Emerging TV Producer Program

Program Overview

The Emerging TV Producers Program provides participants with an entry point, a strategic plan and a supportive network to shepherd their first TV projects successfully into the complex Canadian TV production system.

Key Dates

Program Outline

PHASE 1: Foundation Workshops

Participants will take part in an in-person, hands-on television business training in Vancouver, June 25-28, 2022. This is a series of Foundation Workshops led by instructors and assistants expert in industry business practices and possessing essential knowledge of what emerging TV producers need to know to get a foot in the door.

The Foundation Workshops will cover:

• Assessing your opportunities: Who and where are the broadcasters, streamers and other TV funders in Canada and how do they work with emerging producers? What are they looking for, is your project a good fit and what do they expect from you as a producer?
• Navigating funding applications: Researching and interpreting the different requirements and intentions/mandates of each fund, how to do budget estimates and work with budget formats, and how to source and solicit required reference letters and mentors.
• Making a connection: Who and where to pitch your project and how to pitch when you get the chance. Follow up: timing, techniques and skills. Attending markets, making and maintaining contacts, promoting yourself and your project.
• Putting the money together: Designing a financing plan: how broadcast licenses work, applying for CMF funding, tax credits and other sources and how to put them all together – who do you apply to first and for how much?
• Creating a budget and budget strategy: Creating an appropriate budget – estimating, researching, calculating – and learning ways to scale your budget up or down, depending on the funding you might secure.
• The legal side: Understanding and assessing company structures, financing contracts, license agreements, deal memos, rights clearances and chain of title..
• Other sources of support for your TV project: distributors, broadcasters outside of Canada, crowd-funding, other grants. How to find them and what they can do for you.

PHASE 2: Project Packaging with One-on-One Consultations

From Jun 29 – Dec 15, 2022, participants will apply what they learned, at their own pace, to package their projects for development funding and or industry markets.  Each participant will be matched to a mentor, who will review and provided advice on their:

• Strategic Plan
• Financial Plan
• Budget & Budget Strategy
• Project Package
• Funding application

Costs

There is no cost to participate in the program. Funds for travel, accommodations, and meals will be provided to out-of-town participants. Assistance will be provided for childcare and other accessibility barriers based on needs.

Applicant Eligibility

It is the program’s mandate to have a diverse cohort that includes women and gender diverse persons from the IBPOC, LGBTQ2S+, and persons living with disabilities communities. Sign language and mobility accommodations will be provided.

Only one person per project may apply.

You are eligible to apply if you:

• Identify as female or gender diverse.
• Reside in British Columbia.
• Are a Canadian citizen or have a permanent resident status, and aged 18 or over.
• Do not have a credit as a producer or show-runner on a produced Canadian TV series project.*
• Have a completed narrative pilot script (30 or 60 minutes).
• Own the intellectual property of the submitted project.

*Telus Storyhive project producers and writers are eligible to apply.

Project Eligibility

• Narrative live action.
• Limited (6-8 episodes) or recurring series.
• Half-hour or hour-long episodes.
• Any genre (drama, comedy, sci-fi, etc.).
• Script can contain dialogue in other languages but must be written entirely in English.
• Documentary, reality, lifestyle, animation, variety or sketch comedy are not eligible.

Application Requirements

• Completed Application and Release Form (link will be updated when submissions open)
• Pilot script (30-minute or 60-minute).
• Pitch deck with short synopsis in addition to:
  • Series world, tone, theme, lead character breakdowns, season 1 overview including synopses of episode idea (max 5 pages).
• Letter of intent (max 1 page).
• Resume with filmography (max 2 pages).

Application Instructions

Complete the online Application and Release Form (link will be updated when submissions open)

Submit the following as separate PDF files to: tvprogram@womeninfilm.ca:

• Copy of the Pilot. Do not include writer or producer’s name(s) or other identifying information on the title page or any other page of the script.  Label file: PROJECT TITLE_Pilot.
• Pitch deck (max 5 pages). Do not include writer or producer’s name(s) or other identifying information in the pitch deck. Label file: PROJECT TITLE_PitchDeck
• Letter of intent. Label file: PROJECT TITLE_Letter
• Resume with filmography. Label file: PROJECT TITLE_CV

Application Resources

Selection Process

Applications will be scored heavily on the strength of the pilot and pitch deck. These documents will be judged anonymously, meaning the jury will not know who is applying with each project.

The selection process will be influenced by the program’s intent to select a diverse group of participants, who are not all based in Vancouver.

Mentors & Project Pairing

Jury

Arielle Boisvert (she/her), Partner and EVP, Production Brightlight Pictures

Barbara Hager (she/her), Producer, director, scriptwriter and owner of Aarrow Productions

Carolyn (Jay) J. Wu (they/them) Development Executive, Original Programming, Bell Media

Frequently Asked Questions

Funded & Presented by