Upcoming Events
Writer's Mentoring Program Application
2010 Writers Mentoring Program ~ SESSION NOW IN PROGRESS
Application Instructions
* NEW SUBMISSION FORMAT
* EARLIER SUBMISSION PERIOD
New Submission Period: March 1, 2009 thru May 1, 2009
Post mark no later than May 1, 2009
Application Materials
1) Application
Please download theApplication Form on this page and print or type your information. Be sure to include e-mail contact information, as this is necessary for any further communication from CBS. Inquiries should be made via email, rather than telephone.
2) Resumé or Bio
Please include an up-to-date work resume or bio.
3) Letter of Interest
Your letter should be addressed to the CBS Writers Mentoring Program and will be used to evaluate your personal qualifications for participation in the Program. Please tell us why you should be selected as a part of the Program and what talents and personal qualities you have to offer as part of a future writing staff on a television show. Include a few lines about the value of your diverse voice as a writer of color, and its impact on television writing. PLEASE keep your letter to one typewritten, double-spaced page.
4) Writing Samples
The CBS Writers Mentoring Program is seeking creative, talented and highly motivated individuals to participate. In order to evaluate a writer's originality, one (1) original writing sample is required. This can be a screenplay, a stage play or a short fiction story. No original television pilots will be accepted. In order to evaluate a writer's ability to capture the tone and structure of an existing television show, one (1) episodic writing sample is required. The writing sample can be either a half hour or an hour episode, based on a primetime drama or comedy series which aired new episodes, on any network or cable channel, during the 2008-2009 television season.
It is strongly recommended that all writing samples be registered with the Writers Guild of America, west, Inc. or the Library of Congress. For information on registration of material at the Writers Guild of America go to www.wga.org or contact the Intellectual Property Registry department at (323)782-4500. To contact the United States Library of Congress, go to www.copyright.gov or call (202)707-5959.
5) Submission Release Forms
A completed, signed and notarized release form MUST be included, otherwise your submission will not be processed. Please download the Submission Release Form here. The form must be signed and notarized.
Applications cannot be returned.
Application Process
Writing samples must be submitted in PDF file format (Acceptable digital formats: "Thumb drive", "flash drive", "USB drive", or CD).
Application packets should be sent to:
CBS Diversity Institute
Writers Mentoring Program
4024 Radford Avenue, 3rd floor
Studio City, CA 91604
All Submissions Must Be Mailed. No Hand Deliveries Will Be Accepted. All applications must include an e-mail address in order to receive further communication from CBS. If any of the application items are missing, the application will not be processed. Semi-finalists will be notified in September, 2009 and a personal interview will be scheduled shortly thereafter. Program finalists will be notified in September 2009. The 2010 Writers Program is scheduled to begin in mid September, 2009 and continues through May 1, 2010.
Participation in the CBS Writers Mentoring Program in no way guarantees future employment.
* Or such later date as to be determined by CBS.