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BBC Writersroom's annual window for unsolicited comedy scripts (TV, film, radio, stage or online) will open on Monday 23rd March and close 5pm Monday 20th April 2020. Time to get prepping!
The initiative looks for what the script says about the writer; it's a calling card to showcase a writer’s talent, ability and sense of humour. BBC Writersroom are searching for distinctive voices – and scripts that express those voices. It’s not necessarily about finding precincts or situations that have ‘never been done before’ but having an original take on stories that have the potential to have wide breadth of appeal. Characters who are well rounded and consistent and who drive the comedy rather than serve it. A sense of storytelling ability – handling of pace, climax, mood. The sheme isn't looking for early/first/rough drafts of scripts. Only submit to the Script Room when your script is ready, even if it means waiting for a later Script Room submission window.
At the end of the process, a group of writers (usually between 10 and 15) will be selected to join the BBC Comedy Room writer development group for 2020/21. You could be new to writing or new to the BBC but equally, you may be a playwright looking to write for TV, or you’ve written for radio and would like to try your hand at writing for CBBC. It will also be considered whether scripts have real potential to be developed further towards production. If there's the belief a script could be developed further by a BBC department, it will be sent to them with the writer's knowledge. Original scripts written on spec' are produced extremely rarely, and writers should not send them in with the expectation that they will be produced. However, original spec' scripts are the means by which writers get noticed, so you should always write your script with the same level of commitment as if it were for production.
Click here for more info and get those scripts ready! Good luck!
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