Resources for Screenwriters

Rideback, the production company founded by Dan Lin, the producer behind “Aladdin,” “The Two Popes,” and “The LEGO Movie” franchise, and MRC, the leading film and television studio behind the award-winning “House of Cards” and “Ozark,” and such films as “Ted” and “Baby Driver,” are launching the 2020 session of the Rideback TV Incubator (RTI), a creative incubator whose core mission is to financially and creatively support TV drama writers from a wide variety of backgrounds and life experiences who seek to create their own drama series for premium cable or streaming.

The best thing a writer can do to become a better writer is to read, watch, listen to and embrace other genres of storytelling, ones that are different from his or her own. Screenwriters who see plays, playwrights who read or listen to fiction, or prose writers who watch movies – you can bet their own stories are elevated to a higher level by taking off the blinders and soaking up other breeds of writing.

“Sundance deepens the resolve of artists, bringing them together in a creative community so that they know they are not alone.” —Robert Redford, President and Founder

Sundance Institute’s artist programs provide dynamic support at every step of the creative journey for individuals with distinct voices in film, theatre, film composing, episodic storytelling, and emerging media. Each program consists of labs, grants, intensives, sessions, and ongoing resources for artists to nurture their projects and sustain their careers.

Selected Creators each work with a Shaper - a best in class screenwriters and showrunners - who will work with Creators to help break story, craft characters, offer ideas, give notes, and push Creators to produce their best work at the accelerated pace of our program.

Each year, the Academy Nicholl screenwriting competition awards up to five $35,000 fellowships to amateur screenwriters. To enter, submit a feature length screenplay and entry fee via the online application when the competition is open for submissions. Fellowship winners are invited to participate in awards week ceremonies and seminars and expected to complete at least one original feature film screenplay during the Fellowship year.

The chosen Fellowship recipients will receive ongoing professional support and a special trip to Los Angeles for meetings, mentorship and personal introductions to key entertainment studio executives, producers, literary managers and agents. To apply, simply submit your feature film script or original television script, along with an optional cover letter that expresses your vision and background as an emerging writer.

The Universal Writers Program identifies up-and-coming and experienced screenwriters with unique points of view that build upon the Studio’s commitment to telling stories and creating films that reflect the vast diversity of our audiences. The only feature film program sanctioned by the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), the Program develops storytellers who organically incorporate multicultural and global perspectives in screenwriting.