Greenlight Screenwriting Lab 2025

Greenlight Screenwriting Lab 2025 with Philip Shelley

National Talent Academy Film & TV, in association with Danú Media and Greasán na Meán Skillnet, are delighted to partner with Philip Shelley and bring Greenlight Screenwriting Lab back in 2025 for its third year running!

Greenlight Screenwriting provides support and up-skilling opportunities to a new generation of emerging script writers and script editors through hands on industry-led training and mentoring, and will contribute to and enhance the Irish screen Industry. The course was launched in 2023, when six talented writers and three shadow script editors were mentored over the course of six months. The course ran again in 2024, with a whole new diverse roster of writers and shadow editors. During their six-month development period, writers had industry-led talks and workshops with people such as Peter McKenna (Kin, Hidden Assets), Des Doyle (The Art of Running a TV Show), Sam Atwell (Producer, Northern Lights), Heather Larmour (BBC Commissioning Executive), Ray Lawlor (Obituary) and Ursula Rani Sarma (Smother, Red Rock). The course ended with an industry networking event, where writers had the opportunity to meet producers and discuss their developed projects.

With the support of Danú Media and Greasán na Meán Skillnet, Greenlight Screenwriting Lab will return in 2025 and offer an opportunity for six new script writers to be mentored by Philip and other industry professionals to develop a new TV drama series.

In addition to this, the programme will also offer shadow opportunities for three people interested in script editing.

Writers will be short-listed for interview and the successful six writers will be notified in the following month. They will then work on their idea and script for six months, through in-person weekend workshops and one to one meetings and feedback from their script editor and trainee/shadow script editor.

Guest speakers and industry professionals will also play an important part in the scheme.

Course Content:

The purpose of the course is to identify and then work with six new Irish writers over a six-month period to each create, develop and write a TV drama pilot episode (for series or serial). The course will offer these writers new to television drama an insight into how the industry works and to provide a “dry-run” of what it can be like to write under a television drama commission, specifically for one hour or 30 minute series and serial drama, and to work with them as they write an original drama script.

Writers will be expected to write an original one-hour or half-hour drama series or serial pilot episode, and 2-3 page outline / pitch for the series / serial as a whole. NB The script you write on the course will be a new project – i.e. different to the entry script that you submit.

Each writer will be assigned a script editor, who is currently working in the industry, to guide them through this process. Writers will meet at least twice with their script editor and should complete a 2nd draft script before the 2nd weekend of the course. Completed 2nd draft scripts will be sent to the script editor and one other writer on the course, for workshop discussions at the second weekend.

PLEASE READ COURSE FAQ’S BEFORE ENTERING

Dates/Duration:

In-person: 10th & 11th May 2025 and 18th & 19th October 2024.

Online: May - November

Writers must ensure before entering that they are available to attend both these weekends in person (the first weekend in Galway, the second weekend in Dublin) and are free to write at least two drafts of an original one-hour television drama between 12th May and 8th October 2025.

First Weekend

Writers, directors, producers and script editors in the industry will speak to the participants on a variety of subjects relating to writing for television, especially writing for series and serial drama. There will also be time set aside for writers to discuss their ideas for one-hour scripts with their assigned script editor.

Second Weekend

This will be split between a reading of a section of each script by actors on the first day, and discussion and analysis of each of the six finished scripts in small groups on the second day, finishing with a workshop / conclusion to the course and discussion of next steps for the writers and shadow script editors.

It is essential to the success of the second weekend that writers submit their scripts on time and make time to read at least one other script.

Industry Networking Evening

There will be a drinks evening in Dublin (venue TBC) on an evening in November 2025 for the course writers to meet industry producers, script editors, literary agents etc.

Who Can Apply:

Writers:

This is an initiative for new Irish writers – writers who do not have a broadcast credit as a television writer or theatrical release as a feature film writer may apply (although produced short films – 20 minutes or less – and episodes of soaps / continuing drama series – are exempt).

Greenlight Screenwriting Lab will be open to any writer's resident on the Island of Ireland and any Irish writers who may be resident overseas.

Criteria around Diversity, Equality and Inclusion will also be considered when short-listing writers for interview. Please see the Diversity and Inclusion Statement for more info.

Please read course FAQ’s for more details.

The working language of the training will be English, however we particularly welcome writers who are fluent in Irish and wish to write material in Irish.

Writers can submit their application HERE

Shadow Script Editors:

The Shadow Script Editor Scheme is for entry level talent who are passionate about breaking into the television industry to work in script development and script editing. Shadow Script Editors will shadow experienced Script Editors and work directly with writers in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of the Script Editing process.

This is an initiative for new Irish Script Editors, applicants must,

Have a demonstrable interest in television drama, script reading, and storytelling which you may have gained from theatre groups, education or personal interests.
Have experience in an administrative role.
Have excellent communication, attention to detail and organisational skills.
Be able to work co-operatively within a team.
Demonstrate good literary skills, and are passionate about learning the craft of script editing.

Because this is an entry level position, any applicants who already have a script editing credit in broadcast TV will not be considered.

Scripts entered must be 20 – 130 pages in length. They can be screenplays, TV scripts, stage plays or audio plays. Scripts shorter than 20 pages or longer than 130 pages will not be considered.

Shadow Script Editors' applications are only possible via email.

Script Editors Applicants are asked to email the following, to nadine@danumedia.com:

CV (detailing relevant experience)
A personal statement, detailing your experience and why you want this shadow Script Editor opportunity to advance your career.

Deadline: Monday 3rd March 2025 at 5.00 pm.

Selection Process:

Writers & shadow script editors will be short-listed for interview with a panel of industry professionals and the successful six writers and three shadow script editors will be notified in late April.

Further Information:

The NTA Film & TV Drama reserves the right to make amendments to this initiative subject to funding, production landscape and health and safety requirements at the time of delivery.

The National Talent Academy is an initiative of Screen Ireland. The NTA for Film & TV is managed by Ardán.

Learn more about Danu Media HERE and Greasán na Meán Skillnet HERE