ABC/Disney Fellowship - Genres

[meemee2000]

For you past finalists for the ABC/Disney Fellowship program or for any one in the know, can you tell me what genres of features have gotten people placed in the fellowship? I have a fantasy but wonder if that is the way to go...

[Charli]

Go with your heart and passion. That's what will show up in your story. I believe
also that Disney accepts genres all over the map. Don't however get hung
up on what you think people want, the story will come out stale.

Charli

[roscoegino]

When is deadline?

[Hasil Adkins]

For you past finalists... what genres of features have gotten people placed in the fellowship?I was a finalist with a decidedly non-"Disney" drama.

At my interview, I was told they are looking for top-quality writers of every genre.

[glantern2814]

I was a finalist with an historical drama, very un-Disneylike, and still got the trip to LA. They just want it to be well-written.

On the other hand, I interviewed two slots ahead of Cindy McCreery, who ended up winning a Fellowship that year. Both the script she submitted for the contest and the one she wrote during her Fellowship year (both of which she later sold) were both what would be considered very Disneylike. I don't know if it made a difference or not, but just throwing it out there.

Personally, I think it's better that you write a script you have a passion about rather than trying to fit into someone else's genre. Also, through Miramax, Touchstone and Pixar, Disney deals with a lot of genres, so I wouldn't sweat it.

[bpmwriter]

For those who've interviewed with the Disney folks, I'm curious to know what types of questions they asked. Also, anyone have an idea of the number of writer interviewed vs. how many are accepted?

bpm

[meemee2000]

Thanks for all the responses. Sounds like you all are saying the same thing - Disney is looking for scripts that are written well - period. I have a romantic comedy that I think may be better written than my fantasy so I'm thinking about submitting it instead. I didn't want to before because comedies seem to get a bad wrap - but if Disney is only looking for well written scripts maybe I'll have a chance.

Thanks again! :bounce:

[glantern2814]

For those who've interviewed with the Disney folks, I'm curious to know what types of questions they asked. Also, anyone have an idea of the number of writer interviewed vs. how many are accepted?

bpm

BPM,
Questions can range from anything to anything. Usually, they involve your background, what you hope to achieve, movie influences, etc. When you interview, you go into a room with a dozen people firing off questions at the same time, so it's a bit disorienting.

When I interviewed, there were 12 people brought in on the film side (two of whom were a writing team) and five were selected. There were nearly 2,200 entries that year, of which about 40 got phone interviews as semifinalists, which led to the dozen finalists.

[Mode One]

Good feedback.

Any other threads on here that deal specifically with the Disney Fellowship program??

[Leech]

http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=2218&highlight=disney+fellowship

http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=2557&highlight=disney+fellowship

You can do a search and enter "Disney Fellowship" for the rest. But these two threads contained detailed posts from prior entrants.

[PapaCap]

I couldn't decide between an adventure/action script and a 125 page comedy, until I read this little nugget on the Disney site:
Writing samples longer than 120 pages will not be read.

And I really wanted to enter that comedy.

PC
:)

[writer0825]

When is deadline?

I believe it's this Friday, the 23rd.

[cyberian exile]

They are not kidding about that 120 page rule, either. I once entered a 121 page script, figuring no one would quibble over one partial page. The script was returned unread. The program has a long checksheet on which they can tick all their many reasons for disqualifying your entry. "Exceeded 120 pages" was checked off.

The second time I entered, I brought my entry to Mailboxes Etc on the day of the postmark deadline (a Saturday, that year). The reason I brought it to Mailboxes Etc was because they had a notary on staff. Seemed convenient. I got a receipt, and I emphasized the necessity of postmarking it for that day -- so they did it in front of me.

I never heard from the Disney Fellowship until December, when they returned my script unread. This time they had checked off "Improper postmark." They cut out the evidence and included it in their envelope. There were two postmarks on the envelope: one for Saturday, and a second postmark with Monday's date, when (presumably), someone brought the weekend pile from Mailboxes Etc to the post office. Had they contacted me about the postmark, I could have showed them my receipt. Oh well.

So... I have never actually managed to enter the Disney Fellowship program. :p I include these anecdotes to emphasize how careful you must be in following every tiny detail of their rules, no matter how anal.

Good luck, folks. :)

[Hasil Adkins]

I once entered a 121 page script...The script was returned unread.Hmmm. Was this recently? I was a finalist w/a 123 page script in 2002. Maybe they've tightened their standards since then.

[scorpette]

I'm curious about the bios...they shouldn't be all that long, right? (I hope)

[meemee2000]

I'm curious about the bios...they shouldn't be all that long, right? (I hope)

I'm a newbie to submitting to the program, but mine is about half of a page.

[cyberian exile]

Hmmm. Was this recently? I was a finalist w/a 123 page script in 2002. Maybe they've tightened their standards since then.

This was in '04, I believe (it may have been '03). Don't know if I got a particularly finicky person processing the applications that year, but I wouldn't recommend that anyone chance it.

Writerly -- I don't know whether the handwritten FedEx postmark is acceptable, but if it is, don't get reamed for "Saturday delivery." As far as I know, Disney still wants a postmark date, not a "delivered by" date. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong....)

:)

[writer0825]

So I'm reading the rules/regs and wanted to clarify, am I readling it correctly that ANY script that you write while in the program is owned by ABC/Disney, therefore you can't shop it around? So if you're in the program and develop the script you're doing for the program and 2 other scripts during that time, just on your own, Disney owns ALL 3? If so, I don't think it's for me, but maybe I'm reading it wrong. Since the deadline to postmark is Fri, would love some feedback. Muchas Gracias :bounce:

[jimjimgrande]

Disney gets first crack at anything you write while you are under contract with them. They are paying you to write, so everything you write belongs to them. If you write someting else while you are in the program, just wait until the contract expires before you try and shop it around.

