ITV has announced that its successful writing initiative, Original Voices, is to return.
ITV first launched Original Voices in 2013, to tap into and connect with local BAME writing talent. The aim of the initiative is to find interesting writers from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and offer selected candidates training opportunities within ITV Continuing Drama.
ITV has run the scheme three times so far with writers joining the story and writing teams of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
Original Voices – Emmerdale is seeking submissions from talented writers with a view to offering four applicants the opportunity to spend six weeks in the Emmerdale story department. Whilst there, the successful applicants will develop their skills at creating gripping stories, weaving multiple story strands and writing credible long running story arcs.
At the end of the attachment the selected writers will get the chance to write a trial script for the show to be read by the show’s producers. Constructive notes and feedback will be offered on this script with an opportunity for the writer to write a second draft, a vital part of the soap scripting process. Writing a trial script is the standard path for writers attempting to secure one of the highly coveted writer roles on ITV’s soaps. It will provide invaluable scripting experience to the schemes selected writers, experience which can be put to good use on other drama opportunities.
How to apply:
Applicants interested in this scheme can apply by sending in one sample script (television, film, theatre, radio or similar), accompanied by a short script synopsis and a biography/CV with evidence of their connection to the North.
Scripts should be between 30-90 minutes, in a standard format and received by midnight on 1st December 2017.
Submissions will be shortlisted to a group of 12. The successful applicants will be notified in early 2018 (date tbc) and invited to a one-day Emmerdale storylining workshop at ITV Television Centre Leeds, 104 Kirkstall Road, LS3 1JS.
Following this, writers will have a week to write up and submit a bespoke story line. On the strength of this story line, pitching skills at the workshop and their original script submission, four writers will be selected to go forward as outlined above.
Applicants can apply by sending to originalvoices@itv.com the following:
- One sample script of 30-90 minutes (television, film, theatre, radio or similar)
- Short script synopsis
- Biography/CV, stating your permanent residence in the North
All submissions should be received by 1st December 2017.