SimplyScripts will fund the submission of  Any Women Screenwriter who is a member of the SimplyScripts discussion board who applys for this. Just send me an email.


The Writers Lab will bring 8 women screenwriters over the age of 40 together with established mentors from the film industry for an intimate gathering and intensive workshop at Wiawaka Center for Women on Lake George, NY from September 18-20, 2015.

For information on how to apply, visit New York Women in Film & Television.

Official Deadline: June 1, 2015 @ 5 PM EST

Script Guidelines:

Your script must be a full-length fictional narrative feature in English. It must be submitted electronically as a PDF.

Writers: You must be a woman who is at least 40 years old, born on or before June 1, 1975. You must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Scripts by more than one writer will be considered, but all writers must be female, and only one writer can attend the Lab.

Wow, great opportunity.

The Writers Lab evolved in recognition of the absence of the female voice in narrative film...

Good on you, Meryl Streep. Only sorry I'm a long long way from NY.

P.S. Didn't read all of this properly. What I should have said also is, good on you, Don. A very generous offer in getting behind the female writers of the SS boards.  

What LC said!

Don, this is extremely generous and I lost sight of what you might do next. A great amount of good is coming from you.

Don, that is awesome. I hope all the women of SS (eligible or not) check this out because this could be a great opportunity. Good luck to you all. =)

Just checking with Phil to make sure there will be someone guarding the home front.  But I'll know soon!!  

Quoted from LC Wow, great opportunity. Only sorry I'm a long long way from NY. P.S. Didn't read all of this properly.

You have to also be a US citizen or have a green card/permanent resident card.

Super nice of Don to do this!

Personally I don't have any features good enough. I only have one good enough to submit, but it was co-written with a man, so it doesn't qualify.

Good luck to all SS women who enter though.  

Quoted from Grandma Bear You have to also be a US citizen or have a green card/permanent resident card.

They also said you have to be OVER 40...

That leaves you out Pia.

Shawn.....><

BTW...

Can transgender's apply?

Jeff might be interested.

Oh Shawn,

You're mean...  

Don, thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention. And this...

Quoted from Don SimplyScripts will fund the submission of  Any Women Screenwriter who is a member of the SimplyScripts discussion board who applys for this. Just send me an email.

This is just amazing. Wow! So incredibly generous and supportive. I hope some of the SS women take advantage of what looks like an amazing opportunity.

It isn't that I don't think anyone can afford it.  I wanted to remove that final barrier to entering, "I'd like to do it, but ..."

I hope that those who decide to enter feel they can leverage the greater SS community to review submissions, the short synopsis of the film and/or brief personal statement.  

Don't feel obligated to post your work.  I think if you just post a request and email the work, we'd all be happy to help out.


Don

Quoted from Breanne Mattson Don, thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention. And this... This is just amazing. Wow! So incredibly generous and supportive. I hope some of the SS women take advantage of what looks like an amazing opportunity.

Let me be the first of many to echo Breanne's post!  All of us owe Don a ton of thanks - both for this generous offer, and his myriad efforts over the years that's made Simplyscripts possible at all.  Thanks, Don.  We all owe you more than could be repaid....  

That said... I'm in.  And I know JUST which script I'll be throwing into the ring...

Damn, Shawn beat me to it...I was going to ask if a man who looks and acts like a woman, who is over age 40 (exactly like Shawn), could qualify somehow.

Although thankfully, I've never seen it, I've heard he looks pretty damn good in drag....if he'd just shave that beard.  

Quoted from Ledbetter They also said you have to be OVER 40... That leaves you out Pia. Can transgender's apply? Jeff might be interested.

Shawn, I love how you try to flatter me and Jeff in the same post!!!

I wasn't at all going to enter this because I have a feeling the competition will be fierce and I have nothing polished or finished and ready to show anyone. Then Don sort of put a foam dart gun to my head...

I started thinking. What scripts do I have? I've lost track and don't even know where they are. Then I remembered Bitch Cassidy and The Moondance Kid about two female bank robbers. Then there's the Dirty Detective one with a female PI who's also a voyuer... To be honest, that one is more like something for the 3am cable market. Then Savage Frontier, my lesbian western...

What to do, what to do?????

I curse you Don!!!!

Quoted from Grandma Bear I curse you Don!!!!

I curse you, too, Pia!

"Foam dart to my head." I am totally stealing that line.

Don

You are the number one reason I love this wild ass site. Thank you so much, Don for being our corporate sponsor!  I'm def entering!

Pia...there is no way you don't have something, and you have over a month to clean it up. Get on it woman!!