[Hasil Adkins]

They are paying you to write, so everything you write belongs to them.Not quite. They have the option to purcahse anything you have written.

[Hamboogul]

Not quite. They have the option to purcahse anything you have written.


Okay. Thnaks.

[Hasil Adkins]

No prolbem.

[jimjimgrande]

Disney gets first crack at anything you write while you are under contract with them. - this applies to material you develop on your own (and don't tell them about) or material that precedes your entrance to the program

They are paying you to write, so everything you write belongs to them. - this applies to material you turn in to them

Sorry, I'm not articulating well today. Read the FAQ, they say it better than i do.

[odocoileus]

Don't they request a rundown of everything you've written so far when they induct you into the program?

[Boobsie Malone]

Yes. They ask for a list of previously written works.

As far as I recall anything that's on that list Disney calls first dibs on. If you have a possible sale/option, they still will want to see it and have first refusal on it. They are also incredibly nice and understanding, and if time is of the essence they will work quickly to either refuse to purchase/option material so that you can sell/option it to the interested party or they'll purchase/option the material. It's really a win/win situation that people freak out over because they've worded it poorly. Every year this question pops up. But, it's truly nothing to fret over.

[Scarlett O'Hagan]

Just wanted to bump this up for discussion. I haven't been on the boards much but entered the Disney Fellowship and thought we could have a sort of support group for those who have entered.. Maybe we could post loglines, discuss bios, the experience of being interviewed, etc. :rolling:

[Hasil Adkins]

Lots of old threads dealing w/this.

Here's one. (http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=2218)

[Lulu]

Whatever you send in, make sure you follow the directions to the letter and check your document for typos; that was one gripe I heard when I interviewed as a finalist in 2004. Don't send in anything they don't ask for, don't skip anything they DO want, like separate bio and resume. Good luck!

[cekinla]

When do they begin notifying people :confused:

[glantern2814]

Typically, it's always been a few days before Thanksgiving.

[Hasil Adkins]

When do they begin notifying people :confused:Word on the (digital) street is that phone interviews began last week.

[KDtheWubat]

A friend just got the semi-finalist call yesterday.

[ScriptWeaver]

A friend just got the finalist call today and is being flown out to LA on the 13th for his face to face interview.

[Happyhack]

A friend just got the finalist call today and is being flown out to LA on the 13th for his face to face interview.

Would you mind sharing whether he was in film or TV??

Thanks,

HH

[Hasil Adkins]

And now finalists have been called (my source is in Features).

[ScriptWeaver]

Would you mind sharing whether he was in film or TV??

Thanks,

HH

It was film.

[Totiwos]

Condolences and congratulations, however they apply. Is there a list of finalists somewhere? Anyone here on it?

It's cool to see so many DD folks doing well. Uplifting. It's been interesting reading Sal's blog about the program.

[Totiwos]

http://salcalleros.blogspot.com/

[Scarlett O'Hagan]

I checked out the blog but couldn't find anything. All I saw was a current fellow talking about pitch sessions. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

[meemee2000]

For Scarlett - I tried the blog and it worked. You may want to copy and paste the link in your address line.

For the rest of you - When will Disney send out official rejection notices? Since I haven't received a call, I'm guessing I'm in the rejection pile. I kind of need to know soon because if I don't get in I plan to transfer my job out of state. My future rests in Disney's hands!

[Molly Maguire]

When will Disney send out official rejection notices?

I'm pretty sure it's January. I only remember because the one time I entered it, I got my ABC/Disney rejection notice on the exact same day I got my ABC/Disney W2 for writing a script they commissioned from me.
If that ain't the ups-n-downs, huh? :sheepskip:

- Mol

[Happyhack]

I'm pretty sure it's January. I only remember because the one time I entered it, I got my ABC/Disney rejection notice on the exact same day I got my ABC/Disney W2 for writing a script they commissioned from me.
If that ain't the ups-n-downs, huh? :sheepskip:

- Mol

Classic! My pal got his rejection from Disney around the same time Disney purchased the rejected script. I LOVE this business.

RE: When the actual letters come -- my experience has been varied - anywhere from December to February. (yes, i've got lots of experience with this one).

[MrHale]

Classic! My pal got his rejection from Disney around the same time Disney purchased the rejected script. I LOVE this business.

RE: When the actual letters come -- my experience has been varied - anywhere from December to February. (yes, i've got lots of experience with this one).


Interesting. Did they purchase for the rejected script because they had read it in the competition? Or did they happen to have received it independent of the fellowship?

[Happyhack]

Interesting. Did they purchase for the rejected script because they had read it in the competition? Or did they happen to have received it independent of the fellowship?

The purchase was independent of the program. The script didn't advance at all in the competition and was a first round rejection.

[meemee2000]

Are they still in the process of calling film semifinalists?

(I just want to know if I still have a chance :o )

[Scarlett O'Hagan]

We are in the same boat meme... Good luck.

[Hasil Adkins]

Are they still in the process of calling film semifinalists?No, I'd guess not. I know of one person who has a finalist interview, so they're done w/phone interviews.

Not sure about TV side.

[meemee2000]

Sure things look bleak right now but I'm going to hold out hope until Memorial Day. If I don't get a call by Memorial Day then I will accept that I haven't been chosen...

[Hasil Adkins]

They've given out the fellowships for film. Still don't know about TV.

[Scribble]

The TV side is in the Finalist stage.