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Diverse Voices is a dynamic virtual screenwriting lab with a proven track record of helping elevate stories that are told from perspectives that are often underrepresented in film and TV today. This includes writers of color, women writers, writers with disabilities, writers over 40, writers in the LGBTQ+ community, and any other voices that have historically been ignored by Hollywood.
A minimum of 4 winners will be selected to participate in this career-changing lab!
All readers for this lab come from diverse backgrounds, and all entrants will receive a page of FREE written feedback on their script from their first round’s judge.
Over a dozen past winners have been signed, staffed, and optioned as a direct result of their Diverse Voices Lab meetings. Past finalists and winners have signed with companies including Heroes & Villains Entertainment, 3Arts, Zero Gravity, APA, ColorCreative, and more. See some of our past WeScreenplay success stories.
Plus, since it started in 2015, Diverse Voices has raised over $45,000 for various nonprofit organizations. What’s not to love?
Currently closed, but opening again next season.
Upcoming Announcements
Semifinalist
Jun 23, 2023
Finalist
Aug 1, 2023
Winner
Sep 1, 2023
Level Up Your Script
All coverage packages include a 72-hour turnaround time at no additional charge.
Feature
TV
Classic
$7999
Includes
- 72 hour turnaround time
- 4 pages of detailed notes
- Character, Plot, Structure, Dialogue, and Concept Analysis
- A Pass, Consider, or Recommend rating
- An overall impression that will highlight extra factors like voice
- Qualitative scores to help compare your progress
- 24-hour Rush coverage available during checkout
Bespoke
$9999
Includes
- 72 hour turnaround time
- Everything from the Classic package plus…
- A customized marketing blueprint based on your feature script goal. Choose between:
- GOAL #1: As a writing sample to find rep or submit to a competition
- GOAL #2: For self-producing
- GOAL #3: To sell to a studio or producer
- 24-hour Rush coverage available during checkout
Comprehensive
$19999
Includes
- 72 hour turnaround time
- Everything from the Bespoke package plus…
- Inline PDF notes throughout the script
- Specific suggestions for detailed changes in your script
- One follow-up question included ($29 value)
- 24-hour Rush coverage available during checkout
Classic
$6999
Includes
- 72 hour turnaround time
- 3 pages of detailed notes
- Character, Plot, Structure, Dialogue, and Concept Analysis
- A Pass, Consider, or Recommend rating
- An overall impression that will highlight extra factors like voice
- Qualitative scores to help compare your progress
- 24-hour Rush coverage available during checkout
Bespoke
$8999
Includes
- 72 hour turnaround time
- Everything from the Classic package plus…
- A customized marketing blueprint based on your TV pilot or spec script goal. Choose between:
- GOAL #1: Pilot as a writing sample to find rep or submit to a fellowship
- GOAL #2: Pilot to sell to a studio, network, or producer
- GOAL #3: For specs of an existing show**
- 24-hour Rush coverage available during checkout
Comprehensive
$16999
Includes
- 72 hour turnaround time
- Everything from the Bespoke package plus…
- Inline PDF notes throughout the script
- Specific suggestions for detailed changes in your script
- One follow-up question included ($29 value)
- 24-hour Rush coverage available during checkout
The Jury
Marc Manus
Partner & Literary Manager, World Builder Entertainment
Marc Manus is a former award-winning photojournalist who attended USC film school before entering the field of artist representation. His first job was with manager Cathryn Jaymes, who represented Academy Award-winning writer/director Quentin Tarantino, among others. Over the last fifteen years, Marc has held positions at various management companies including, most recently, Zero Gravity (Netflix’s OZARK). Now at World Builder Entertainment, Marc continues to guide a select roster of filmmakers from around the globe who have film and television projects at the major studios, TV networks and streamers.
