After announcing a new partnership with streaming giant Netflix last week to create an Episodic Content Development Lab for African writers, Realness Institute is now calling for submissions.
The company, that is focused on supporting African content says the Episodic Lab will be looking for screenwriters from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa with authentic and original stories of all genres. The initiative is only open to writers from the 3 countries where Netflix is currently focusing its African Originals strategy.
The Lab will take place online from 1 June 2021 to 31 August 2021 where selected writers will work on developing pitch documents for their story concepts.
Six writers will be chosen to spend 3 months in a ‘writers room’ format where they will work with a script consultant and a creative producer to fully develop their story concepts into an episodic pitch. Along with creative training, writers will receive feedback from Netflix Originals’ development team.
Speaking from Cape Town South Africa, Asanda Biyana, Realness Partner and Project Manager of the Episodic Lab said, “Series give writers the space to make bigger worlds and more layered stories. There is no limit for what can be submitted, and we believe that with the pool of talent on our continent, and our incredible ability to tell stories, that we will see some extraordinary talent emerging from this process. We are excited and are preparing to work really hard to select the first cohort for the Lab.”
A stipend of US$2000 per month will be paid to the participants to cover living expenses as they dedicate their time to the process. At the end of the Lab, each writer will have an opportunity to pitch their finished product to Netflix and have their series developed for production. If Netflix does not commission further development and/or production, the rights to the developed material default to the authors. Creators should not be committed to a producer or director to participate in the Lab.
Applications can be done on the Realness Institute website here.
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