| BBC Northern Ireland is once again searching for the next generation of television writers with the launch of the Tony Doyle Bursary for New Writing. Now in its sixth year, the bursary is open to new writers who think they’ve got what it takes to start a career in television. The scheme, run by BBC Northern Ireland, aims to assist and encourage the development of new writing talent for television – the medium in which Tony Doyle excelled – and to forge creative links between broadcasters and writers throughout Ireland.
Four chosen finalists will take part in a residential seminar where they will undergo intensive, structured, script sessions with members of BBC Northern Ireland Drama’s development team and top script writers and producers. In previous years these industry experts have included John Yorke (Controller, Drama Production Studios), Ashley Pharoah (Life on Mars, Wild at Heart), Barbara Machin (Waking The Dead, Casualty, The Bill), Adrian Hodges (Primeval, Charles II, Amongst Women), Peter Norris (Between The Lines, Ultimate Force, Uncle Silas), Kate Triggs (Messiah, Sinners, Any Time Now, Eureka Street, Amongst Women) and BBC Northern Ireland’s former Head of Drama Robert Cooper (Messiah, Sinners, Amongst Women, Truly Madly Deeply, As The Beast Sleeps, Ballykissangel).
The aim of the bursary
The aim of the bursary is to encourage television drama about Ireland by writers new to the medium. This may include writers experienced in other forms of fiction as well as new writers.
Prize
The winner will receive a cash prize of £2,000. The winner along with 3 finalists will be invited to a residential seminar run by the BBC Northern Ireland Drama Department. The aim of the seminar is to introduce the writers to the world of television drama through a series of intensive sessions with the BBC Northern Ireland development team and experienced practitioners - producers, directors, actors and fellow writers. We intend to announce the winner and runners-up in January or early February 2009 and to hold the seminar in April 2009.
Criteria
1 We are inviting submissions from writers with an Irish background.
2 The submission should be either a 60 or 90 minute script for an original television drama. This can be a single drama or the first episode of a 2 parter, serial or series. For series etc, you must attach a synopsis (max 2 pages) outlining the remainder of the story.
3 Please submit two typed copies of the script.
4 Only one entry will be accepted per person.
5 Entries must be in the English language.
6 Entries must be the original work of the writer (ie entries must not be based on the work of any other writer).
7 The writer must not have had either a drama in the English language previously produced for television or a feature film produced (this does not include short films subsequently broadcast on television).
8 If the submitted script has been through a development process with a production company, agent, training scheme etc then this must be declared on the submission.
9 If the rights for any part of the work submitted have been licensed, assigned or disposed of to any third party then this must be declared on the submission.
10 No previous finalists will be considered.
11 All submissions should be received by 30 November 2008. Submissions received after this deadline will not be considered.
The Bursary was established eight years ago in memory of Tony Doyle. Tony was one of Ireland’s foremost television actors who starred in many BBC, ITV and RTE dramas including ‘Ballykissangel’, ‘Amongst Women’ and ‘Between The Lines’. A shortlist of submissions will be judged by a panel of former associates of Tony’s, including Peter Norris, Lorcan Cranitch, Tina Kellegher, Chris Parr, Liam Cunningham and Kate Rowland together with Tony’s widow Sally Doyle. In choosing a winner, the panel will be considering the originality of the television idea and the writer’s ability.
Submissions to:
The Tony Doyle Bursary for New Writing 2008
BBC Writer’s Room
1st Floor
Grafton House
379-381 Euston Road
London
NW1 3AU
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