Becca Rodriguez
Literary Manager, Curate Management
Rebecca Rodriguez joins Curate from The Gotham Group where she was a manager in the book department. Her clients include distinctive storytellers such as National Book Award and PEN/Faulkner Award finalist Emily St. John Mandel, National Bestselling author and podcaster Nora McInerny, #1 Amazon bestselling author Elyssa Friedland, New York Times bestselling author Cassy Joy Garcia, and many others. Rodriguez is drawn to material across genre and is particularly drawn to character driven literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, investigative journalism, social criticism, stories that are darkly humorous or satirical and slightly absurdist in tone, book club and upmarket women’s fiction, intergenerational family dramas, stories that examine identity (in however one defines the term), stories that examine complex female relationships and friendships, fiction with a genre bent that is still grounded in characters, a world that is slightly askew or has elements of magical realism or rooted in cultural folklore, elevated horror and psychological thrillers, working with debut and emerging voices, and championing voices who have been traditionally underrepresented both on and off the page.
Jay Francis
Vice President, Content & Inclusion, Disney Television Animation
Jay Francis is vice president, Content & Inclusion, Disney Television Animation (DTVA). He is responsible for the creation of key initiatives, strategies and training programs to produce a diverse, creative and inclusive workforce across TVA. Francis joined Disney TVA in 2007. During his tenure, he has overseen creative direction on a multitude of original animated series including Disney’s five-time Emmy® Awardwinning “Phineas and Ferb,” Emmy Award-nominated “Big City Greens,” “Amphibia,” and most recently the Disney+ original animated adventure movie “Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe.” In his most recent role, Francis has created the highly successful DTVA Writing Program, the DTVA Original Shorts Lab and The Apprentice Songwriter Program. For his work in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion space, Francis has been honored by Variety Magazine’s Inclusion Impact Report 2022, Black Woman Animate’s Trailblazer Award 2021, and one of Cablefax’s Most Influential Multi-Ethnic Executives 2020.
Kyle Castellanet
Director, Development & Production, Echo Lake Entertainment
After receiving his BFA in Film Production from Chapman University, Kyle started his career at Paradigm Talent Agency. Kyle joined Echo Lake in 2016 and has worked in both the talent and production departments. As the Director of Development and Production, Kyle manages the company’s development and production efforts in both film and television. He also works directly with clients including Forbes Magazine and Spycraft Entertainment to help develop and produce projects.
Milan Agarwal
Head of International Content, Tulsea
Milan Agarwal is the head of international content at Tulsea, a strategic media and content management company which represents and advises various entities, including leading creative talent, production companies, and gaming, animation, and media startups. Milan works closely with clients to develop their projects and focuses on international opportunities bridging content and storytellers in India, Africa and Southeast Asia with the U.S. and Europe – including English and local language projects in feature film, television and digital media. Previously, Milan was a Director in Universal Pictures’ Film Strategy & Operations group. During his tenure, Milan managed the greenlighting process and supported executives during key negotiations. Milan was involved with several key financing, content and distribution deals, including partnerships with Blumhouse, Legendary, Perfect World, and Amblin Partners as well as the acquisition of Dreamworks Animation.
Michael Allen
VP, Television at Blackmaled
Michael Scott Allen currently serves as Vice President, Television for Malcolm D. Lee’s Blackmaled Productions where he oversees the company’s television slate under their first look deal at UTV. Prior to BMP, he served as Director of Development at That’s Wonderful Productions (Jim Parsons) under the company’s overall deal at Warner Bros.Television. At TWP, he served as a Co-Producer on Special (Netflix), an Associate Producer on Spoiler Alert (Focus Features), and oversaw production on behalf of the company for seasons 2 and 3 of Call Me Kat (FOX). He also worked on Equal (HBO Max), A Kid Like Jake (IFC Films), and more. Allen began his career in entertainment as an actor before transitioning into development after executive producing the documentary feature Twinsters which premiered at SXSW and sold to Netflix and Freeform.
Prizes
Grand Prize
Diverse Voices Virtual Lab
At least 4 winners will be selected to participate in this game-changing virtual lab. This multi-day lab will be PACKED with workshops to hone craft, mentorship calls with working writers, and general meetings with studio execs, literary reps, and more.
