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Since 1997, over 2000 scripts have been submitted to the Outfest Screenwriting Program. What began as a screenwriting competition has expanded into a dynamic three-day, mentor-led workshop in Los Angeles for selected screenwriters. The authors of five screenplays will be invited to participate in an intensive laboratory during which they will work closely with Lab Mentors — established writers who will critique and encourage their work.
To be held in June 2012, with a follow up event during Outfest 2012, the lab will include sessions with other industry professionals, structured career development opportunities and participation in ongoing festival events. Past Lab Fellows have gone on to a variety of successes including production of the first Outfest Screenwriting Lab script! Click here to read more about it.
Lab Fellows are selected by Outfest staff, with recommendations from a panel of writers, directors, producers and development executives. All participants will receive accreditation for the 2012 festival. Travel to Los Angeles for the lab is not guaranteed, but will be provided if available.
Submissions for the 2012 Screenwriting Lab are now open
via WITHOUT-A-BOX.
Click here for submission requirements.
Submission early deadline: January 21, 2012
Final Deadline: February 6, 2012.
Get all the latest Screenwriting Lab updates by joining our mailing list:
2011 FELLOWS
Julian Breece, BALL
For teen prodigy Angel Rhodes, being gay is one of many crosses to bear. Cast into the street by his abusive family and forbidden from seeing his terminally ill son, he finds strength and survival in New York's underground world of gay vogue balls.
George Northy, G.B.F
Unpopular, closeted gay teens Tanner and Brent have their friendship put to the test when Tanner is accidentally outed and finds himself suddenly 'in' - as the new, must-have accessory of teen girls everywhere: The G.B.F. (or Gay Best Friend).
Jules Nurrish, HEADLINERS
In this comedy about reinvention, eternal optimist Marge has worked her way up from slaughterhouse worker to public relations manager. Forced into early retirement, Marge seeks comfort from her gay son James, whose propensity for dragging up as Courtney Love is a thorn in Marge’s side. After a lifetime of conforming, the liberation of swapping her old life for a new one forces Marge to realize a world of possibilities – both for herself, and her son.
Darwin Serink, PAPER CRANES
With no health insurance in California, Zachary heads home to Canada for free medical treatment. The family reunion is less than joyous as an un-welcoming sister and a career obsessed brother are all Zachary has to fall back on. It is through the meeting of eleven year old leukemia patient Amena that Zachary discovers the true meaning of life.
Louise Wadley, THE TROUBLE WITH E
A beautiful, sexy DJ seems to have it all, but looks are deceiving. E is living a double life and is too scared to come out to her traditional Lebanese immigrant parents who think she is married to gay best friend Matt. When E stumbles on a stash of cash, she and Matt flee the city on a road trip that takes them deep into the Australian outback and into the arms of the woman who broke her heart.
Special support provided by:
Past Outfest Screenwriting Lab Fellows
[2011 - 1997] |
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Success Stories of Outfest Screenwriting Lab Fellows!
David Michael Barrett, 2002 Fellow
OVER THE RAINBOW
Verité Films, an independent production company, announced their next feature will be David Michael Barrett's OVER THE RAINBOW. It will be directed by multi-award winning director, Casper Andreas. OVER THE RAINBOW is a smart romantic comedy, literally a fairy tale. Thrust into a world where all gay people are closeted, a gay man must find a bride for the Prince, who seems in every way to be his real-life boyfriend. Barrett, along with René Veilleux and Donald Roman Lopez of Verité FIlms, will produce. They plan to go into production in mid-2011.
Javier Fuentes-León, 2003 Fellow
CONTRACORRIENTE (UNDERTOW)
CONTRACORRIENTE (UNDERTOW) has been selected by Peru to vie for a Foreign Language Oscar Nomination. Since its completion in 2009, the film--which tells the story of Miguel, whose love for another man threatens to dismantle his family and circle of friends in a small Peruvian fishing village--has toured the world on the film festival circuit and received numerous awards. Writer/director Fuentes-León was recognized as one of Outfest's 4 in Focus in 2010, where the film served as the International Centerpiece and also received the Special Programming Award for Artistic Achievement. CONTRACORRIENTE (UNDERTOW) made its North American debut and won the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance; it has since screened at dozens of festivals worldwide. The film will be released theatrically in San Francisco on September 17, 2010 with additional dates and locations to be announced.
