Danú Media, in association with Greasán na Meán Skillnet and National Talent Academy TV and Film has partnered with Philip Shelley to bring Greenlight Screenwriting Lab back for 2024.
Last year, Galway based production company Danú Media launched a new Script Writing Development Programme, Greenlight Screenwriting Lab. Course Director, Philip Shelley, has run the Channel 4 Screenwriting Course for over 13 years and through that has worked with much of the best new talent in UK screenwriting.
Greenlight Screenwriting provides support and up-skilling opportunities to a new generation of emerging script writers and script editors through industry-led training and mentoring. The course was launched in 2023, when six writers and three shadow script editors were mentored over the course of six months. During their six-month development period, writers had industry lead 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), Ursula Rani Sarma (Smother, Red Rock), and Sinead Stimpfig (Commissioning Lead, Virgin Media). The course ended with an industry networking event, where writers had the opportunity to meet producers and discuss their developed projects.
Here is what some of the 2023 participants had to say:
“Greenlight has given me invaluable insight into the professional development process,” said Joy Buckle, Writer, Greenlight Screenwriting Lab. “As a writer who is self-taught and obsessed with learning more about the craft, I have loved every minute of the course. Working with experienced script editors who are helping me shape my idea and strengthen my story has been such a gift. As a busy Mum of two young kids, based in Cork, I rarely get the opportunity to engage in this level of education (the flexible hours and online aspect really helps!). The practical exercise of developing a tv pilot from scratch has been a huge learning experience for me and I would highly recommend the course to emerging writers. I hope to see more courses like this in future and I know for sure that what I have learned with Greenlight will serve me well in my career as a writer.”
“I took part in Greenlight as a shadow script editor and the experience has been invaluable,” added Emma Williamson, Shadow Script Editor, Greenlight Screenwriting Lab. “Coming on board I had a fundamental understanding of script editing but Greenlight really helped bridge the gap between theory and practice. Working alongside Philip Shelley was really insightful and I learned more than I could have imagined. It has given me real confidence in my ability to do the role and has already opened up doors for career opportunities. Above all I thoroughly enjoyed working alongside amazing writers who share a similar cultural and creative background to my own.”
With the support of the Screen Ireland National Talent Academy TV and Film and Greasán na Meán Skillnet, Greenlight Screenwriting Lab will return in 2024 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. Nadine Flynn who works with Danú Media as Development Executive will be heavily involved in the course, with experience as a script editor herself:
“It goes without saying that Ireland is full of emerging and exciting talent when it comes to screenwriting, and so we are delighted to be able to partner with Philip, and devise this new course, in the hopes that it will nurture that talent while also creating opportunities and training for script editors. It’s important to us that we continue to support our industry, and we’re confident that Greenlight Screenwriting Lab will do just that.”
In advance of the course’s 2024 launch, there will be a Script Editing workshop, led by Philip Shelley on February 16th. This will then be followed by an information session on February 17th. This will act as a taster, for potential applicants who are interested in the shadow script element of the course. The initiative will be launched on January 12th with the application window opening shortly thereafter. The successful six writers will be notified by the end of April and will then work on their idea for six months, through in-person weekend workshops and one to one meetings and feedback. Guest speakers and industry professionals will also play an important part in the scheme.
Greenlight Screenwriting Lab will be open to any writers resident on the Island of Ireland and also any Irish writers who may be resident overseas. Criteria around Diversity, Equality and Inclusion will also be taken into account when short-listing writers for interview.
The working language of the training will be English, however, writers who are fluent in Irish and wish to write material in Irish are particularly welcome.
Full details will be available here after the official launch on February 12th. For any other queries, please contact Nadine Flynn, Development Executive at Danú Media (nadine @ danumedia.com).
