Annual Writer's Lab chooses 12 authors for its 11th edition

Annual Writer's Lab chooses 12 authors for its 11th edition

The Writers Lab Expands Industry Advocacy for Women and Nonbinary Screenwriters

The Writers Lab, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and promoting narrative scripted content written by diverse women over the age of 40, has announced an expansion of its efforts with the launch of the Industry Advocacy Program. This new initiative, in partnership with Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas' production company, MountainA, aims to create a pipeline for Lab participants by connecting their projects with industry executives and representatives.

The Industry Advocacy Program will bring projects from The Writers Lab participants to the attention of industry representatives, establish connections to facilitate employment and production opportunities, and collaborate with partner organizations to help promote the writers and their projects. Partner organizations include Roadmap Writers, The Writers Guild of America East, New York Women in Film & Television, The Black List, Film Fatales, the Alliance of Women Directors, Firecracker Department, the Female Eye Film Festival, and Untamed Stories.

The Writers Lab has a high success rate, setting up over 400 meetings for writers with industry members, producing and releasing three projects, and having another 38 in pre-production. The program continues the mission of The Writers Lab, which remains the only global initiative exclusively supporting mid-career women and nonbinary screenwriters aged 40 and over, operating across the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Canada.

This year, The Writers Lab is hosting its 11th annual event, supporting 12 writers across 12 projects. The 12 selected women screenwriters over 40 include Amy Fox, Pamela Gray, Jenny Halper, Rita Hsiao, Meg Lefauve, Amenya Makuku, Mary Jane Skalski, Shelby Stone, Robin Swicord, Pat Verducci, Tracey Scott Wilson, and Jamie Zelermyer. The retreat will take place in early November in New York City, focusing on tools and strategies to navigate the industry and build sustainable careers, with accomplished women creatives as mentors.

MountainA, a production company founded by Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas, is under a first-look deal with Apple TV+ for TV projects. Their credits include the critically acclaimed Todd Haynes feature May December and the HBO original docuseries Angel City. Upcoming projects from MountainA include the animated feature Arco from French director Ugo Bienvenu, an art world satire, The Gallerist, written and directed by Cathy Yan, and the rom-com Good Sex, written and directed by Lena Dunham.

The Writers Lab is grateful to its supporters, including Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas, the Cornelia T Bailey Foundation, The Lynch Hall Charitable Fund, The Lisa Cleff Kurtz & Michael Kurtz Foundation, and the Meg & Alex Weidner Family Foundation. The organization accepts scripts from writers around the world and is operational in the U.S., the U.K., Europe, and Canada, making it the only program dedicated exclusively to elevating the work of women and nonbinary screenwriters over forty.

1. The Industry Advocacy Program, launched by The Writers Lab, aims to create a production pipeline for Lab participants by connecting their projects with industry executives and representatives.
2. The Writers Lab continues its mission of promoting narrative scripted content written by diverse women over 40, including acts like actor Amy Fox and screenwriter Meg Lefauve.
3. During the retreat, these writers will learn tools and strategies to navigate the industry and build sustainable careers, guided by accomplished women creatives like director Cathy Yan.
4. MountainA, in partnership with Apple TV+, is involved in various TV projects, such as the animated feature Arco and the art world satire, The Gallerist, written and directed by Cathy Yan.
5. The Writers Guild of America East is one of the partner organizations collaborating with The Writers Lab to help promote writers and their projects, boosting their chances in the television and film industry.
6. The successful partnership between The Writers Lab and MountainA is a testament to the importance of industry advocacy for women and nonbinary screenwriters seeking employment and production opportunities.
7. Over 400 meetings have been set up by The Writers Lab between writers and industry members, indicative of the organization's influence in the fashion-and-beauty, education-and-self-development, and personal-growth lifestyle niche segments.
8. The Writers Lab, with the backing of supporters like Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, is operational in multiple countries, making it the global leader in supporting mid-career women and nonbinary screenwriters aged 40 and over.
9. The launch of the Industry Advocacy Program underscores the ongoing need for agents, managers, and directors, like those from partner organizations such as Film Fatales and the Alliance of Women Directors, to advocate for and champion women and nonbinary screenwriters in the entertainment industry.

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