CALL FOR APPLICANTS

SCREENWRITER'S WORKSHOP 2011


August 7 – 21, 2011

Michoacán, Mexico

Para leer la convocatoria en español, por favor pulse "CONVOCATORIA" en el lado derecho del al pantalla.


Cine Qua Non Lab is pleased to announce its third annual call for applicants for its 2011 Screenwriter’s Workshop for narrative feature films.


ABOUT CINE QUA NON LAB

CQNL is an artists’ residency for filmmakers.  Our mission is to develop independent cinema by providing a space for Mexican and international filmmakers to envision and develop their work, bringing them together to exchange ideas, share perspectives, and find new opportunities for collaboration.

CQNL is located in the state of Michoacán, Mexico, approximately 35km from the city of Morelia. The workshop, writing, and living spaces are tucked amidst the beauty of the Sierra Madre Mountains, overlooking Lake Pátzcuaro, a quiet natural retreat with a variety of private indoor and outdoor working spaces.

SCREENWRITER'S WORKSHOP 2011

The Screenwriter’s Workshop is a 14-day workshop that gives independent screenwriters the opportunity to work on their feature length narrative scripts in a workshop environment structured to foster professional collaboration and high-caliber script development.

This summer, the workshop will be held from Sunday, August 7 through Sunday, August 21 and facilitated by Christina Lazaridi.  Ten filmmakers and two emerging filmmakers will be selected to participate.  Applications will be accepted for feature film scripts that are ready for the revision process, OR feature film treatments that are ready to be turned into pages.

Applications may be submitted in Spanish or English; however, the workshop will be held in English and all participants will need to prepare English language scripts for the workshop sessions.

Workshop Sessions: In workshop sessions, held in the mornings for four hours, up to four participants will present work to the group. In total, each participant will have three opportunities to present work at different stages of the writing and revision process.  Participants can discuss their work at crucial stages of writing, refine story ideas, further develop characters, and hone structure. The facilitator will guide discussion both to ensure that it addresses the unique challenges the presenter is struggling with and so that other participants can gain insight into their own challenges by helping their colleagues do the same. The focus here is on close readings, rigorous analysis, and a supportive, collegial group mentality. 

One-on-One: Each participant will have two optional one-on-one meetings with the facilitator, scheduled on days when the group workshop is not in session. The filmmakers can work through additional story and structure questions at their discretion, follow-up on issues that may have come up during the workshop session, and bring new ideas to the table. 

Independent Time: Participants have ample independent time outside of the workshop sessions to structure as they feel best fits their creative process.  This can mean working and revising on their own, discussing their work with each other in a more informal way, or using some of this time to reflect, think, or get some down time by taking walks, etc. The hope is that participants will use the time to nurture themselves as writers.

Residency Support

The workshop is free, with the exception of travel expenses.  Cine Qua Non Lab will provide accommodations and meals throughout the residency, in addition to the extensive creative support through the Screenwriter’s Workshop. All participants are responsible for their own travel expenses to and from the residency.

Meals will be available at specific times, with dinner being a meal participants are required to eat together, in order to promote a spirit of collaboration and the exchange of ideas and sharing of perspectives. Snacks will also be available throughout the day.

Each participant will have their own room in a group house consisting of two to four participants. Each house will have a common living area, kitchen, and bathroom.

Participants will find ample space to work either in their own resident houses which will be equipped with desks and chairs, in the main lake house or outside along the lake and patio. 

Printers are available in the main workshop space. However, internet is very limited due to the remoteness of the location. Should participants need regular internet access, there is a small internet café about fifteen minutes from the residency grounds. Scripts will be shared using data (memory) sticks or printed pages.  Participants must provide their own laptop.

Workshop Schedule

The schedule aims for maximum support of and flexibility for participants each day.  The schedule alternates between workshop days and non-workshop days, with meals available throughout the day.


