大象传媒 Writersroom has set up The Writers Access Group, a brand-new initiative to give talented disabled writers the chance to expand their writing skills and to be offered opportunities in TV and radio at the 大象传媒.
Working with a number of organisations and practitioners in the field, ten disabled writers have been chosen on the merit of their scripts, their experience and via an interview process. They have today been announced as:
David Proud
Amy Bethan Evans
Rebekah Bowsher
Sophie Woolley
Athena Stevens
Charlie Swinbourne
Michael Southan
Ross Willis
Matilda Ibini
Nicola Werenowska
Charlotte Moore, Director of 大象传媒 Content, says: 鈥淭he 大象传媒 is committed to reflecting the experiences of the UK鈥檚 diverse communities in its output and is actively reaching out to writers in order to get more realistic and more authentic portrayals of disabled people on air, as well as interesting and complex views from that community. We look forward to working with these ten talented writers across the 大象传媒鈥檚 scripted output.鈥�
The 大象传媒 Writersroom will schedule this group to meet regularly across 9 months from November onwards, for a programme of masterclasses in such things as story and structure, pitching and treatments, alongside hosting talks from a-list writers, script-editors, executive producers and 大象传媒 commissioners.
Anne Edyvean, Head of 大象传媒 Writersroom, says: 鈥淎fter months of reading and interviewing, we are delighted to be launching a group of such talented writers, and can鈥檛 wait to see them acquire 大象传媒 credits and take their place in the wider industry.鈥�
The initiative, backed by 大象传媒 Content and 大象传媒 Drama Commissioning, will also offer the opportunity for four of the writers to each write an episode of 大象传媒 One continuing daytime drama Doctors, produced by 大象传媒 Studios. Further credited writing opportunities are being explored with 大象传媒 Radio, Continuing Dramas, 大象传媒 Comedy, C大象传媒 and CBeebies, and the 大象传媒 Writersroom will additionally set up introductory days for all these areas, which may include set visits and meetings with editorial teams and writers.
As part of the scheme, each of the ten writers will be allocated an experienced mentor, depending on their area of interest. The mentoring team will be headed up by Tim Prager as lead mentor, who says: 鈥淲e intend to create a platform for writers with disabilities to realise their talent, demonstrate it to others and work.The 大象传媒鈥檚 desire and ability to support and nurture these talented writers is aiming at a tangible and quantifiable outcome. Jobs. I am delighted and grateful to Charlotte Moore and Anne Edyvean for their unwavering support.鈥�
Throughout the initiative 大象传媒 Writersroom will provide professional, freelance script editing support to enable the ten writers to develop a Drama or Comedy 'calling card' script so they can take the next step into authored TV or radio work. We will also introduce them to independent producers and production companies, as well as agents and commissioners.
The initiative will culminate in a networking event where this talented, and now more experienced, group, can meet the wider industry.
This 大象传媒 initiative follows a number of schemes which support the 大象传媒鈥檚 ambition to raise the profile of disabled talent on and off screen.