An international writers' room simulation with unique talents.
MIDPOINT Writers' Room 2024
Series
Now Running
Participants
Observing producers
Tutors
Inspirational professionals with passion for sharing their experience
Tutors
Gabor Krigler
Hungary
Gabor’s career began on the writing staff of a daily serial at the Australian-German firm Grundy UFA in 1999. He became a Creative Executive at the Budapest office of HBO Europe in 2010. In 2019, ...
Complete bio
Sarah-Louise Hawkins
UK
Sarah-Louise is a highly experienced British screenwriter, specialising in crime shows that find a large popular worldwide audience. Her most recent work includes “Whitstable Pearl” (UK Drama/Acorn ...
Complete bio
Guest Tutor
Structure
Writers' Room simulation from different perspectives
Selected participants are offered lectures tackling the organization of a writers' room as well as addressing the structure of a pilot episode and season. Majority of the workshop time is dedicated to a writers’ room simulation led by experienced professionals.
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All participantsWorkshopOctober 20 - 26, 2024 | Prague, Czech Republic
Writers
The workshop offers the possibility of enhancing the craft and writing skills, plotting and writing exercises, knowledge and skills connected to the processes occurring during scripted series writing, such as creative teamwork, joint brainstorming, and creating or following one unified narrative voice and vision as well as the structure of a series episode itself.Observing producers
The workshop offers an observant role with a unique opportunity to explore a professional writers’ room led by experienced mentors.Lectures
The Room Built on StoriesGabor Krigler
October 21, 2024 | 15:00 - 16:00 | Prague, Czech RepublicAs the creator of a drama series project, you may be tasked with setting up and running a writers' room. As a freelancer, you may be asked to enter a writers' room as a hired writer to follow the creator’s voice. Either way, you become part of a team. In this lecture, we’ll be looking at the foundations and practicalities of this team work. In the process, we’ll be demystifying the notion of the writers' room, and explore how it is viable within the European industry, especially in countries with nascent drama series markets and tight development budgets.
Series Development in the US Writers’ Room – IntroductionKatrin Merkel
October 21, 2024 | 16:00 - 17:00 | Prague, Czech RepublicThe US Writers’ Room is undeniably an extremely successful and efficient working model. Even though narrative cultures and prerequisites across Europe are very diverse, it still serves as a model and forms the starting point for various forms of collaborative writing. In a concise lecture, Katrin explains the market conditions under which this system has developed and explains how the US Writers’ Room works: mindset, working methods, positions and the central development tools.
The Art of Procedural DramaSarah-Louise Hawkins
October 21, 2024 | 18:00 - 19:30 | Prague, Czech RepublicA deep dive into the enduring popularity of procedural drama, the specific set of challenges a “story of the week” show puts on its writers, and why every channel - including the streamers - want and need more of them.
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Selected ParticipantsTalent ShowcaseFebruary, 2025 | Berlinale Series Market, Berlin, Germany
Alumni writers of the Writers' Room 2024 program will have a unique opportunity to present themselves to industry professionals as promising European writers committed to developing their careers in the TV series industry. Writers will be trained under the mentorship of an experienced pitching tutor.
The specially designed event is hosted by Berlinale Series Market.
MIDPOINT will provide full accreditation coverage to participants who will be selected to present themselves at the Berlinale Series Market. Participants are responsible for arranging and covering their own accommodation and travel expenses.
Methodology
The individual participants, entering the program as talents looking into enhancing their craft and writing skills, will get acquainted with the structure, hierarchy and processes running in a writers’ room from two different perspectives: of a procedural and a serialized show. Theoretical lectures and plotting exercises will be offered alongside the simulation.
The program’s graduates will acquire knowledge and skills connected to the processes occurring during scripted series writing, such as creative teamwork, joint brainstorming, and creating or following one unified narrative voice and vision as well as the structure of a series episode itself.
Benefits
An exquisite experience
Working in an international and diverse writers' room under the supervision of established and successful European/US showrunners and writers.
For writers and writing producers
- offers the possibility of enhancing the craft and writing skills, plotting and writing exercises,
- you will acquire knowledge and skills connected to the processes occurring during scripted series writing, such as creative teamwork, joint brainstorming, and creating or following one unified narrative voice and vision as well as the structure of a series episode itself
- writers alumni of the Writers' Room 2024 program will have a unique opportunity to present themselves to industry professionals as promising European writers committed to developing their careers in the TV series industry
For observing producers
- offers an observant role with a unique opportunity to explore a professional writers’ room led by experienced mentors
Gallery
References
My overall experience of the MIDPOINT Writers' Room 2023 programme was extremely positive.
