Sesame Street Writers’ Room is a brand new fellowship opportunity from the creators of Sesame Street. And we are looking for YOU! Fresh new writing talent from underrepresented racial backgrounds. As a company that advocates diversity, we recognize the importance of representation both on and off-screen, so that children of all backgrounds can see themselves in the content they consume. Emerging storytellers who are selected to join the Writers’ Room fellowship will receive hands-on writing experience guided by Sesame Street veterans and other media industry leaders. Applications will be accepted from March 1 to March 31, 2017.
- Seven to ten writers from underrepresented racial groups will be selected
- Weekly sessions will take place at the Sesame Street NYC offices from June-July 2017
- Includes six, three-hour sessions on creating children’s educational media content
- Learn from industry writers, producers, agents and executives
- Complete at least one script during the program
- Two writers may have the opportunity for creative development deals and further mentorship
REQUIREMENTS
All participants will be asked to submit the following items with their application. For additional questions about any of the requirements, please feel free to contact us atwritersroom@sesame.org
- Application form
- Resume: this can feature your overall work experience, NOT only writing experience
- Personal Statement: tell us about yourself, for example, why you want to write for children’s educational media, how your experiences influence the stories you tell, why you value diversity/representation in children’s media, etc. (up to 500 words)
- Original script sample: 11-page maximum, it can be an excerpt from a larger piece, must be content written for children
- More info about your script: what’s the bigger picture/idea of your script sample? (up to 500 words)
- Application must be submitted by March 31st, 2017 11:59PM EST
ELIGIBILITY
All participants must adhere to the following guidelines listed below in order to qualify for the program. For additional questions about any of the requirements, please feel free to contact us atwritersroom@sesame.org
- Participant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Participant must be 21+ years old
- Must come from an underrepresented racial group (Asian, Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, Native American, Middle Eastern, or multiracial)
- No extensive media writing experience, such as having written more than 6 episodes for a network or cable series
- Participants must be able to get to NYC for the 6 weekly sessions, which will be held on a weeknight evening. Travel and lodging expenses are the participant’s sole responsibility.