I'll definitely be asking for help with the synopsis and personal statement. I won't torture anyone with script reads...I did that enough last year.    But I'm available if anyone needs a read.

It doesn't say anywhere if scripts with a man for a protag or mostly men cast are eligible. I assume they are but do you think it's worth submitting something like this?
I think it's better be with a woman for a protag at least.

The only 'female over 40 requirement' is the screenwriter. You can write about anything you like.

Quoted from DustinBowcot The only 'female over 40 requirement' is the screenwriter. You can write about anything you like.

That I know - there's no restriction. But I'm asking opinions whether it's worth submitting. Women are funding screenplays from women - what are the odds they will pay close attention to the ones with the male protag?

Kham, I really think it's the calibre of script and writing they'll be looking at, however I do agree if you've got a strong female protagonist story I'd definitely go with that over a male dominated story.

Thanks Libby. Perhaps even if it's a male protag - it may still have as good of a chance. Unless it's all male cast or something, but still who knows.

I'm with Dustin on this one.  At least as I read it, they're looking to promote women writers... not specifically women-focused scripts.  (The one I intend to submit does have a main female protag, but that's just happy coincidence...)

The way I read it is that they are looking for promising women writers. They are not looking for a script to purchase and produce. I saw numerous women at another forum who were going to write scripts for Meryl Streep... That's not at all what they are trying to do here. IMO.

I also don't think it's a good idea to start writing a new script now for it. Although I wish those who do the best. I think this will be a serious thing. Better to polish something you already have so it is the best it can be. I'm sure all people involved in this have read enough scripts in their lives to be able to tell style, voice, how to plot a story with characters that standout. Genre doesn't matter. It can even be a slasher. I could be wrong, but I think the competition will be fierce and everyone needs to bring their A-game.

Just my 2 cents...  

Quoted from khamanna That I know - there's no restriction. But I'm asking opinions whether it's worth submitting. Women are funding screenplays from women - what are the odds they will pay close attention to the ones with the male protag?

That's an interesting question.

I think even more likely...

My reasoning is that you should be able to write females fairly easily, whereas male parts may be  a little more difficult, as it would be with any female writer and vice versa. I think it would be far more impressive if you could pull off a believable male character. It certainly works well for a man if he can write female parts.

As somebody else has said (I didn't take much notice over who said what) it's best not to put much thought into that aspect. Rather, concentrate on polishing a story you already have and send it in.

As it is Meryl Streep (will she be reading the scripts?), I'd concentrate on something drama heavy.

I'm shocked that you're all over 40... the best of British luck to you.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I'm shocked that you're all over 40... the best of British luck to you.

I'm waiting for the exclusive opportunity for women over 50. I'd enter that one.  

I don't think it matters if it's a male or female protag. And women who are writing something for this thing with Meryl in mind, missed the point entirely. It's about finding strong women screenwriters, not about creating roles for actresses.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I'm shocked that you're all over 40.

My pants flew off when I read that. Yep. That's all it takes these days.

Quoted from mmmarnie My pants flew off when I read that. Yep. That's all it takes these days.

Oh God, Marnie!  I'm going to have to remember to quote that one someday!  

Quoted from mmmarnie My pants flew off when I read that. Yep. That's all it takes these days.

Cougar tracks. Everywhere.

Quoted from mmmarnie My pants flew off when I read that. Yep. That's all it takes these days.

So, I guess the second secret word is "pants". Aga!

Hey all
   I wanted to wish all of you the very best of luck.  This is an awesome opportunity for all of you.  And I know I speak for everyone on SS when I wish you can all finish at the top so you all make it.

I know I emailed quite a few of you about this, and I'm glad so many know about it.  

I have to say that I really enjoy this site and I have met some extraordinary people like Pia, Janet, Libby, Debra Johnson, and many others.  I know I'm a better writer today b/c of all the time you spent with me.

Hey, do you think man boobs could kinda half-count for the woman thingy?  Anyone?  Anyone down for doing a reenactment for Tootsie?  I got the moobs if anyone is good at makeup.  

Crap, the high heels would kill me... Literally.  Lets not even talk about the girdle.  

Anyways, best of luck and knock them dead.  I mean your competition, if you kill them all, then you have to win, right?  

Seriously, I hope all of you do well.  You are all awesome people and I like it when good folks get big breaks!

Dan

Gender and age discriminating.

Breath....

Need meds.

Breath....

Swallow.....

I'm okay.

Carry on my wayward son.

Quoted from TonyDionisio Gender and age discriminating.

Gender and age discrimination in Hollywood is the purpose behind the contest.

