot Camp $2500 Scholarship Through Basic Training

The winner will receive the Saturday, March 4th Basic Training conducted by Writers Boot Camp founder Jeffrey Gordon, who created the same process more than 30 years ago that 12,000 writers and filmmakers have experienced. You don’t have to live in LA to participate since meetings are done via zoom.

The 10-Week Basic Training imparts comprehensive fundamentals while you write. You’ll take an idea–for a feature film, TV Pilot (or book or novel)–from a single sentence to a first draft in seven weeks–and then you’ll complete two rewrites in the remaining three weeks. The only requirement is the commitment of 10 hours for writing and exercises each week for 10 weeks.

The short application for this fellowship is free (see below). The expectation for stories is not that they are necessarily based on one’s own life, yet how one’s personal perspective and point of view as a writer and filmmaker offers engaging insight and entertainment.

As always, we believe at Writers Boot Camp that the best idea is the one you’re actually working on and that you feel you can sustain passion for the many stages of work necessary to fully develop it. The stories that create a relationship adventure beyond the physical adventure of the plot have the best chance to be seen and succeed.

To be eligible for Writers Boot Camp’s Ron Taylor Scholarship 2023, applications must be received via this web page by 5pm, LA time, Wednesday February 22nd, 2023. Applicants must also reply to an email from the staff to briefly confirm their availability to participate in Basic Training so another deserving candidate is not prevented from winning.

It may be helpful to consider that every answer will either represent a new story idea or bolster your proposed project. While the application doesn’t have to take long, winners tend to be very effective at making the most of their sentences.

We will only contact the winner by phone and individuals as needed for supplemental information that may be required. Non-winners will be contacted by email after winners have been selected within a few days of the application deadline.

Please do not leave any answers blank.

Name:

Mailing Address:

City, State & Zip Code:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

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

Name of Reference & Professional 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 to be of diverse heritage (please explain in a single sentence)?

Please answer this one question in only one sentence up to 50 words--and without including the question yet ensuring that the answer makes clear what it's answering: What are the specific factors and experience in your ethnic background that comprises your creative voice and why does that matter to the world?

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 logline or set-up 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 purpose of announcing a winner, please provide a single-sentence bio about yourself written in third person, including your full name, where you're from, 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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