A+E Networks and the NYTVF today announced partnership on a new initiative that will identify outstanding new writers and producers for potential development opportunities with A&E Networks’ various TV properties: A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime, FYI and H2.
The program, called Create360°, will offer independent television writers, producers, and production companies opportunities via a comprehensive development program that will build on the longtime unscripted partnership between the NYTVF and A+E Networks, and provide additional opportunities for scripted television writers and producers.
“A+E Networks has seen recent success in the scripted area, and with the demand for talented storytellers across the television landscape at an all time high, we are proud that they are extending their partnership with us beyond the terrific foundation of unscripted development that we’ve worked on with the networks for many years,” said NYTVF Founder Terence Gray. “There exists a unique opportunity for bold, new voices in today’s marketplace, and we’re thrilled to bring the indie creative community this fantastic opportunity to work with one of the best network groups in the business.”
A+E Networks-NYTVF Create360° includes the following programs, via press release:
– Lifetime Writers Project – The network group’s first scripted partnership with NYTVF, the Lifetime Writers Project invites emerging TV writers to submit concepts for hour-long series for consideration. Five writers will be selected by the network as Lifetime Writing Fellows and will receive a grant to attend the 2015 New York Television Festival as Official Artists to meet with network executives about their projects.
– Unscripted Pipeline – A&E, HISTORY and Lifetime, will again invite unscripted producers to submit character-based sizzle tapes and series treatments, with each network offering a potential development opportunity to a selected producer.
– NYTVF Pitch – Any writers/creators named Official Artists for the 2015 New York Television Festival as part of these or other 2015 NYTVF competitions will be eligible to submit original series concepts for consideration by FYI and H2 executives. Since the NYTVF launched its Pitch program in 2011, 17 networks, platforms, and studios have awarded indie artists with development deals based on pitches presented to them at the annual Festival.
The Lifetime Writers Project (Submissions open July 27-August 7)
For the first time, NYTVF is partnering with Lifetime in search of talented television writers with bold new scripted concepts for further development opportunities with the premier female-focused entertainment destination and home to one of the summer’s breakout hits, UnREAL.
The NYTVF-Lifetime Writers Project is soliciting new hour-long, brand-defining series concepts from emerging TV scribes. To submit, writers must enter an original series overview (up to four pages) along with an excerpt from the series’ pilot script (up to fifteen pages) and a current C.V.
A screening committee of NYTVF officials will narrow the pool of entrants down to a selection of semi-finalists for review by Lifetime, and all semi-finalists will be invited to participate in the 2015 New York Television Festival as Official Artists. The network will select five (5) writing fellows, each of whom will receive a grant ($1000 per artist) to attend the 2015 Festival and meet with Lifetime executives during the event.
Additional information, creative guidelines, and rules can be found at www.nytvf.com/2015_lifetime.html.
Unscripted Development Pipeline (Accepting submissions through August 17)
A&E, HISTORY, and Lifetime are returning to the 2015 New York Television Festival in search of new, bold, unscripted show concepts and out-of-this-world characters. The A+E Networks 360° Unscripted Development Pipeline is seeking character tapes and sizzle reels from independent producers and production companies, with each network offering submitting producers shot at potentially developing their concept with the corresponding network.
Submitting producers can review creative briefs from A&E, HISTORY, and Lifetime for additional information and creative guidelines at www.nytvf.com/2015_pipeline.html.
A screening committee of NYTVF officials will narrow the pool of entrants down to a selection of finalists for review by the participating networks, which will identify projects of interest for meetings during the 2015 New York Television Festival, with finalists invited to participate as Official Artists. Each network with select one winner to receive a grant of $5,000 and a potential opportunity for further development with A+E Networks.
NYTVF Pitch: FYI and H2
Writers/creators named Official Artists for the 2015 New York Television Festival, including those for the above as well as all other 2015 NYTVF competitions, will be eligible to submit original series concepts for consideration by FYI and H2 executives. Additional creative guidelines will be provided exclusively to Official Artists by the networks.
Information for these and all NYTVF submission opportunities can be found at www.nytvf.com/submit.html.