WHAT WE DO
HOW WE WORK WITH WRITERS
2015-2017
Break The Class Ceiling is here to assist aspiring TV Comedy Writers, currently being held back by not knowing the right people. As long as you meet the BCC eligibility criteria we want to work with you. Send us your script and we’ll guarantee to read it and give you feedback.
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Writers who are ready will be invited to join the BCC mentoring scheme during which you will be assigned a development producer, script editor or sitcom writer who will work with you on several drafts of your script. Once this is ready for others in the industry to see, we will provide you with access to some of the best production companies and agents in the business.
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Meanwhile we have tips and suggestions to be explored from some of the top names in the industry.
If you feel you have the potential but don’t yet have the know how, Break the Class Ceiling is here for you.
ELIGIBILITY
This is a scheme to assist those who are currently at a social disadvantage.
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BCC exits to help level the currently very skewed playing field that is the TV Comedy Industry. If you fit this eligibility criteria and have a TV comedy script you would like us to read, then do send it in. The industry needs you. Audiences want you to make them laugh. It could be a win-win for everyone
SCRIPT READING
2015-2017
As long as the writer meets our eligibility criteria we guarantee to read and give feedback on every script that is sent to us. We aim to do this within 4 weeks. If we are going through an extremely busy period, and need to extend this, we’ll post this here, with a revised deadline, so you are not left hanging. In the first year we will cap all reading at 1,000 scripts. We simply will not have the resources at this stage, to read more.
We’ll read all comedy scripts that are 30 pages or less. If you want us to look at a longer comedy drama script, we can do that, but we will only read 30 pages, so either you just explain what happens in some of the scenes, when you get to them, without including the dialogue, so that it comes in at under 30 pages, or we’ll just read the first 30. If you go for the former, please include the description where the dialogue would be, so it reads as one continuous document. Paragraphs in a separate email will not be read.
At this stage you will receive a paragraph or two of considered, professional feedback from one of our experienced comedy readers (a team made up of writers, producers and script editors).
AM I READY TO BE MENTORED
As already said, all scripts that fit our eligibility criteria will be read and you will receive feedback. Those that we feel are ready to be further developed will be invited to join our mentoring scheme during which you will be assigned a development producer/script editor/sitcom writer who will work with you on several drafts of your script until you both feel it is ready to show to the outside world.
This may in effect be a “calling card script” - ie a script that you both feel is good enough to send to producers and agents to introduce you to them, without it necessarily being something you want to pitch as a series. But of course, it could be a script you both feel has real potential to be made as the next Fleabag/Derry Girls/Father Ted. If you feel you have the potential, even if you don’t yet have all the knowhow, we want to hear from you.
SPEED DATING
At various intervals we will arrange for people who are being mentored to meet, either online or in person, with a group of agents and development producers. You will get 10 mins with each to pitch who you are and what your idea is. But don’t panic, we will give you tips beforehand on how you may get the best out of this.
VOLUNTEERS WELCOME
Very welcome! We are going to need all the help we can get to make this scheme work effectively. So if you are someone who feels you have something to offer, or the industry has been kind to you and you want to give something back, we’d love to hear from you. You know who you are!
Becoming a reader
Carry out an initial read on submitted scripts and give a paragraph or two of feedback on each one.
Becoming a mentor
Those writers who are ready will then be mentored to develop a full script. This could all be done by email and will involve notes on several drafts.
If you want to donate
If you want to donate, get in touch! Money is always useful - to pay readers who need it, cover the costs of workshops, or provide travel for writers to attend our events etc.