Urban Mediamakers Partners with ABC Entertainment for the 2005 Talent Development Scholarship Grant Program

Urban Mediamakers Proudly Announce Their Partnership with ABC and The Walt Disney Studios Talent Development Scholarshp Grant Program.

In the Fall of 2004, ABC launched the fourth season of the Talent Development Scholarship Grant Program with the aim of nurturing and supporting aspiring writers, directors, and filmmakers from diverse backgrounds in 2005. The program is designed to assist high school (sophmore and junior applicants), college and graduate school students, as well as artists that are all current members of participating not-for-profit creative arts institutions such as the Atlanta Urban Mediamakers. The goal is to provide finaincial support and mentorship in the development of a new idea or for the completion of a work in progress. Artists selected for the Scholarship Grant program will receive a grant of $20,000.00.

ABC will distribute financial support in the form of scholarships and/or grants to help finance these creative efforts. Selected participants will be paired with a mentor for (10) ten months. The program concludes with a series of workshops in Los Angeles at ABC Entertainment and The Walt Disney Studios. ABC and The Walt Disney Studios will award the scholarships/grants through the participating organization only. Call 404.345.8048 or e-mail to abcgrant2005@yahoo.com for more information.

Program Criteria

• Applications must be made through the Atlanta Urban Mediamakers Association (you must be a current member of the organization) and must be received by midnight, Friday, March 18, 2005.
  
  Through the Atlanta Urban Mediamakers' internal selection process, two applicants' submissions will be forwarded to ABC for review by the ABC Applicant Review Committee.
  
  
• The ABC Applicant Review Committee is comprised of industry representatives and executives from ABC and The Walt Disney Company. The Committee will review submitted applications and notifiy the participating organization.
  
  The mentorship program begins in the Fall of 2005.

Applicant Criteria

• The scholarships and grants are awarded to emerging artists who show promise in their respective media.
  
  
• Applicants must submit a resume, a personal bio, 500-800 words essay describing their career goals and interest in this field. If the submission is a screenplay or a TV script, the applicant must include a treatment, (10) ten pages of proposed story idea and a detailed budget totaling $20,000.00. If the proposed project is a video, the applicant must include a sample reel of a preivously completed film/video project, a proposal and a detailed budget totaling $20,000.00. Film and tape submissions must be VHS format. Applicants must also include the signed and notarized legal agreement contained in the application materials. Only the proposed project will be considered. Submitted material will not be returned.
  
  
• In the case of a writing team submission, each partner must submit a separate, notarized application package and resume. Only one copy of the submission is required provided the writing team sends their separate applications in the same envelope to the Atlanta Urban Mediamakers Association. If a writing team is selected, they will receive one grant totaling $20,000.00.
  
  
• Selected artists will have 10 months to complete their project.
  
  
• A mentor will be assigned to all selected artists.
  
  
• All selected artists will be required to attend a series of workshops/seminars at ABC Entertainment and The Walt Disney Studios in Los Angeles.. Scholarship grant recipients outside of the Los Angeles area will be provided with round-trip airfare and accommodations. Staff members, administrators or board members (or family members of any of the preceding) of the Atlanta Urban Mediamakers or the selection comittee are ineligible.
  
  
• Individuals cannot apply directly to ABC Entertainment. All submissions must come through the Atlanta Urban Mediamakers.

Unacceptable materials for the Scholarship Grant Prgram include but are not limited to the following:

• Published material i.e. short stories or scripts adapted from other material not indicative of writing for television or film or sequels to motion pictures, plays, magazine articles, drawings, projects that have been fully executed creatively, i.e., polished scripts or videos needing post production only and projects that have been previously entered into a competition or festival. No first drafts accepted. No completed works will be accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have answers to some frequested asked questions regarding the ABC Entertainment Talent Development Scholarshp Grant Program. [read more]

Get your submission in today. The deadline is midnight, Friday, March 18, 2005. Don't sleep on this date!