Breakthrough scholarship for TV screenwriters with low income

Closing date for applications: Sunday 20th October at 11.59pm

If you a have good idea for a TV pilot, the desire to write television drama and to learn – and if you’re without the financial means to attend a Curtis Brown Creative course, this scholarship opportunity is for you.

One talented screenwriter with limited financial means will receive a fully paid place on Curtis Brown Creative's Writing TV Drama – Three Months course (14 November 2024 to 20 February 2025), led by celebrated screenwriter and producer Marston Bloom. With weekly teaching and group workshopping on Thursday evenings in the Curtis Brown offices on Regent Street, this course will help you hone your craft and make real progress with your TV script. It’s ideal for those looking for a practical in-person alternative to a postgraduate screenwriting course.

In addition to the course place, the scholar will receive:

• Travel Stipend: The scholarship winner will be given a travel stipend (up to the value of £150) to contribute to the cost of traveling to attend classes in central London.
• Final Draft: The scholar will also receive a digital download of the latest version of the premier screenwriting software Final Draft (worth £181).

Eligibility

This scholarship is open to writers over the age of 18, who fulfil our low-income eligibility criteria:

• Unmarried and not co-habiting with a partner, with an annual (gross, pre-tax) income of less than £25,000 and personal savings of less than £5,000.
• Married or co-habiting with a partner, with a total annual (gross pre-tax) household income of less than £35,000 and personal savings (jointly or individually) of less than £5,000.

If you don’t quite fit our financial criteria but are nonetheless financially challenged, then do apply, explaining your circumstances in the form.

Our form asks you to make a statement about your financial income and the reason you deserve this fully funded opportunity.

Terms & conditions

• Applicants to the Breakthrough Scholarship for TV Screenwriters must fulfil our eligibility criteria.
• With respect to the earnings thresholds set out in our eligibility section: for salaried applicants, your current salary at date of application must be under the threshold. For self-employed applicants, your gross pre-tax profits (average figure for the last two financial years) must be under the threshold. State benefits such as jobseeker’s allowance should be counted as income.
• Applicants may be asked to provide proof of their financial circumstances in support of their scholarship applications.
• Because the scholarship is open only to those who do not have the means to attend the applicable course without financial assistance, applicants should bear in mind that their application will be considered only for the scholarship place on the relevant course and not for other fee-paying places on the course.
• Applicants to this scholarship must not be currently represented by an agent for their screenwriting.

Ready to apply?

The Breakthrough Scholarship for TV Screenwriters with Low Income will be awarded to the applicant whose submission material shows the greatest potential and promise in our view. The decision will be made by the Curtis Brown Creative team.

Our application process is simple, and we encourage all writers meeting the eligibility criteria to apply.

Don’t worry if you have little or nothing to say in response to questions about e.g. writing experience or employment. Just fill out the form, upload your work and we’ll be in touch soon.

Please apply with the opening of your pilot script (up to fifteen pages – maximum 2,200 words) in industry standard format, 300 words synopsising your entire pilot episode and 300 words synopsising the rest of your serial. All of these materials need to be in the same document, as you can only upload ONE PDF file. The CBC team will select applicants based on the quality of the writing sample provided. The deadline for applications is midnight, end of day Sunday 20 October, and we will respond to applicants by Thursday 24 October.

Please include in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.