Winners will also receive:
- A copy of Final Draft screenwriting software
- Ongoing mentorship from WeScreenplay team including an initial phone call, guidance for drafting query letters, research methods for finding the right representation, prep before big meetings, and strategic planning for career next steps
Our virtual labs have directly led to writers getting staffed, signing with their dream reps, and more! Want more info? You can read about the Diverse Voices Lab experience here.
Finalists
Mentorship Session with Industry Professional
Finalists will also be invited to a special virtual group mentor session with an industry professional!
Select Finalists
Meeting with Writer Development Team
Select finalists will have a 1:1 virtual meeting with a member of the WeScreenplay Writer Development Team to discuss personalized career guidance for you and your work.
WeScreenplay Lab Testimonials
See what some of our past Lab Mentors and Lab Winners had to say!
I think the best part of discovering a new voice is learning more about a community I would have never otherwise known about had it not been through a beautifully crafted story.
Sandra Avila
Manager, Mucho Mas Media
It's always exciting to be able to engage with emerging writers through programs like WeScreenplay because it opens the door for talent from around the world to be discovered and potentially find the right fit in terms of literary representation. There's always such a diverse array of writers from different perspectives, backgrounds, and walks of life that make the discovery process that much more rewarding.
Daniel Seco
Literary Manager, Empirical Evidence (2021 Lab Mentor)
When I’m reading scripts from Wescreenplay, one of my favorite things is to have the chance to discover such different universes! From drama to comedy, there is a really wide range of style from talented screenwriters that I enjoyed reading.
Maria Gracia Turgeon
Producer (2021 Lab Mentor)
Last year Winners met with
execs, reps, and writers from
Past Lab Sample Schedule
Learn About The Different Session Types
Notes Session
Workshops
Group Mentorship Meetings
1:1 Meetings
Before the lab, we will share all the winning scripts with the group. During a one to two hour session, the group will share script notes verbally. While all the winning scripts are already strong, the purpose of this notes session is to refine your work, to get thoughts on next steps, and to practice giving and receiving notes.
We will have exciting workshops for winners to get hands on experience with industry professionals. Winners participate in curated workshops with screenwriters, literary managers which have included showrunner’s like Naren Shankar, Chuck Rose, managers like AE Jones of Stagecoach Entertainment, and a Pitching Masterclass with Jim Arnoff.
Writers will meet with executives, literary managers and working writers to learn more about the industry and craft for a deeper 360 perspective of a career in screenwriting. Each session includes a mentor who will share their experience and area of expertise followed by a Q&A with the writers.
Writers will participate in private curated 1:1 meetings with literary managers, working writers, and execs. This is the perfect opportunity to connect, ask questions, and expand your knowledge of the craft and industry.
Giving Back
A portion of every single Diverse Voices submission is donated to charity. Since the program was launched in 2015, Diverse Voices has raised over $45,000 for various nonprofit organizations including those listed below. THANK YOU to all the amazing writers who’ve helped us get there.
Founded by Ava DuVernay, Array is an independent film distribution and resource collective comprised of artist advocacy organizations, maverick volunteers, and rebel member donors worldwide. Their work is dedicated to the amplification of independent films by people of color and women filmmakers globally.
Hollywood HEART is a nonprofit organization that empowers young people through the arts, building supportive communities and safe environments that cultivate confidence, creativity, and self-esteem. Hollywood HEART serves an expanding list of LGBTQ+ youth, underhoused youth, and youth affected by HIV/AIDS. They bring the arts to life through online programming, in-person workshops, and their annual summer camp, creating opportunities for collaboration, exploration and expression.
Success Stories
Check out more of our Writers’ Successes.
Desdemona Chiang
Signed with a manager at Tulsea
I LOVED my time with the WeScreenplay Lab-- it was such an honor being amongst such talented writers telling unique and exciting stories. It was a space where I felt that everyone was an advocate for my work. That was hugely important for me, as someone who was essentially doing a mid-life career pivot--to know that I had the goods for this.
