Bell Media Prime Time TV Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Working in series television means understanding the daily demands of creativity and production. The Bell Media Prime Time TV Program delivers a real world story room experience, develops strong series writers and creates original series content for the marketplace. You will work with an experienced creator and showrunner developing an original series.

The process allows you to develop your craft and voice while balancing the demands of the TV business. It develops, packages and launches you and your original series into the marketplace while building strong creative partnerships, skills and business opportunities. 

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IMPORTANT DATES

The 2019 Bell Media Prime Time TV Program will from mid-September to March 2019. For further important dates regarding applications, please check back in early 2019. 

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PROGRAM DESIGN

This is a full-time five-month program open to 6 TV writers. It delivers a team-based approach to series writing while nurturing individual voices and developing new series concepts. This program develops writers and helps you master the essential tools required to thrive as successful writers and creators in the television industry.

Core Components

• Articulating the creative vision
• Working in a story department
• Elevating craft and storytelling skills
• Building business and marketplace strategies
• Accelerating project development

Outcomes

• Brokers countless creative and business opportunities by offering access to key industry professionals, mentors and creative leaders
• Delivers a rigorous story room experience and establishes strong, collaborative team skills under the mentorship of a top executive producer and creator
• Develops, workshops and packages new TV series concepts in addition to the executive producer’s new show
• Inspires creativity through high-level case studies and workshops
• Deepens your understanding of the marketplace and how best to position yourself within the business
• Actively engages writers in an exploration of the evolving entertainment landscape
• Expands your portfolio for TV

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ELIGIBILITY

This program is designed for writers who are deeply committed to expanding their craft and who are ready to tackle the rigours of working in a story room. We are looking for writers with unique, inspired voices, a strong understanding of TV and who are keen to collaborate.

To apply you must have a spec script for an existing series, an original series pilot writing sample (half-hour or one hour; drama or comedy), several original series idea to be developed, a proven commitment to writing and some exposure to the film and television industry.

TUITION

Please note that commencing in 2018, the tuition for the Bell Media Prime Time TV Program has increased from $6,000.00 to $7,000.00, however this increase will be automatically offset through CFC's Scholarship Funds. 

If accepted into the program, you may also be eligible to receive scholarship support up to the full tuition amount through a scholarship application process. 

There is a $100 application fee to apply.

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LAB DESIGN

Craft and Collaboration: The Story Department

Working in a deeply collaborative manner, the story room experience puts writers through the rigours and discipline of series development with real turnaround expectations.

The Executive Producer in Residence introduces the world of the show, the characters and stories, strategically building their concept and breaking stories with the writers working as a story department. Writers will write and rewrite non-stop balancing the demands of the story room, story editing notes, broadcaster feedback and potential production concerns. The executive producer works closely with the team of writers to reach solid third drafts of the scripts and puts them to the test with professionally cast actor readings.

Project Development: The Original Series Pilot

You will have the opportunity to develop your own fresh and original series idea through group and individual story editing sessions, rewriting and packaging assignments. Under professional mentorship, you will be constantly pitching, turning around written material, round-tabling it for feedback and rewriting and analyzing the work in terms of design, impact and feasibility. This process culminates in a professionally cast actor reading of the pilot script and the production of a promotional teaser.

Productions and TV Teasers

Writers have the opportunity to showcase series idea through a modest production component called TV Teasers, a simple three-minute, professionally cast and crewed snapshot of your original series. Teasers are condensed trailers based on the characters and stories in your original series material that are intended to act as a promotional tool for your talent and series ideas. These productions put into play the same creative, collaborative and pragmatic challenges inherent in any television production experience. 

Business and Marketplace: Professional Development

The program focuses on building greater awareness of the business aspects of television; shaping the writer’s portfolio for the broadcast marketplace and developing long-term career strategies. In-depth workshops, case studies, and business and career planning sessions with key industry players will:

• Explore key aspects of the craft, including various processes and relationships
• Access detailed information about series development, financing, production and broadcasting
• Provide in-depth exposure to innovative and alternative TV models 

For any additional questions concerning the Bell Media Prime Time TV Program, please email Dena Razapoor at drazapoor@cfccreates.com or by phone at 416.445.1446 x224.

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APPLY

Applications are now closed for the 2018 Bell Media Prime Time TV Program.

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ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

The CFC is committed to providing accessible practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation at any stage of the application process or have any questions regarding appropriate accommodations please contact Deborah Fallows, CHRO, at: dfallows@cfccreates.com.

