The Writers Guild of Canada Presents
The Bell Media Diverse Screenwriters Program

Please note: The deadline for the Spring 2012 workshop has passed, but we will be launching Year 3 towards the end of the Summer with dates for both the western and eastern Canada sessions. To see a sample of the application and guidelines, visit here.

Meet the screenwriters of the western Canada session Year 2 – click here.

WGC Member? - Be a Paid Mentor!

The WGC is looking for eight talented and generous members to act as Screenwriting Mentors with the Bell Media Diverse Screenwriters Program. These paid positions with emerging writers are engaging and rewarding. You can make a difference. While these positions are for the Eastern Canada session of the Program, members from across the country are encouraged to apply. Please see the job description here. Deadline for applications is March 16, 2012. Qualified candidates should apply to diversity@wgc.ca.

The Program

The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) and Bell Media present this program to bring more diverse writers into the talent pool of Canadian screenwriting. The Bell Media Diverse Screenwriters Program (formerly known as The CTV Diverse Screenwriters Program) reaches out to offer emerging and mid-career writers from diverse backgrounds the chance to hone the skills they need to become successful professional screenwriters. The program is offered free-of-charge to selected writers and, if travel to Toronto is necessary, selected writers will receive travel support. And one writer will come out of the program with a paid internship on a Bell Media TV series.

Each session of the program will offer up to eight writers a one-week intensive workshop, featuring lectures, guest speakers, screenings and more. A western Canada session was held in Vancouver in December 2011, and the next eastern Canada session will take place in Spring 2012 in Toronto. This immersion phase will launch the writers’ development of their original script. After the workshop, each writer will partner with an experienced screenwriter mentor to hone their script and pitch, finishing the program with a polished calling card to the industry.

The Bell Media Diverse Screenwriters Program presented by the WGC is made possible through the CTV-CHUM tangible benefits.

Questions? Please email diversity@wgc.ca.

Bell Media First Group

Read about the first Diverse Screenwriters group here.