Each facet was finely tuned to provide an immersive creative experience - from the office setting to the attentive coordination keeping sessions on track. The strategic focus on storytelling fundamentals was invaluable in guiding our exploration. Every resource and detail had been thoroughly considered to help writers reach new heights. Such care enabled our minds to open, inspire, and create without friction. This workshop was a masterclass in facilitating an energizing story laboratory and I'm sincerely grateful for this motivating opportunity.
Natasha Markou
Writer, Writers' Room 2023, Alumna
The MIDPOINT Writers' Room workshop gave me an amazing insight into what no one taught me during my university studies, namely how a TV series are actually developed for broadcasters, streamers and studios.
In my role as an observing producer, I was worried that I would be a bit of a passive bystander but the workshop is designed in such a way that everyone is involved in the process and debate and you are on the same level as the writers.
Jakub Ralek
Producer, Writers' Room 2023, Alumnus
In the world with so much chaos, I was very happy to discover that when we create together (though we had heated discussions with lots of clapping) - we connect to each other very fast and on an emotional level. So, I am going back not only inspired to write but with a belief that we can find a way to understand and help each other in this world.
Gabija Siurbyte
Writer, Writers' Room 2023, Alumna
As a writer, I'm used to spending a lot of time working on my own, alone by my desk, unable to share ideas with anyone but just me. That's why participating in Midpoint's Writers' Room has been a great chance to work with a variety of different and inspiring European writers. It has also been a nice way to get in touch with other visions of the world, of other industries, of other ways of creating, of thinking, of envisioning the art of writing TV series. I think it is a great moment now to be an emerging series-writer seeking to work internationally, and creative spaces like Midpoint are proof that it is indeed worth a try.
Tomas Bayo Encontra
Writer, Writers' Room 2023, Alumnus
The workshop was a great way of gathering knowledge, experience, and new friends. I loved connecting with fellow creators from all over Europe, and it gave me hope that there are many amazing European series yet to be made. The tutors were very generous with their knowledge and also wonderful people to be around. Would definitely recommend joining the MIDPOINT WR.
Eva Todica
Writer, Writers' Room 2023, Alumna
FAQs
You may ask...
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I have an idea for a project. Is Writers' Room a program for me?
Not really. Writers' Room is a program designed to work on your skills, as opposed to a particular project. However, if you do have a project you'd like to develop within MIDPOINT, we strongly suggest that you apply for MIDPOINT Series Launch or MIDPOINT Smash Cut.
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I'm a writer and producer – how do I choose in which capacity am I to apply for the program?
This really depends on your ambitions: if you'd like to participate in writing and be trained in actual writing skills, we'd suggest applying as a writer. As a writer, we will be asking you to participate in writing exercises during the training. If your profile is more of a producer and you feel more comfortable in a semi-observing position, we suggest you apply as an observing producer.
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My English no good. Me can apply?
Sadly, no. As the entire training runs in English, and during the working days you'll be asked to write directly in English, we require an intermediate level of these language skills. This simply means: your grammar doesn't have to be perfect, but you need to talk/write fluently and have the vocabulary to do so.
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What background should the writing applicants have?
We don't like to narrow the profile of the applicants down too much, as we believe talent comes from all places, however, Writers' Room is designed for writers wanting to train their skills in series writing, in particular. Writers that have written features, documentaries, shorts or series before are welcome. But so are script editors or directors or any other actively writing talents.
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What sample of a script/writing should I submit in my application? Should the sample already be produced?
No, it doesn't have to be produced already, and you're most welcome to submit any fiction script you feel reflects your style the best: feature, short or series episode. Of course, the sent material has to be submitted in English.
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What is the function of an observing producer in the training?
While the selected writers will be actively participating in all the writing and plotting exercises, and actively work throughout the training, the producers will rather take on an observing position. But don't get us wrong, it will be no holiday. They will be still asked to participate and be a part of the discussion.
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I'm not European, can I apply?
Yes, you are more than welcome to apply! Although our primary focus is on working with writers from Central and Eastern Europe, we are also open to other European and international talents.
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Does MIDPOINT Institute offer scholarships?
Sadly, not for this particular program. We HIGHLY recommend to submit an application to a national organization (fund, institute, ministry) at the same time you're applying to MIDPOINT Institute. You can always withdraw your application if not selected, but as the processing time of this support can be rather long, it might be quite late to do this once we confirm.
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