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PROGRAM PARTNERS

About Bell Media

Bell Media creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is Canada’s leading content creation company with premier assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada's highest-rated television network; 30 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, and four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran. Bell Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 215 music channels including 105 licensed radio stations in 54 markets across the country, all part of the iHeartRadio brand and streaming service. Bell Media owns Astral Out of Home with a network of more than 30,000 advertising faces in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Québec, and Nova Scotia. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites; delivers TV Everywhere with its CraveTV and GO video streaming services; operates multi-channel network Much Digital Studios; produces live theatrical shows via its partnership with Iconic Entertainment Studios; and owns Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca.Presented in association with 

About ABC Signature Studios

ABC Signature Studios is ABC Studios’ boutique division spearheading development and production in premium and basic cable as well as digital platforms. Signature is currently in production on two half-hour comedy series: "SMILF" for Showtime from Frankie Shaw who wrote, directed and will star, and the “black-ish” spin-off, “grown-ish” from creator/EP Kenya Barris for Freeform starring Yara Shahidi. Marvel Television and ABC Signature Studios are in production on three new series including “Marvel’s Runaways” for Hulu, "Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger,” and “Marvel’s New Warriors” for Freeform. Signature's previous series include “Guerrilla,” “Dead of Summer,” “Blood & Oil,” “Benched,” and the Emmy-nominated HBO film “Confirmation,” starring Kerry Washington and Wendell Pierce.

This showcase reel includes six short promos that we call TV Teasers which are generated from each writer’s original series concept. Teasers are designed to give you a taste of who these writers are, what kind of material they’re drawn to, their unique voice and to give you a glimpse, however brief, into the world, the characters and themes of their original series.

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SPECIAL THANKS TO THE 2017/2018 MENTORS

Dennis Heaton | Executive Producer in Residence

Al Magee | Professional in Residence

Lesley Grant | Original Series Mentor

Marissa Richmond | Casting Director Mentor

Tom Third | Teaser Music Mentor

David Ostry |  Teaser Filmmaker Mentor

Original Series Consultants

Graeme Manson

Shernold Edwards

Jennifer Kennedy

Sean Reycraft

Patrick Tarr

Peter Mohan

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THANK YOU TO OUR 2017/2018 GUESTS

Aaron Martin Aaron Unrau Adam Pettle Alex Levine Alex Zarowny Amy Cameron Amy Stulberg Andreea Vernescu Andrew Kelly Andrew McQuinn Brent Sherman Carl Liberman Carrie Paupst-Shaughnessy Chad Maker Chris Bell Christian Kelly Christina Jennings Clement Virgo Damon D'Oliveira Darren Giblin David Miller Elina Levina Glenn Cockburn Helen Asimakis

Ilana Miller Isabel Gomez-Moriana  Jane Maggs Jay Horwitz Jeff Alpern Jennifer Hollyer Jessica Shadlock Joe Kay Julie Lacey Kathleen Malloy Kathleen Meek Kerry Appleyard Kerry Ball Kevin Frank Kirk Comrie Kiwi Smith Laura Notarianni Lesley Harrison Lisa Lang McMullen Lisa Merchant Liz Szinessy Mackenzie Lush Mark Montefiore Martin Gero Megan Martin

Melanie LePhan  Michael Souther Michelle Daly Mika rekai Natalie Urquhart Noreen Halpern Pam Davis Pat Smith Robin Neinstein Samantha Morris Mastai Sandra Richmond Sara Timmins Shelley Eriksen Stefan Hogan Susan Alexander Tara Woodbury Tassie Cameron Teza Lawrence Tina Horwitz Tom Hastings Tracy Underwood Victoria Hirst Virginia Rankin William Lundy Zach Feldberg

PROGRAM PARTNERS

Presented in association with 

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PROGRAM PATRONS

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PROGRAM SPONSORS

PROGRAM MEMBERS

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PROGRAM FRIENDS

BFL Canada Risk and Insurance Services | Chubb Insurance Company of Canada | CMU College of Makeup Art & Design | Location Equipment Supply | Total Two Way | Film Port Studio | Casting Workbook | Eastern Script Inc

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ORIGINAL MUSIC CREATED THROUGH

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APPRECIATION GOES TO

  

And the Toronto Performers Branch of the ACTRA Performers Guild.

Applications for the 2018 Bell Media Prime Time TV Program are now closed.