MONTREAL – The National School of Humour (NHS) is launching a Screenwriting Development Program for both TV and film comedies with the support of Netflix.
The program will be divided into three parts: public lectures and master classes, advanced comedy screenwriting, and mentorship project development, and aims to demystify the essential components of comedy scripting plus provide individual creators with advanced training or professional mentoring for their TV series or movie project.
NHS said that the growth of content platforms has resulted in an increased demand for scriptwriters in comedy fiction.
A Netflix spokesperson said that the partnership agreement stems from the streaming giant’s commitment to support industry development opportunities in Canada, and is part of the $25 million development fund that it announced last September.
"At Netflix, we’re constantly on the lookout for the best stories. That's why we're delighted to partner with the National School of Humour to develop a screenwriting program for TV and film comedy,” said Dominique Bazay, director of kids and family content at Netflix, in Friday’s announcement. "We have made a commitment to Canada’s creative community because we believe in the talent here. Having worked with past graduates of the National School of Humour, I share Netflix’s belief in the value of this program, which will help empower the next generation of comedy writers in Quebec.”
