Northern Voices 2009 - The search is on for exceptional writers

Want to write television drama for the BBC?

Want to develop your own original TV drama calling card script?

Want to be mentored by experienced TV writers?

BBC writersroom, Northern Film & Media, Screen Yorkshire and Northwest Vision + Media are searching for exceptional writers from the North who want to write drama for television. If you have a strong individual voice, the ability to create great characters, tell compelling stories and a real passion for television drama, you could take part in Northern Voices.

Northern Voices will provide fantastic training and development for up to four writers from each region to learn about writing for television drama from some of the most experienced producers and writers in the country. It will also provide the opportunity to develop an original TV drama calling card script with the support of a writer mentor.

Northern Voices will include a day long workshop led by John Yorke, BBC Controller, Drama Production. This workshop will give a detailed and invaluable insight into writing continuing drama for the BBC.

How to apply to Northern Voices

The scheme is open to writers living within the North East, Yorkshire or North West region who have already had a script commissioned or had a professional reading of their work (for any platform, film, radio, stage or TV). Applicants must be over 18 and not in full-time or undergraduate education.

The deadline for completed applications to arrive is noon on Friday 28 August 2009.

If you wish to discuss your eligibility, please contact your local Screen Agency:

North East - Victoria Johnson victoria@northernmedia.org 0191 269 9219
North West – Jenny Hughes jennyh@visionandmedia.co.uk 0161 244 3751
Yorkshire – Francesca Riley Francesca@screenyorkshire.co.uk 0113 2944410

Otherwise

You can download and complete the application form after carefully reading the Northern Voices Guidelines .

You can also download application forms from:

North East - http://www.northernmedia.org/
Yorkshire - http://screenyorkshire.co.uk/

The scheme will also include access to a nationally renowned writer mentor in each region.

Michael Chaplin (North East) is a writer for the screen, theatre and radio whose creations include 'Grafters' for ITV and 'Monarch of the Glen' for the BBC. John Fay (North West) was one of ‘Coronation Street’ core writers between 2001 and 2007. He created the conspiracy thriller ‘Mobile’ for Granada TV and has also written episodes of ‘Torchwood’, ‘Robin Hood’ and ‘Clocking Off’ for the BBC. Lisa Holdsworth (Yorkshire)’s first commission was an episode of ‘Fat Friends’ which was shortlisted for a Best New Writer BAFTA. She spent three years on the ‘Emmerdale’ writing team and has written extensively for New Tricks, Waterloo Road and Robin Hood.

At the end of the development process each script will be read by BBC writersroom and the best will be passed onto John Yorke’s team and BBC Drama North. The aim of this project is for new regional talent to develop a calling card TV Drama script with which they can begin a successful career in writing Drama for television.