New mentorship writing scheme
Budding scriptwriters in Sussex can apply for a new mentorship programme for the UK’S regions launched by Line of Duty and Bodyguard writer Jed Mercurio.
Spokeswoman Sarah Tulley explained: “The idea is to give greater opportunity to those who live outside the capital and who are underrepresented within the UK'S London-centric TV industry. Jed has recruited some brilliant writing mentors for the programme: Steven Moffat (Sherlock, Doctor Who); Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials TV series BBC One); Vinay Patel (Murdered By My Father, BBC Three); Emma Frost (Jamaica Inn, BBC
One); and Marnie Dickens (Thirteen, BBC Three).”
Sarah called it a “unique opportunity to work alongside Jed and writers of popular TV shows including His Dark Materials, Sherlock, Thirteen and Murdered by My Father. Jed Mercurio is hoping to give those with a desire and passion to work within the TV industry a career-making opportunity to do so via a brand-new mentorship.
“The programme aims to give greater opportunity to those who live outside the capital and who are underrepresented within the UK’S London-centric TV industry. Jed is passionate about addressing the disparity long-held within theindustryandthechallenges facedbyaspiringwritingtalent in the UK regions. It is caused by many factors, however, economic circumstance is widely believedtobeoneofthebiggest barriers–asituationworsened by the cost of living crisis. Jed is launching the initiative to help champion diversity and inclusion in TV.”
Jed said "I'm thrilled to partner with my distinguished fellow mentors to provide TV industry access to emerging writers who are financially and geographically disadvantaged. The idea that a working-class kid from a small mining town in the West Midlands could ever work in TV didn't even occur to me, or to anyone I grew up with,”
The deadline for submissions is April 21 2023 at 5pm. Apply via http://jedmercuriomentor.co.uk/ submission-form. Include a personal statement – in a brief paragraph, please explain why you want to be a Tv/film writer and why you are applying.