Workshop Days                              Non-Workshop Days
8am - 10am       Breakfast               8am - 10am     Breakfast
10am - 2pm       Workshop (All)      10am - 2pm     One-on-Ones
2pm - 3pm         Lunch                    2pm - 3pm      Lunch
8pm - 9:30pm    Dinner (All)            8pm - 9:30pm  Dinner (All)

Facilitator Bio

The workshop is facilitated by a professional in the field, who has ample experience in both teaching and writing. Christina Lazaridi will be facilitating this summer’s workshop, returning for a second year at CQNL.  Christina is an Academy Award-Oscar® nominated screenwriter (One Day Crossing) and internationally renowned script developer, professor, and mentor. Christina has worked with Academy Award® winner director/producer Richard Kaplan, producers Anne Chaison, Eva Kolodner and Lester Persky Productions.  Her latest feature screenplay, Coming Up Roses, was produced this year starring Broadway legend Bernadette Peters.  Writing awards include: EU Development Awards, Academy Award® Nomination  – Best Live Action Short, Student Academy Award, Euroscript Development Award, Chris Kazan Memorial Award, Milos Forman Screenwriting Award.  Christina teaches screenwriting at Columbia’s Graduate Film Division and at Princeton University, and is a mentor for European Union’s Mediterranean Film Institute.  She has led screenwriting seminars in the United Arab Emirates, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York City, and works globally as a Story Editor and Screenwriting Consultant.  She holds a BA in Creative Writing from Princeton University and a MFA in Screenwriting from Columbia University.

TIMELINE

Application Announced: April 1

Application Deadline: May 15

Notification of Acceptance: June 15

Workshop Dates: August 7 - 21

TO APPLY

Please submit the following four: Application, Synopsis, Resume/CV and Writing Sample.


Application -- Please include 2-3 pages answering the following questions:

1) Your name & contact information (email, phone, address);

2) The title of your project;

3) The type of project you are applying with (Feature -- to be revised at the residency; OR Treatment -- development and writing of new pages);

4) A one sentence logline of your project;

5)Your function on this project (Writer; Writer/Director; Writer/Producer; Writer/Director/Producer);

6) Are you applying as an individual or with a co-writer?  (If applying with a co-writer, both applicants must submit a full application.) 

7) Filmmaker Bio -- Please tell us a bit about yourself and why you are applying for the Screenwriter's Workshop at this time – up to 500 words;

8) What is the current status of your project and how do you envision its realization?   -- up to 500 words.  For example, "I plan on shooting this for $250,000 with unknown actors in a one-bedroom apartment in New York City that I am borrowing from a friend" or "I'm just the writer, I don't have a director or producer attached yet, but in an ideal world I would like a director like __ to direct this film because..." or "I am planning on directing this script myself next year, and currently have a producer attached, and we are in the midst of raising the $__ budget from various sources that include investors..."

9) How did you hear about Cine Qua Non Lab?

Synopsis of the Project – Submit a one page synopsis of the project, including the central character(s), and the fundamental story of your film. 

Resume/CV – includes school and professional experience.

Writing Sample – any 15 pages from the script you are applying with or a previous script written solely by the applicant.

All materials should be received by May 15, 2011 at cinequanonlab@gmail.com. In the subject line of your email, please state "Application for Workshop/Your Name." Please do not send any additional materials other than what is requested.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Mexican and international filmmakers at any stage of their career, from emerging to established, including graduate (but not undergraduate) students.

GIVING BACK TO CINE QUA NON LAB

Participants are asked to give official recognition to CQNL in the future production of their work. This would include an acknowledgement in screen credits or any published rendition of the script.

Participants will also be asked to provide some information and feedback for use in promoting the residency to other filmmakers and funders in the future. This would include photographs of the participants at the workshop, an image from the film, or written comments describing the workshop experience. Materials will only be used with the consent of the participants.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE ADDRESS INQUIRIES (in English or Spanish) TO:

Sarita Khurana, Coordinator  

Jesus Pimentel Melo, Coordinator  

Lucila Moctezuma, Coordinator  

at cinequanonlab@gmail.com


FUNDING FOR THIS YEAR'S WORKSHOP IS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY FONDO DE APOYO A LAS ARTES DE FUNDACIÓN BBVA BANCOMER, THE MORELIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, AND VILLA D'AQUA.