The CFC will invite one Canadian and one UK Creator each with a high-concept, one-hour long running drama series idea along with 2 Canadian and 2 UK Writers to work together as an international story department to workshop and help develop the 2 series. 

The program will host “in-person” story department exchanges both in London and Toronto and establish a “virtual story department” component to support the continued workshopping and development of material across the Atlantic.

Specially designed sessions will also give all writers an inside look into the intricacies of international co-production and the cultural differences between Canadian and UK business and creative models.

Here’s how the program and process will unfold:

• Upon selection for participation in the program the 2 Creators (1 Canadian; 1 UK) would prepare a rough draft bible for their concept to share with the 4 selected writers (2 Canadian; 2 UK) as prep material prior to the first exchange.
  • Creators will be consulted as to shortlisted Writers. 
• The first phase of the program will be a full time 10-day Creative Exchange for series development and take place in both Toronto and London (5 days in Toronto followed by 5 days in London for all participants)
  • This exchange will bring Writers and Creators together in person to lay the foundation for working as a story department within an international co-production framework and will focus on team building, sharing of intelligence and expectations from our broadcast partners, sharing respective cultural, and creative and business practices in developing and producing series. All of this geared to getting the writers up and running as a story department to flesh out the two show ideas and assign episode outlines.
• The creative exchange will then continue via a virtual story room wherein
  • Writers will prepare two first draft outlines – one for each show, and each Creator will write their first draft pilot scripts.
  • They will all continue to participate in scheduled virtual story department sessions to workshop the written materials.
  • Writers will revise their outlines with pilot and other episode concerns in mind along with additional direction from the Creators, mentors and Broadcast partners delivering second draft outlines.
  • Each Creator delivers a second draft of the pilot scripts and revised full series bible.
• Upon the completion of this exchange and virtual story room, the CFC, BBC, BBCW and Shaw Media assess how the shows are developing and determine whether either of the shows will secure further development or potentially an international co-production deal.
• In the event all three broadcast partners are interested in continued development or a production commitment to one or both of the shows, the CFC will initiate a Business Exchange for the select Creator(s) where their series is examined and assessed within the international co-production business model paradigm.
  • Creator(s) meet and initiate exchanges with potential Canadian and UK producers in order to determine potential producing partners and Creator(s) would learn how to asses their show in terms of the specific producing needs.
• The Broadcast Partners have a 3 month exclusive window for decision making from the time of delivery of materials. If a broadcaster decides not to proceed with the further development or production of the series concept with the Creator or Writer all rights will revert back to the Creator.
• If a show receives interest from some but not all of the broadcast partners, then the Creator is free to pursue that relationship outside of the context of the program.
  • Once decisions are made to either let a show go or proceed to an actual development or production deal, then the program will be completed and the CFC will have no further involvement with any of the Participants or the shows.
  • Please also note that if a project is not picked up, there are no liens or repayable development fees against the project.  

The program is designed to allow both Creators and Writers to pursue other projects. The participation portion of the program begins with the first in-person 10 day exchange taking place in both Toronto and London, wherein all travel expenses will be covered and each participant will be required to take part full time.

Subsequent workshopping and delivery of materials will run part time.

CONTRACTING OF CREATORS AND WRITERS

There is no cost to participating in this program. The CFC, BBC, BBC Worldwide and Shaw Media fund the program. All air, ground transportation and hotel accommodation costs for the exchanges will be covered.

Unlike other CFC programs, each Creator and Writer will be asked to enter into an agreement with the goal of creating written materials for a one hour dramatic series concept intended to be suitable for an official Canada-UK treaty co-production.

All Canadian Creators and Writers will enter into the same standard writer’s agreement with the CFC under the Writers Guild of Canada IPA.

All UK Creators and Writers will enter into the same standard writer’s agreement with the BBC under the BBC/WGGB/PMA 2002 Agreement.

Creators and Writers will be compensated for their written material as follows:

• CDN Creators will be paid a fee of $25,000 each
• UK Creators will be paid a fee of  £13,500 each
• CDN Writers will be paid a fee of $12,500 to deliver two second draft outlines each with the potential to be paid up to an additional $12,500 for either a first draft episode script or additional outlines
• UK Writers will be paid a fee of £6,750 to deliver two second draft outlines each with the potential to be paid up to an additional £6,750 for either a first draft episode script or additional outlines.

What will the deliverables be within the program?

• Each Creator will be expected to deliver a first and second draft script for the pilot episodes of the series and will bring to the program a series bible.
• Each Writer will be expected to deliver two second draft outlines as well as the possibility of additional outlines or a first draft script.

In the event that a show is licensed by one or more of the Broadcasters and a production is produced, then CFC will receive an end credit as follows “developed with the assistance of the CFC Canada/UK Script Incubation Program” with the CFC logo. The size, prominence and position of such credit will be subject to the approval of third-party financiers or broadcasters involved in the production.