Fellowships to USA Black female writers to develop short comedy screenplays and prepare them for production. In addition to a $10,000 cash stipend, fellows will benefit from mentoring, workshops, meetings, and individualized feedback, and will also participate in the pre-production, production, and post-production process as creative producers.

Women Write Now is a partnership between LOL Studios and the Sundance Institute designed to champion and elevate the voices of historically underrepresented Black female comedy writers through a fellowship that provides: mentorship, advocacy, production, and exhibition. This immersive script-to-screen fellowship will support talented writers in developing short comedic scripts while being advised and mentored by some of the most influential Black women in comedy. 

The resulting scripts will be produced by LOL Studios and directed by a celebrity Black female director. The three (3) short films, which will be staffed above and below-the-line by traditionally underrepresented talent, will premiere at a special screening during the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and will be distributed across Laugh Out Loud Network. Travel to the 2023 Sundance Film Festival will be provided. 

Following the fellowship, the selected writers will also receive a twelve (12) month first look deal with Laugh Out Loud to submit original projects for consideration for production and distribution with LOL Studios and Laugh Out Loud Network and shall have the opportunity to separately pitch one (1) project to LOL Studios for a possible development deal. The first look deal will be subject to execution of a separate agreement with terms provided or approved by LOL Studios.

About the Fellowship

Over the course of two weeks in August, the selected writers will develop their short comedic scripts, receiving feedback and guidance from some of the biggest names working in comedy and entertainment. During the Fellowship, the selected writers will attend workshops on how to thrive in the business, pitch, get to the greenlight, market themselves and their work, create an artful punchline, and more! Selected writers will also participate one-on-one creative development meetings and receive screenplay feedback in order to get their short film screenplays production ready. 

About the Production

Following the writing and development process of their short comedic scripts, the selected writers will participate in the pre-production, production, and post-production process of their short films as creative producers. Each selected writer will participate in a set visit, virtually or in-person, to be determined by Laugh Out Loud. The selected writers will also be given the opportunity to consult on the edit of their short film. Laugh Out Loud will maintain final cut approval on the short films. In connection with the production of the short films, each selected writer will be required to sign a submission release that, among other things, includes a grant of rights to LOL Studios with respect to the writer’s script.