Ty Lieberman, 2005 Fellow
KISS THE BRIDE
The first lab project to go into production, KISS THE BRIDE is a groundbreaking romantic comedy starring Tori Spelling (So noTORIous, Beverly Hills, 90210), Joanna Cassidy (Blade Runner, Six Feet Under), Tess Harper and a cast of rising talents including Philipp Karner (The Sopranos, Sex and the City) and James O'Shea. The film is directed by Outfest Lab Mentor C. Jay Cox (scr/dir. LATTER DAYS, scr. SWEET HOME ALABAMA), produced by Shadow Factory and Executive Produced and Distributed by here! Networks.
Samuel Park, 2006 Fellow
SHAKESPEARE'S SONNETS
The novel version of Samuel Park’s screenplay has just been published by Alyson Books and will be released December 2006. First developed as a one-act play at Stanford University, this literate, intimate novel introduces a fresh new voice in gay fiction. The story is set in 1948 and follows Adam Greenhurst, a Harvard student with dreams of becoming a literary scholar. His life plan is set, until he's busted by campus police for having sex with another man in a public place. Threatened with expulsion, Adam refocuses his energies on a new class about Shakespeare's sonnets where he meets Jean Hoffman, a man with whom Adam shares a love of language and a love of men. As their relationship grows, Adam realizes he will have to make a choice: the life his family planned for him, or the life his heart desires.
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SCRIPT SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Screenplays submitted for consideration should display significant content or thematic material regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender persons and/or issues. A submitted screenplay may not be based on pre-existing literary works unless these are the original work of the author(s) of the screenplay. The submitted material must not have been purchased or optioned for purchase by any production company, motion picture studio or film financing entity.
- The Screenwriting Lab is designed for early career writers who have not received screenplay credit on a feature film; however, more established writers may be considered. Individuals are eligible to enter regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Lab is not open to employees of Outfest or to members of the Lab Selection Committee, nor to their immediate family members: .
- In order to complete your submission to the Outfest Screenwriting Lab, please submit the following.
Submit one (1) electronic PDF of the following 3 items via www.withoutabox.com:
- ONLY THE FIRST TEN (10) pages (not counting cover page) of an original script that is between 90 and 130 pages in completed form.
- A synopsis of the script (no longer that 250 words).
- A statement of up to one page (no longer that 250 words) outlining your career history and objectives as well as what you hope to gain by participating in the Lab.
Full Submission Requirements can be found in the Category Rules and in the General Festival Rules at www.withoutabox.com
Withoutabox Support: If you experience any difficulties with Withoutabox, please contact their customer service directly at support email requests.
Open for submissions: 11/1/11
Early Bird Deadline: 1/21/12
Regular Deadline: 2/6/12
FEES: $25 early bird, $30 regular deadline
2012 SWL LAB takes place in Hollywood, CA: June 6th - 8th, 2012
- In Round 1, 25 submissions are chosen to go on to Round 2. If your script is selected for the second round of the selection process you will receive an email with a request to submit a PDF of the complete script by March 16th, 2012. Please be prepared by this date to send the full script. If you are selected for the second round you may also be called for an interview in person or via Skype.
- Each applicant may enter only one screenplay each year. Screenplays submitted in previous years may only be re-submitted once and they must have been revised since the previous entry.
- Format Requirements:
- Screenplays should be written in screenplay format standard to the United States motion picture industry.
- Screenplays should be suited to feature film production in their conception. Television pilots and series episodes will be disqualified, as well as scripts formatted as “movies of the week” (with act breaks for commercials, etc.).
- Pages must be numbered.
- No additional materials should be attached to the script (e.g. letters of recommendation, alternate pages, character list, mention of awards or production, etc.).
- All entrants will be notified of results by April 30, 2012.
- Submitting to the Lab constitutes permission to use the entrant’s name and likeness for publicity and promotions.
- Although not necessary at time of entry, Outfest encourages writers to register their material with either the Writers Guild of America or the U.S. Copyright Office. U.S. Copyright information: (202) 707-3000. Writers Guild East: (212) 767-7800. Writers Guild West: (323) 951-4000.
- Any disputes or questions regarding the application or effect of these rules shall be resolved by the Board of Directors of Outfest, whose judgment shall be binding and final on all parties.
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