Universal Filmed Entertainment Group announced on Wednesday that it is now open for submissions to its 2020 writer’s program, which allows aspiring screenwriters to develop feature film scripts alongside producers at Universal Pictures, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation.
Run by Universal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion department and sanctioned by WGA West, the writers program was created by the studio to bring more diverse and multicultural perspectives into their film development slate. The one-year, paid program gives writers the opportunity to develop two feature scripts under the guidance of Universal production executives, as well as the studio’s first-look production partners like Blumhouse and Will Packer Productions.
Recent participants in the program include Omid Ghaffarian from the 2018 Writers Program, who is currently developing an untitled project with Universal Pictures and became the first person in the program to have his writing development extended by the studio. 2017 alum Juel Taylor currently has a project in development with Universal and LeBron James’ production company, Springhill Entertainment.
“Each year when we open submissions, we notice an enthusiastic rise in awareness surrounding our program, which solidifies the importance of a platform like this for so many talented voices looking to tell their stories,” said Janine Jones-Clark, SVP, Global Talent Development & Inclusion, UFEG. “We have been seeing tremendous success with our ever-growing pool of program alumni, and we could not be more excited to identify a new class of writers to collaborate with next year.”
Universal will accept submissions through their talent development site until October 1.