City fellowship jump-starts female, POC TV writing careers

The 10 fellows, above, in the Made in NY Writers Room program were chosen out of 325 applicants. Photo courtesy of MOME.

By Sheik Floradewan

The Made in NY Writers Room fellowship returns for a second year, helping underrepresented writers from New York City jump-start their careers with a six-month television writing mentorship program.

Made in NY Writers Room combines the talents of Writers Guild of America, East , the New York City Department of Small Business Services and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment to provide mentorship, industry access and financial support to writers of underrepresented backgrounds, such as women and people of color, who seek to tell stories that are not often depicted on television.

Out of the 325 applicants who applied, only 10 were selected.

All applicants received two sets of notes from established television writers based on a blind review of their pilots and log lines. The 50 semifinalists were provided with an additional set of notes from writer-producers and 20 runners-up were invited to interview based on their scripts, essays and need for access.

The 10 finalists chosen will each receive $10,800 stipend and with the help of a mentor, they will build a portfolio of at least two sample scripts. Mentors for this cohort include writers from the TV shows “House of Cards,” “Blue Bloods” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”

“With over 60 scripted television shows filming in New York City, we hope to see more diverse New Yorkers in writers rooms here to ensure the industry continues to put ever more nuanced and authentic stories on the screen. We are proud to continue our partnership with WGA East and SBS to advance opportunities for our city's talented writers,” said Media and Entertainment Commissioner Anne del Castillo in a statement. .