Brittany Suzanne Kelly
Signed with literary managers
The WeScreenplay team is fantastic, their feedback is thorough and extremely helpful. I’ve done a few labs with other competitions I’ve placed in and the Diverse Voices Lab was by far the most engaging, useful and inspiring I have taken part in. They really believe in the program they have created to uplift diverse and underserved narratives.
Teresa Jusino
Signed with a literary manager
Honestly I was floored when WeScreenplay reached out to me as a Finalist in the Diverse Voices competition saying that they also work with finalists to get their work seen and help their careers. I didn’t expect that anyone other than those selected for the lab would have gotten that kind of help. The WeScreenplay Team graciously met with me to offer loads of great career guidance. It’s a real testament to WeScreenplay that they go so out of their way to help all the writers that come into their orbit. I couldn’t be more grateful!
Our Process
Every Entry Includes Judge's Notes
A FREE, 1-page mini-version of our phenomenal coverage from the entry’s first round judge, including their scores!
*Note: You can upgrade your free Judges Notes to WeScreenplay’s famous Classic Notes for an additional fee!
Quarterfinalists - Top 20%
A new reader and another read for every script that makes it to this round.
*Note: You can upgrade to include a fresh round of Judges Notes for a small fee!
Semifinalists - Top 5%
Another new reader and another read for every script that makes it to this round … and you are welcome to submit an updated version of your script for only $6.
Finalists - Top 20
Scripts that make it to this round will be read internally by the WeScreenplay team as well as by our industry jury. Scores will not be provided for this round, as judging will be discussed privately.
Winners!
The top scripts as selected by the industry jury and WeScreenplay team! We’ll be reaching out to the winners for inclusion in our Diverse Voices Lab, which has resulted in numerous signings, collaborations, and staffings.
Rules
Rules
- Screenplays entered must:
- Be submitted in PDF form and must fit all standard screenplay format guidelines. Personal formatting conventions will be accepted but must not intentionally or accidentally alter the page count of the project as determined by the judges. Anything over 120 pages will cost $1 extra per page.
- Be owned solely by the writer or writing team listed. It may be an adaptation or reimagining of true events or fictional stories.
- Be written in English. However, scripts from anywhere in the world will be accepted.
- Have pages numbered. Scripts of any length will be accepted for an additional fee, but we’d advise that scripts over 150 pages should be edited down before being submitted.
- NOTE: WeScreenplay automatically removes the cover page before assigning scripts to readers, so writers may include any typical information on their cover page. Scripts are accepted with or without cover pages.
- Writer must be 18 years of age or older at the time of the winner’s announcement.
- By entering this screenplay into the competition, you must have full permission from all co-writers and any attachments to the project.
- WeScreenplay claims no ownership nor option on your work. All ownership and rights to the scripts submitted to this contest remain with the original rights holder(s).
- Screenplays entered may be in any genre or combination of genres. All will be treated equally and read by an unbiased panel of readers and jury members.
- The following formats will be accepted: Feature screenplay, TV pilot screenplay
- Entrant’s total earnings for screenwriting for either film or tv, produced or unproduced, must not exceed $50,000 in the previous 18 months from submission or $250,000 lifetime earnings. This excludes any prize money from competitions or fellowships and only applies to fund or money transferred in exchange for an option or sale of a script, treatment, idea, intellectual property, or other writing for filming. Money earned from acting, directing, producing, or any other film work outside of writing is not included.
- Scripts submitted must not have been previously sold or produced unless said sale or production was completed with no financial gain to the writer.
- Purchasing Additional feedback throughout the competition will in no way impact your standing or odds of advancement.
- For a submission to be valid it must be accompanied with the appropriate payment based on the submission deadlines.
- All deadlines are at 11:59pm PST on the date listed. Any deadline alteration or promotion of any kind does not make any entry valid for a refund of any kind.
- RESUBMISSIONS will be accepted. Alterations can be re-uploaded via our submissions management platform at coverfly.com for $6. New drafts of an entry will be accepted at any time during the contest.