Who ended up entering? Kham? Did you get yours in? I hope you did!! I had fun reading it.

I was going to say the same thing.

Take a deep breath, Tony, and recognize the gender and age bias that already exists in the world of Hollywood, and the film world in general, and you'll recognize the attempt to right the balance with this and other contests of its ilk - and of course thanks to Don for sponsoring the cause.

Good luck to all who are entering.

Waiting for the TG/TV/TS comp.

Quoted from mmmarnie Who ended up entering? Kham? Did you get yours in? I hope you did!! I had fun reading it.

Hey, just seeing this - yeah, I rewrote some based on your feedback and got it in. It's still severely underdevelopped, so I couldn't use Don't offer.
I don't even know why I submitted - probably because I planned to - but I know it's a waste of money. Now I want to let the script sit a bit and in a while I'll read it with fresh eyes. I've been told by another reader that set up is all wrong, let's see.

I definitely needs work but the contest stated the feature only had to be complete and it could be in any stage of development it just need a beginning, middle and end. I thought you were just trying to clean it up enough to enter. They're looking for projects to develop which is why they said it didn't have to be polished to enter.

Best of luck to the ladies who entered and thank you Don for the support. To you it may have just been an entry fee, to us the confidence you have in your group of writers is priceless.

Good luck to all who entered.

Dan

Quoted from LC I was going to say the same thing. Take a deep breath, Tony, and recognize the gender and age bias that already exists in the world of Hollywood, and the film world in general, and you'll recognize the attempt to right the balance with this and other contests of its ilk - and of course thanks to Don for sponsoring the cause. Good luck to all who are entering.

Or you can let everyone enter but grade your target group on a curve. lol, don't do that, it's a stupid idea. I prefer to 'right the balance' with the best 'talented work', but hey... that's just me.

However, it's good that there is persuasion such as this if it helps to motivate.

GJ.

Quoted from TonyDionisio Or you can let everyone enter but grade your target group on a curve. lol, don't do that, it's a stupid idea. I prefer to 'right the balance' with the best 'talented work', but hey... that's just me. However, it's good that there is persuasion such as this if it helps to motivate. GJ.

If you think women's lack of achievement in the movie business is entirely due to a lack of merits, then you need to do some research. There's a demonstrable bias against women in the entertainment industry. Men already enjoy an unfair advantage. It's funny that guys like you never stand up for women in the face of the clear evidence that women are marginalized,yet the second women take the slightest step toward leveling the playing field, guys like you come out of the woodwork to take a great big dump on it.

Hmm, the name calling post seems to have been removed. No matter. I still saw it.

See the little smiley face? Means im messing around. But, if some want to resort to name calling and then others +1 it, that's okay too. I think you should check out the other recent thread about constructive criticism. Name calling hurts me so much <--- note the wink.

lol.

I hope this thread doesn't get trolled by angry Femi-Nazi's. It would diminish the objective of actually getting fellow board members opportunities to have their work shine.

Sarcasm often translates poorly on public forums.

But more important than that, it is ill-advised to taunt our writer-girls at all.

Seldom does that end well.

Quoted from bert ... it is ill-advised to taunt our writer-girls at all. Seldom does that end well.

Made me laugh. Yeah, there ain't that many of us regulars either.

It was fun to enter this competition and I thank Don for telling us about it.  

I know it seems odd and unfair to have particular age and gender prerequisites but almost everything is (odd and unfair, I mean).  

Hugs to the girls who participated!  

Cath

Quoted from bert But more important than that, it is ill-advised to taunt our writer-girls at all. Seldom does that end well.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scourned, right?

Quoted from TonyDionisio But, if some want to resort to name calling...

No, you're above that sort of thing...

Quoted from TonyDionisio I hope this thread doesn't get trolled by angry Femi-Nazi's.

That can't possibly be you name calling. You wouldn't do that.

Quoted from TonyDionisio See the little smiley face? Means im messing around..

Sure you were. The old "just kidding" defense, eh?

Best of luck to all who entered and a sincere thank you to all those who have been supportive. You're awesome!

Quoted from c m hall Hugs to the girls who participated!

Indeed...can I join in  

Hugs for Reef Dreamer!  

Aunt Cath

Tony...I'm not as eloquent as Breanne.  Yes, I called you a feminine hygiene product. Seemed the appropriate response to your "sarcastic" remark stinking up our lovely and supportive women's thread. Real men eat quiche and are supportive of women.

Thanks to everyone who IS supportive!!  Sending all my fellow lady writer friends positive vibes. I hope one of us gets in this thing!!