$1,500 screenwriting mentors open call

This open call invites screenwriters currently based in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties to submit short screenplays that meet particular criteria with the purpose of putting their screenplay into production through ASFI’s FLAGSHIP FILM PROGRAM mentoring participating student filmmakers at the Arthur & Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts in Goulds, FL.

One screenwriter from the submission pool will be awarded $1,500 as the WEG/ASFI 2022-23 Screenwriting Mentor.

Submitted screenplays will be produced in all production capacities by student filmmakers (ages 12-18) participating in ASFI’s FLAGSHIP FILM PROGRAM based at Arthur & Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts in Goulds, FL. 

Submissions open November 14th 2022
Submissions close January 2nd 2023

APPLY

ABOUT ASFI’S FLAGSHIP FILM PROGRAM
‍ASFI’s FLAGSHIP FILM PROGRAM is a weekly student mentoring program established by ASFI and powered by WEG. The program was launched in 2016 and has since become ASFI’s longest-serving contribution to the underserved students and community of Goulds in South Dade.

The program mentors students ages 12-18 through the crafting and production of an original short film. Students are mentored one-on-one by professional filmmakers part of and adjacent to the White Elephant Group film collective. Running the gamut from pre-production through to post-production, students get hands-on technical and artistic training with state of the art audio-video production equipment, as well as artistic mentoring and professional skills building opportunities led by South Florida artists and craftspeople actively working in the fields of film and television.

Through their participation in the program as well as the leadership and mentoring of the program’s Mentoring Artists staff, students not only learn the ins and outs of filmmaking on a professional level, but also are encouraged and mentored through the building of professional and life-skills, learning about group dynamics, project management, acknowledging and coping with emotional stress and the importance of confidence and believing in yourself. 

Entering the program’s 7th season, ASFI and WEG are proud to announce this open call for Screenwriters which also includes an open call for possible mentors who may be eager to join the program’s Mentoring Artist staff to contribute their filmmaking skills to the program in addition to their script and skills as screenwriters.

ABOUT THE “MENTORS OPEN CALL” PORTION OF THE APPLICATION
The 2022-23 SCREENWRITING MENTORS OPEN CALL application includes a “Mentors Open Call” portion that must be completed to submit the full application for consideration.

The “Mentors Open Call” is meant to seek out filmmaking talent in Miami-Dade and Broward interested in possibly joining the ASFI Mentoring Artists staff for the 2022-23 Flagship Film Program season. All submitters are eligible to be considered for invitation to join the ASFI Mentoring Artists staff for the 2022-23 season regardless of their standing in the screenplay open call. All submitters retain the right to decline said invitation for any reason of their choosing regardless of their standing in the screenplay open call.

Click to Apply

2022-2023
screenwriting mentors open call
FAQ



❖ Are there specific criteria the script I’m submitting have to meet to be considered for the $1,500 award?
     ➢ Yes. All submissions/submitters must meet the following criteria:
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◦ Submitting artists must currently be based in Miami-Dade or Broward County.
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◦ Submitted screenplays must not exceed a total of 6 pages (7 pages including the title page).
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◦ Submitted screenplays must:
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⋄Have equal to or less than 3 available acting/speaking roles.
⋄Have equal to or less than 6 TOTAL speaking AND non-speaking roles (including extras).
⋄No more than 1 easily-acquired* location (use of the interior and exterior of a single location is acceptable).
⋄Have content appropriate for students and families (ages 12+) to participate in, produce and view.
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◦ Complete the full application including the “MENTOR OPEN CALL” portion of the application.
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◦ Consent to granting ASFI and WEG any and all rights to produce a short film derived from the specific screenplay submitted.
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◦ Consent to having the short film derived from the specific screenplay submitted be produced in all production capacities by student filmmakers (ages 12-18) (under the mentoring and guidance of ASFI’s 2022-23 Mentoring Artist staff) participating in ASFI’s 2022-23 Flagship Film Program.




❖ How many awards will be given as part of the Open Call?
     ➢ One script will be selected from the submission pool. The submitter of the chosen script will be awarded ASFI’s 2022-23 Screenwriting Mentor award cash prize of $1,500.




❖ Can a script be submitted by multiple writers?
     ➢ Yes, but only ONE PERSON will be given the award. As such, the award and the cash prize will be awarded to the submitter of the project. If the chosen project has multiple writers, all writers of the script will have their names included in any and all announcements regarding the award coming from both ASFI and WEG across all media/platforms where the announcement will be published.




❖ If my script is not chosen as the awardee, can I still be invited to join the ASFi Mentoring Artists staff for ASFI’s 2022-23 season?
     ➢ Yes. All submitters will be considered for invitation to ASFI’s Mentoring Artists staff for ASFI’s 2022-23 season.




❖ If my script is chosen to be awarded, am I automatically invited to join the ASFI Mentoring Artists staff for ASFI’s 2022-23 season?
     ➢ No. Considerations for invitation to join the ASFI Mentoring Artists staff for ASFI’s 2022-23 season are separate from considerations for the Screenwriting Mentors award. The 2023-23 Screenwriting Mentors awardee may or may not be invited to join ASFI’s Mentoring Artists staff at the discretion of ASFI’s awarding jury.




❖ Can I decline any invitation made by ASFI to join the ASFI Mentoring Artists staff for ASFI’s 2022-23 season?
     ➢ Yes. Any invitation to join the ASFI Mentoring Artists staff can be declined by anyone receiving an invitation.




❖ If I have no desire to joining the ASFI Mentoring Artists staff or if I express no interest in joining the ASFI Mentoring Artists staff, does that hurt my application for the Screenwriting Mentors award?
     ➢ No. Considerations for the Screenwriting Mentors award and the ASFI Mentoring Artists staff are completely separate. The deliberations of any one endeavor or aspect of the application have zero effect in the deliberations of the other.




❖ I have no interest in being part of ASFI’s Mentoring Artists staff. Do I still have to fill out that part of the application?
     ➢ Yes. All applications must be fully completed to be submitted and considered.I’m submitting a script written by multiple writers.




❖ Do I have to report back how I split the award among the writers?
        ➢ No. The cash award will be awarded to the single submitter of the project. Award splits and other such details are left to the complete consideration of the awardee. ASFI nor WEG will take no part in any additional considerations outside of awarding a single submitter of the chosen project the full award.




❖ This is really cool! Are there more ways I can support WEG or ASFI?
     ➢ Thanks! You can follow both ASFI and WEG on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with what we’re up to. You can also make a tax-deductible donation to ASFI (ASFI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) on ASFI’s website: www.asfimiami.org




❖ I have a question that is not listed in this FAQ. How would I contact ASFI or WEG to ask my question? Which organization should I contact?
     ➢ You can contact the organization of your choosing (ASFI or WEG) via either respective organization’s website. You may contact either organization to receive information on the Open Call. Both organizations are equally equipped to answer questions about the Open Call.