Two programmes to encourage diverse talent in screen writing have been announced today.
The first is the return of the WBD Access Northern Writers Programme, in partnership with Wall to Wall North and the Royal Exchange Theatre.
The scheme, which started last year, was set up to create opportunities for talented writers from under-represented backgrounds from the region. It’s specifically tailored to writers who are new to television drama but are already writing for theatre.
The first year had industry speakers including Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, It’s A Sin), Anna Jordan (Succession, YEN winner of the 2013 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting), Nora Skinner (HBO SVP, Drama), Vinay Patel (One Day, Murdered By My Father, An Adventure) and Alice Ramsey (BBC).
Along with this, each writer is given the chance to write their own one hour TV pilot, working with a Script Editor and Executive Producer at Wall to Wall North.
“We are thrilled to be bringing the programme back for 2024, and to be continuing our partnership with The Royal Exchange Theatre and Warner Bros Discovery,” said Sian Palfrey, Executive Producer at Wall To Wall North.
“We look forward to working with more incredible Northern writers this year and helping them tell the stories they want to tell and that demand to be heard.”
Suzanne Bell, Dramaturg, Royal Exchange Theatre added:
“We are thrilled to build on the success of the scheme so far and develop the partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Access and Wall to Wall North to deliver it again in 2024, offering even more writers from the North an opportunity to hone their skills. In the current climate writers need a range of avenues and opportunities to forge a sustainable career and this scheme, which explores the nuances of writing for the screen and the stage, is a fantastic example of how the industry can work together to champion and support writers into a varied and rewarding career.”
In Yorkshire, Screen Yorkshire has announced the TV industry placements for its second ScriptEd cohort.
The talent development programme has been set up to promote authentic representation on screen, by supporting under-represented editorial talent “to navigate their way through the heart of storytelling.”
6 of the 20 participants are now on bursary-supported placements at Coronation Street (ITV), Waterloo Road (Rope Ladder Fiction / Wall to Wall North / BBC), Emmerdale (ITV) and RED Productions.
ScriptEd offers in-person masterclasses with both established industry names and new entrants, to help equip participants from a wide range of diverse backgrounds with the skills and knowledge to pursue a career in the Script Editor department.
It was open to people either living in, working in, or from Yorkshire, with a passion and understanding for story, who come from an under-represented community within the industry.
“ScriptEd 2 has been a fantastic opportunity, giving me confidence in my career choice as a script editor,” said Claire Theyers, ScriptEd 2 participant.
“Meeting like-minded script editors and working with a mentor were the highlights of the course for me. Through ScriptEd I was lucky enough to do a placement as a script editor at Emmerdale – I gained amazing experience working with ITV in a fast-moving production environment and had great feedback from the team. I can now go on to work in both production or development as a script editor.”
Industry speakers for ScriptEd 2 included Cathianne Hall (Script Editor, Writer, Lecturer and Performer), Harry May-Bedell (Professional Screenwriter and FLEX Alumni), Emily Feller (Chief Creative Officer at Warp Films) and Kate O’Hara (Head of Development at Duck Soup).
“We designed ScriptEd after identifying a lack of diversity within the Script Editor department across the UK’s screen industries. This role is pivotal to the storytelling process for screen – and a vital cog in the wheel to ensure that under-represented talent, both in front of and behind the lens, is embedded with authenticity and integrity,” explained Jo Schofield, Senior Talent Executive at Screen Yorkshire.
“Script Editors are also integral to the screen industries talent pipeline, with many editors going on to very senior decision-making roles within broadcasters or production companies. We have had fantastic feedback following our ScriptEd pilot last year, with demand from both applicants and industry taking part exceeding our expectations. With that in mind we’re so pleased that, with the support of our partners SIGN and Screen Alliance North, we have been able to deliver a second edition of ScriptEd this year to support more talented individuals in this field to overcome any barriers to entering into the industry.”