- There are no refunds for any submitted scripts. Coupons may not be applied to previously submitted scripts. Coupons deemed for WeScreenplay coverage may not be used for submission to the contest or addition of coverage to any submission unless explicitly stated or exempted on the coupon or by a WeScreenplay representative via e-mail communication only.
- There is no limit on the number of scripts a writer or writing team may submit.
- Prizes are awarded per script and teams of writers are expected to divide prizes on their own accord. WeScreenplay will send prizes to the writer who submits the project and will in no way be responsible for how the prizes are distributed among the writing teams.
- The decision of the judges will be final and cannot be contested in any manner. There is no score on a scorecard that guarantees advancement to the next level as advancement will be based on all scores in the competition.
- Scorecards can be accessed on the writer’s dashboard. Feedback will be delivered before the next announcement but usually sooner. Feedback for each round of the competition, whether it’s the 1 Page or 3 Page option, will be returned before the next competition announcement.
- WeScreenplay reserves the right to delay announcements for any reason. While we never anticipate any delays, such delays will not alter the standing of any screenplay entry and will not qualify an entry for a refund under any circumstance.
Eligibility
- By entering a WeScreenplay competition every entrant is agreeing to all WeScreenplay Terms of Service listed on the website and additional terms agreed upon at checkout. If you disagree with any terms you may not submit to the contest.
- By submitting to the contest you are releasing your script (but not it’s underlying rights) to WeScreenplay and holding harmless WeScreenplay or any affiliates from any claims, expenses, and liabilities, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, copyright, libel, trademark infringement, slander, personal property infringement, etc.
- Any prize winners will be required to sign an affidavit validating their entry into the contest.
- Any writer winning a cash prize of over $599 will be required to file the appropriate tax and legal documentation before the cash prize is distributed.
- All prizes provided by sponsors or mentors are subject to said sponsor or mentor providing the prize. WeScreenplay will do everything in its power to collect the prize packages promised, but is not responsible for a sponsor’s failed delivery.
- Former Grand Prize, Second Prize, and Third Prize Winners of the contest may enter so long as it is NOT the same script that won in a previous year. Any other placement in former years does not disqualify the script from being entered this year.
- By entering the competition, entrants are acknowledging their eligibility for the competition. 99.9 % of entrants enter in good faith, and validating everyone at that stage would be inefficient and take away from efforts reading and finding the best scripts. We do check eligibility at the finalist stage before picking winners or distributing any prizes. We also advance a few additional scripts to ensure no one is missed by someone entering who is not eligible. We check all finalists and on a case by case basis in earlier rounds if something seems like it may not be eligible.
- Void where prohibited.
Additional Legal
- Except where prohibited by law, participation in the contest constitutes each entrant’s consent to WeScreenplay and its agents’ and contest sponsor’s use of entrants’ names, likenesses, photographs, and/or personal information for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration. All uses of a entrants’ information are in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
- BY ENTERING THE CONTEST YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO THESE CONDITIONS. You agree to release and hold harmless WeScreenplay, Red Ampersand, Inc., Industry Arts, LLC., WeScreenplay.com, its subsidiary, parent and affiliated companies, Prize contributors, judges, screenplay readers, Sponsors, and any other organizations responsible for administering, advertising or promoting the Contest, and every one of their respective members, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) past and present from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s Entry, participation in the Contest and/or acceptance or use or misuse of Prize; provided however, that such release will not apply to any commercial exploitation of the script by a Released Party in violation of your rights under applicable copyright law; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the WeScreenplay.org and its Sponsor, agents and employees from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorney’s fees) relating to an entrant’s participation in the Contest and/or entrant’s use or misuse of Prize. Employees of WeScreenplay and their immediate families are ineligible to participate in this contest. Any such submission will be immediately disqualified. ENTRY TO THIS CONTEST IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED or restricted by any Federal, State or Local law. Voided entries will be refunded. Recipients’ eligibility will be verified before the grant is awarded and the winner may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility.
Select Notes
How many pages of notes would you like included with your entry?