Free contest, BBC Script Writing Competition, prize: BBC residential writing workshop (UK)

Deadline: 14 July 2011

As CBeebies enters an exciting new chapter with the move to Salford, we are seeking out fresh voices - giving promising writers from different backgrounds, communities and life experiences an opportunity to develop their professional skills.

You might never have written for a pre-school audience; you might be new to writing completely. What we are interested in is original stories, authentic voices and compelling characters that are rooted in identifiable places anywhere in the country (from the Scillies to Shetland, Newry to Newcastle) and of course that connect with our audience.

But wherever you set it, remember to let your imaginations run wild!

We are looking for 20-minute live action scripts. They can be written in any contemporary genre, including Drama, Comedy, Music, Dance, Puppets, Educational (with a light touch) or a combination of more than one. This opportunity is open to anyone interested in writing for CBeebies.

A shortlist of 20-25 writers will be invited to a masterclass and the final 8-10 shortlisted writers will spend an intensive residential week developing their work, bolstering their writer’s ‘toolbox’ and craft, and working with the CBeebies team.

How to enter:

Entrants must submit:

* a script (one copy) for children’s television between 20-30 minutes in length (approximately 1 page per minute) suitable for children aged 3-6.
* an outline for how the series would develop.
* a completed entry form

To enter, send your script, outline and completed entry form to:

Get a Squiggle On,
BBC Writersroom,
Room 315
Brock House
19 Langham Street
London
W1A 1AA

Shortlist notified: Friday 29th July 2011.

Masterclass: Tuesday 30th August, for 20-25 writers.

Residential: 17th October - 21st October 2011

Entry rules and regulations:

1. To be eligible to enter you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be 18 or over as at 14th July 2011.
• You must be a UK resident (including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man).
• You must not be a BBC employee or any person connected to the scheme or their close relative.

Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be requested. The BBC’s decision as to the eligibility of individual entrants will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

2. Entrants must submit:

• a script (one copy) for children’s television between 20-30 minutes in length (approximately 1 page per minute) and
• an outline for how the series would develop
• The script must be legibly typed and formatted
• No entrant may submit more than one script
• Entrants should write a television script suitable for children aged 3-6.
• All entries must be written primarily in English. Any part of the entry not written in English must be accompanied by a translation
• All entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form. Failure to submit an entry form with your script or submission of an incomplete entry form will invalidate your entry.

3. Submission for entries opens on 17th May 2011. Entries received before this date will not be considered.

4. Entries must be submitted by post to the following address:

Get a Squiggle On,
BBC Writersroom,
Room 315
Brock House
19 Langham Street
London
W1A 1AA

5. The BBC will only ever use personal details for the purposes of administering the scheme. Please see the BBC’s Privacy Policy.

6. Closing date for entries is Thursday 14th July 2011. Submissions received after this date will not be considered.

The BBC cannot accept any responsibility for any problem with the postal service which may result in any entry being lost or delayed. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.

Entries will not be returned so please remember to keep a copy. Unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted and no feedback on any entry will be provided.

7. Entrants can enter individually or as part of a writing team of up to a maximum of 3 people. If entering as a group, all entrants must meet the entry requirements. Only one entry per person is permitted including any group entries. If you submit more than one entry, only the first entry received will be considered.

8. All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The BBC accepts no liability if entrants ignore these rules and entrants agree to fully indemnify the BBC against any claims by any third party arising from any breach of these rules.

9. Entries must not contain defamatory, obscene, offensive or any other unsuitable material for broadcast on a channel aimed at children aged 3 to 6.

10. Entrants retain the copyright in their entries but grant to the BBC the necessary licences to use the entries for the purposes of this competition. However, should the entrant be selected through to the residential week and their resubmitted work be commissioned, the rights position resulting from the commission will prevail (see 17 below).

11. Entrants permit the BBC to edit or change entries in any way it may in its sole discretion consider necessary for the purposes of use in the scheme and the uses set out above.

12. By applying for the scheme, entrants warrant that they have legal capacity to enter the scheme and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

13. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

a. The originality and strength of the idea
b. The quality and suitability of the writing of the sample script
c. The strength of voice and potential in the writer

14. Entries will be judged through the following process:

Stage One

All entries will be reviewed by a team of BBC script-readers, who will assess the sample scripts against the criteria outlined above and select a shortlist of up to 25 entries.

The BBC reserves the right not to read the whole script if it is clear that the quality of the writing or subject matter is unsuitable or is in breach of any of these terms and conditions.

Stage Two

Up to 25 shortlisted entrants will be contacted by the BBC team and invited to attend a one-day masterclass on Tuesday 30th August 2011 (final date to be confirmed by the BBC). If a shortlisted entrant cannot be contacted after reasonable attempts have been made to do so or is unable to attend the masterclass, the BBC reserves the right to offer the place to the next best entry.

No travel, accommodation, meals or any other expenses will be paid by the BBC. The opportunity is as stated and cannot be deferred or transferred. There will be no cash alternatives.

During the masterclass entrants will be asked to take part in various individual and/or group writing exercises and tasks. The workshop will be attended by members of the judging panel and the entrant’s participation at the workshop will be taken into consideration during the final selection of entrants.

After the workshop, the judging panel will review the scripts submitted by the shortlisted entrants and will select up to 10 shortlisted entrants to take part in a week long residential writer’s workshop.

15. The selected entrants for the residential week will be contacted by a member of the BBC team by Friday 15th September 2011. If a selected entrant cannot be contacted after reasonable attempts have been made to do so, the BBC reserves the right to offer the place on the residential workshop to the next best entry.

16. The selected entrants will have the opportunity to attend a week long intensive residential writer’s workshop during the week commencing 17th October 2011. Travel, accommodation and meals will be provided but no other costs or expenses will be paid by the BBC. The opportunity is as stated and cannot be deferred or transferred. There will be no cash alternatives.

Download entry form >>

Contact Information:

For submissions: Get a Squiggle On, BBC Writersroom, Room 315, Brock House, 19 Langham Street, London, W1A 1AA

Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/