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Dateline:
27th April, 2005
BBC Drama Series Writing Academy
BBC Television Drama is launching a major new writers’ initiative
aimed at training the next generation of writers. The training will
give you the specific skills required to write for some of the BBC’s
most popular format series such as Doctors, EastEnders,
Holby City and Casualty.
Potential writers will have already had at least one film, television
or radio drama script produced or one theatre piece performed professionally.
The Writers’ Academy will initially train up to eight writers a
year, over a period of twelve months.
Course Breakdown
The course will break down as follows:
Introduction to Writing for Continuing Drama Series
This is a 3 month training course in writing for Continuing Drama
Series which will consist of a number of workshops and lectures accompanied
by intensive writing exercises and analysis.
At the end of this period each writer will be commissioned to write
a broadcast episode of Doctors.
Contributing to the training course will be John Yorke, Controller
of Continuing Drama Series, and other industry experts from all areas
of drama production.
Writing for Broadcast
After you have completed the initial training and the Doctors
script, your work will be assessed. If you have reached the required
standard for production on continuing series you will begin the next
phase of the training.
Writers will be divided into smaller groups to be trained in the
specifics of writing on Casualty, Holby and EastEnders.
Rotating across each show in turn, you will spend approximately 12
weeks on each. This period will comprise an introductory course (to
be run by the individual shows) followed by writing a broadcast episode
under the mentorship of a lead writer.
At the end of the 12 months, each writer will have written for each
of the four shows.
Core team & HQ
The course will be run and administered from BBC Centre House in London
W12 and BBC Elstree Studios. The course will be overseen by Continuing
Drama’s Head of Development, and run by a Course Producer.
Contracts
- The writers will be engaged by the BBC for 12 months on a non-exclusive
basis, although the course will be a full time commitment.
- A retainer of £400 a week will be paid during the 3 month
initial training course.
- Thereafter writers will be paid script fees for commissioned scripts
on each of the four shows. These will be paid according to the usual
payment schedule, i.e. 50% on signature and 50% on acceptance and
subject to rewrites and revisions.
- Script fees for this twelve month training period will be paid on
a favoured nations basis.
- The BBC will have the option to request that writers commit to a
further 12 months (on first call to the BBC) with a number of commissioned
scripts to be guaranteed. The total amount of first half fees for
all guaranteed scripts would be paid upfront on signature.
- Script fees for this second 12 month period would be paid at the
writer’s individual rate.
- The BBC reserves the right to cancel their agreement with the writer
at any time but does not expect to recoup any monies already paid
out.
Timetable
Applications to be received by May 9th 2005
Selection process and interviews Mid May/June 2005
Final selection early July 2005
Course to begin in September 2005
Selection Criteria
- It is essential that you have had a television or radio drama, or
a short film (not a student film) produced, or a theatre piece performed
professionally.
- You must be able to demonstrate a passion for television drama series
like EastEnders, Holby City, Casualty and Doctors.
- You must have good interpersonal and communication skills with which
to establish and maintain creative working relationships.
- You must have resilience and stamina to sustain writing performance
when working under pressure and to tight deadlines.
Application Process
You will need to fill in an application form and send in a sample of
your writing with proof that it has been broadcast, produced or performed
professionally.
Please visit www.bbc.co.uk/jobs
where you will be able to download an application form.
The closing date for applications is May 9th 2005.
Submit your sample of writing via e-mail to recruitment@bbc.co.uk
ensuring that you put Ref: 77459 - BBC Drama Series Writing Academy
2005 in the subject box of your e-mail. Or post your writing to
BBC Recruitment,
PO Box 48305,
London, W12 6YE.
Again ensuring that Ref: 77459 - BBC Drama Series Writing Academy 2005
is clearly written on the envelope and work itself.
Please note that applications received without a sample of your writing
and proof of its broadcast will not be considered.
The sample of writing you provide us with can not be returned to you,
therefore please do not send us original copies.
Due to the anticipated high level of interest in this opportunity,
we can not provide feedback on the work you submit.
This is to confirm that all programme ideas submitted by you are in
relation to this BBC application and any and all rights that may exist
in and to such programme ideas remain vested in you. The programme ideas
you submit will be discussed within the BBC only in relation to this
application and with the parties necessary to consider such an application.
You understand and acknowledge that from time to time the BBC may produce
programmes which bear similarities to your idea and other ideas and
such similarities are coincidental and usual in the course of television
production and do not give rise to any claim of any type whatsoever
against the BBC.
The course is a joint venture between BBC Drama, BBC Training and Development
and BBC Writersroom.
Summary Details
BBC Drama Series Writing Academy 2005 (vacancy no: 77459)
Closing Date: 09/05/2005
Job Ref: 77459
Department: Drama Series
Location: London
Grade: N/A
Contract Length: 12 Months
Contract Type: Freelance
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