Dear Fellowship Applicant:

For the thirteenth year, we are continuing the search to discover creative talent and to employ culturally and ethnically diverse writers. We are looking for up to eight writers to work full-time developing their craft at The Walt Disney Studios and ABC Entertainment.

We will be offering Fellowships in the feature film and television areas. No previous experience is necessary; however, writing samples are required. Fellows will each be provided a flat salary of $961.54/week ($50,000 annualized) for a one-year period tentatively scheduled to begin in January 2003. Fellows chosen from outside of the Los Angeles area will be provided with coach round trip airfare and one month's accommodations.

Eligibility:
This Program is open to all writers. Writers with WGA credits are eligible for this Program, and should apply directly through the Guild's Employment Access Department at (323) 782-4648.

CONTACT

The Walt Disney Studios and
ABC Entertainment
Writing Fellowship Program
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank,CA 91521-4389
e-mail: abc.fellowships@abc.com
(818)560-6894
www.abcnewtalent.disney.com

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

The application, the letter agreement, your resume or biography, and writing sample must be submitted together between June 1, 2002 and July 6, 2002. There is no application fee. However, your legal agreement must be notarized and included with your application and submission. You are not required to send in your submission through registered or overnight mail. To ensure proof of mailing, you may wish to use these services since we will not confirm receipt of your application package. Finalists will be notified in December 2002. NO scripts will be returned: all scripts will be destroyed.

Appropriate writing samples for the feature film division included: a live-action motion picture screenplay (approximately 120 pages) or a two-to three act play. Appropriate writing samples for television include: a full-length script appropriate for a half-hour or one-hour television series, based on a current prime time television series: e.g. Will & Grace, Sex In The City, Drew Carey, The Practice, The Sopranos, or a full-length play (including one acts over 24 pages). Unacceptable materials include: treatments, outlines, short stories, poems, books, magazine/ newspaper articles, audio/video tapes, drawings, or scripts adapted from other material (such as a novel). We do not accept non-prime time animation, musicals of any kind, or original television pilots.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Can I submit an application to both the television and feature Film areas?
A: No. You may only submit ONE application to EITHER the TV OR Features area. Since submissions are considered separately by each area, we want to avoid the possibility of both areas selecting the same applicant.

Q: In the case of a partner submission, must we file separate applications?
A: Yes, definitely. Each partner must submit a separate, NOTARIZED application package and resume. ONLY ONE COPY OF THE SCRIPT IS REQUIRED PROVIDED THE PARTNERS SEND THEIR APPLICATIONS IN THE SAME ENVELOPE. If a partner selection is accepted to the fellowship program, each partner will be paid a separate and equal weekly salary of $961.54/week ($50,000 annualized).

Q: If I don't work or live in the United States, am I eligible to apply to this program?
A: Because of the nature of the Fellowship Program, we are unable to sponsor individuals for United States work visas to participate in the Fellowship Program. Therefore, in order to be eligible for the Fellowship Program, an applicant must possess and present evidence of identity and United States employment eligibility (valid for the duration of the Fellowship Program) as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Q: Who can legally notarize my application?
A: ONLY A COMMISSIONED NOTARY PUBLIC. A signature AND a notary stamp or seal is required on page three of the application.

Q: Is the Fellowship a full-time program? What is the duration of the program?
A: Yes, the Fellowship is full-time. You will be required to sign a year-long contract. Due to the intensive nature of the Fellowship Program, you may not hold other employment or be enrolled in school during the Fellowship period if it will interfere with any aspect of, or time commitment to, the Program. Hours for Program activities can be irregular and changeable. The fellowship period lasts for one year tentatively beginning in January of 2003.

Q: Will I need to relocate to Los Angeles to participate in the Fellowship?
A: Yes. Fellows chosen from outside the Los Angeles area will be provided with round-trip coach airfare from within the U.S. and one month's accommodations. No other moving or travel expenses, etc. will be reimbursed.

Q: In the TV division, can I submit a script for a one hour drama?
A: Yes. We will accept a full-length, half-hour or hour television script, based on any CURRENT prime time comedy or drama series, e.g., Everybody Loves Raymond, The Drew Carey Show, Frasier, The Practice, Dharma & Greg, Sex In The City, or a full-length play (including comedic one acts over 24 pages).

Q: May I enter a play as a submission into the television or feature division?
A: Yes. You may submit a full-length two-to-three act play to either the television or feature division. In the TV division, you may submit a one-act play.

Q: Must I send my script by registered or overnight mail?
A: No. You are not required to send in your submission through registered or overnight mail. To ensure proof of mailing, you may wish to use these services since we will not confirm receipt of your application package.

Q: Must my submission be postmarked or received by July 6, 2002?
A: Your application must be POSTMARKED no later than July 6, 2002. Applications postmarked prior to June 1, 2002, and later than July 6, 2002 will be returned unopened.

Q: When will I be informed of my status with the fellowship program?
A: All applicants will be informed winter 2002. PLEASE BE PATIENT. DUE TO HIGH VOLUME AND THE NATURE OF THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS, WE WILL BE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR STATUS BY TELEPHONE OR E-MAIL.

Q: What length is acceptable for my script submission?
A: For television scripts, approximately 40-60 pages. For feature scripts, approximately 90-130 pages.

Q: If I am selected as a Fellow, who owns the rights to the material that I submitted for entrance to the Fellowship Program and/or material that I previously created?
A: You will retain ownership in such material. However, if you are selected as a Fellow, any material written by you prior to the term of the Fellowship Program and currently controlled and/or owned by you must be disclosed in writing and Disney and ABC will have an "Exclusive First Look" at such material whereby Disney and ABC shall have the option to purchase such material from you in accordance with the policies and terms outlined in the Fellowship Program agreement.

Q: If I am selected as a Fellow, who owns the rights to the material that I create during the Fellowship Program?
A: Pursuant to the agreement that you must sign before entering the Fellowship Program, all material written by you during the term of the Fellowship Program will be owned by Disney or ABC.

Q: Does my script have to be in any particular format?
A: Yes. Screenplays MUST BE TYPED and presented in the standard, industry-accepted format for the type of script you are submitting. Should you have questions about which formats are acceptable, there are publications such as SCREENPLAY by Sid Field; THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO STANDARD SCREENPLAY FORMATS by Cole & Haag; FORMATTING YOUR SCREENPLAY by Reichman; and WRITING TELEVISION SITCOMS by Evan S. Smith.