Scripted Digital Series Incubator

ABOUT

How it began: Six producer-writer teams selected for inaugural Scripted Digital Series Incubator Flickr Album

The Scripted Digital Series Incubator is an intensive four-day program that introduces emerging content creators to the key aspects required to ensure the successful development of an original scripted digital series.

A small number of projects, represented by an individual or teams consisting of a producer and a writer, will be selected to participate in this program.

FOCUS AREAS

  • Script development
  • Audience development/discoverability
  • Pitching
  • Financing

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

  • Create a more polished and marketable script with stronger characters and a narrative arc that is ready for the next stage of funding applications.
  • Gain the knowledge needed to create a strong funding application and learn about available funding options.
  • Build a marketing and audience engagement strategy.
  • Strengthen your industry network.

This program will be delivered in person @ Centennial Story Arts Centre with virtual delivery possible as well.

DATES

Tuesday, June 20 - Friday, June 23, 2023

Deadline to apply: Friday June 2, 2023 (11:59pm)

2023 REGISTRATION & PROGRAM FEES

Application Fee: $25.00 + hst

Deadline to apply: Friday June 2, 2023 (11:59pm)

Program Fees (only applicable to those who are accepted into the program)

WIFT Toronto Members: $500 + hst

Non Members: $650 + hst

NOTE: the fee allows for a team of up to two participants per project. Contact Laurie Januska, Director of Programming, with any questions.

BURSARY

One (1) bursary will be available to cover program fees for one individual for this program and is made available through the Foundation for Women in Film & Television – Toronto.

Click here to apply for the bursary for this program.

Bursary application deadline: Friday June 2, 2023 (11:59pm)

ELIGIBILITY

The Scripted Digital Series Incubator is recommended for screen-based professionals with a minimum of five years’ experience in the film, television or digital industry who meet all other requirements as noted in the guidelines. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact Laurie Januska, Director of Programming.

NOTE: Participants should be in attendance for all four days. Please note the dates of the program prior to applying.

ELIGIBILITY

Projects - either represented by individuals or teams consisting of a producer and a writer - will be selected to participate in this program.

Producer and Writer (both) applicants must have:

  • ‍Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident status
  • At least one digital series in development
  • Production experience demonstrated by produced credits in at least one of these formats: feature film, television movie, television series, television one-off, original short-form digital/web series, documentary OR two short films
  • Ability to attend all four days of programming plus post-program session (to be announced)

Producer applicants:

  • ‍Must be an independent producer
  • Must submit the application on behalf of the team
  • Cannot be the sole writer of the project with which you are applying
  • Must provide Chain of Title documentation that expires no earlier than December 31, 2022 (NOTE: if your project is an original idea that you conceived, a short document indicating this is sufficient)

Writer applicants:

  • ‍Must have signed agreement with producer to participate in program

Successful candidates must be prepared to submit a Non-Disclosure Agreement, and provide a testimonial upon completion of the program.

WIFT Toronto members and non-members can apply, providing they meet overall eligibility.

Not sure if you are eligible? Contact Laurie Januska, Director of Programming, with any questions.

SESSIONS & INSTRUCTORS

The Scripted Digital Series Incubator is comprised of four consecutive days of in-classroom learning led by industry practitioners chosen for their expertise in each subject area. In addition, guest speakers will share practical tips and best practices through case studies that highlight their experience in digital series production.

Peer-to-peer learning among program participants will be encouraged and facilitated by group exercises and group critique/feedback.

SESSION 1

Script Development

What you'll learn:

  • Further understand how to create a more developed theme
  • Focus on character development
  • Gain a greater understanding of the implementation of plots and subplots, and how they work in tandem to build character dimension

Instructor: Karen Walton

KAREN WALTON is a screen and television writer/creative executive producer whose body of work champions society’s underdogs and outliers. Best known as the writer of cult horror classic Ginger Snaps, her decades of television credits include celebrated episodes of Orphan Black, Queer As Folk and the true-life rape culture saga, The Many Trials of One Jane Doe. In 2007, Karen founded the public online community known as inkcanada - Canadian Screenwriters & Their Sketchy Friends; a Facebook Group dedicated to fostering free access and open exchanges between Canada’s professional storytellers, and those who aspire to telling their own stories — no matter who they are or where they live. Now in its 10th year of amazing conversations, inkcanada features the distinct voices of over 5,000 members in Canada, and around the world.

Karen’s dedication to fair representations of gender, gender equity, racial and cultural diversity in entertainment continues, onscreen and off.

SESSION 2

Budgeting and Financing

What you'll learn:

  • Available funding options for short format content creation;
  • Non-traditional funding (crowdfunding, crowdsourcing);
  • Budgeting (creating breakdowns and schedules; understanding how tax credits fit in; and gaining more insight on cash flow, insurance, bank financing, and more);
  • Reporting requirements; and,
  • Overview of federal and provincial regulations.

Instructor: Sasha Boersma | Co-Founder/Producer, Sticky Brain Studios

Sasha’s career in Canadian screen-based media industries has spanned across game studios, television producers, funding agencies, and academia. Sasha is Co-Founder/Producer at Sticky Brain Studios, where she is responsible for project management and business affairs. Since 2013, Sticky Brain Studios has developed over 45 games and apps for clients ranging from television broadcasters to health tech to not-for-profits. Their first independent games, “Kimono Dress-Up” and “Loki’s Castle”, was released for iOS and Androidd evices in 2019. In 2017 she co-founded Possible Futures Studio to tell untold stories from our past using immersive technologies to share compelling narratives in a new and exciting way.

She is also contract faculty at Centennial College’s Story Arts Centre where she teaches post-graduate courses on accounting, marketing, business and entrepreneurship to future interactive media, games, and television producers.

Previously, Sasha worked on several interactive digital media projects as a freelance Producer / Business Analyst where her clients included both game studios and television production companies. She started her career at the Bell Fund, then moved to marblemedia where she held various posts in business affairs and produced award-winning interactive projects.

SESSION 3

Persuasive Pitching

In this intensive, full-day session, we will lead the participants through key persuasive modes of packaging and pitching - from the "how to position marketing" to "attracting the decision makers and key talent" to "learning the fetaures & benefits of a verbal and written presention". Participants can expect to learn in-depth information through case studies as well as enjoy an interactive presentation session. Step up your pitching skills to get closer to the YES!

Instructor: Marina Cordoni | Producer, Executive Producer

Marina Cordoni is the Founder and Producer of MCE Inc., a Toronto-based production company and film sales agency. In the nineties, Cordoni worked for various entertainment companies including the film division of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, where she handled pre-sales and completed picture sales in various foreign territories on major independent hits including '4 Weddings and a Funeral', 'Dead Man Walking', 'Fargo' and 'Sleepers'. She was also instrumental in building a feature film production and foreign sales division at Toronto-based Breakthrough Entertainment between 2008-2013.

Recent Producer credits include the latest feature from Gail Harvey, ‘Never Saw It Coming’ (based on the Linwood Barclay novel) and The Butler Brothers: ‘First Round Down’ (which hit number 5 at the Canadian Box Office).

Her Executive Producer roles include ‘Blood Honey’ from filmmaker Jeff Kopas (released in fall 2017) andJason Priestley’s feature directorial debut: ‘Cas and Dylan’.

SESSION 4

Marketing & Audience Discoverability

What you'll learn:

  • Learn the importance of social media community-building and the major platforms involved;
  • Explore audience engagement strategies and the role of influencers
  • Create and implement a discoverability plan

Instructor: TBA