TORONTO – Multi-faith broadcaster VisionTV and the National Screen Institute announced today a new program designed to give writers from diverse backgrounds the chance to create a dramatic television series for national broadcast.
The DiverseTV program is open to visible minority and Aboriginal writers from across Canada. Six successful applicants will be invited to take part in a rigorous training program that teaches the skills needed to bring a television project to fruition.
The deadline to apply is Oct. 7, 2005. DiverseTV applications and guidelines are available at www.nsi-canada.ca.
"Our network is committed to helping foster the creation of original, culturally diverse Canadian drama programming. We look forward to working with NSI to create new opportunities for emerging talent,” said Bill Roberts, president and CEO of VisionTV.
"Canadian audiences want more television programs that reflect our cultural mosaic,” added Susan Millican, CEO, National Screen Institute – Canada, in the release. “NSI is pleased to team with Vision TV in delivering market-driven training to promising writers from diverse backgrounds."
The program follows on the heels of the successful VisionTV Cultural Diversity Drama Competition, launched in May 2003. This initiative offered three prizes of $100,000 each to fund the development and production of one-hour drama pilots reflecting Canada’s diversity. All three of the completed pilots were broadcast on VisionTV in 2004-2005.
"The quality of the submissions to our drama competition proved that Canada has a wealth of talent and ideas. What we lack are the opportunities for writers – especially those from diverse backgrounds – to receive training and experience. The DiverseTV program will address this need,” said Joan Jenkinson, VisionTV’s director of programming:
The program has four phases:
* Training Writers: The six finalists will participate in an intensive five-day "incubator" session in Toronto during the fall, which will focus on various aspects of story writing.
* Boot Camp: Three writers will advance to the second phase, which involves participation in an intensive week-long "boot camp" to be held in Toronto in January 2006. This series of workshops and one-on-one sessions will offer insights into the realities of the television business, from market trends to the role of a show runner.
* Mentorship, Executive Producers & The Banff World Television Festival: The three writers will work with the NSI program manager on critical tasks such as creating development materials, refining the pitch, setting a budget and choosing a mentor. This phase also includes participation at the Banff World Television Festival in June 2006.
* Production: The writers will deliver a series bible, pilot script and other materials in July 2006, and one project will be chosen to go into production as a short-run series, to premiere on VisionTV.
