The Writers Lab for Women Screenwriters Over 40, founded by Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon and produced with New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), has selected the participants for its fifth anniversary. Supported by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, the Lab has selected 12 participants for the annual writers retreat, a press release confirms.
The retreat is a four-day intensive devoted to developing the participants’ screenplays. Past participants have had their scripts optioned and have landed positions in writers’ rooms.
The retreat offers one-on-one meetings with women in the industry, discussion sections, and peer groups that build a talented and unique community through conversations on craft. Participants will be mentored by industry professionals such as “The Duff” producer Susan Cartsonis, “The Wedding” screenwriter Lisa Jones, and television writer and playwright Theresa Rebeck.
“The Writers Lab is an example of our long-standing commitment to intersectional inclusion. We are so proud of the community of The Writers Lab participants — past and present — that has been created and continues to thrive,” said NYWIFT Executive Director Cynthia Lopez.
As an additional resource, the Lab will launch a podcast about screenwriting, the first episode featuring a discussion with past Lab mentors Lisa Cortes (producer of “Shadowboxer”) and Amy Fox (writer of “Equity”).
The 2019 Writers Lab participants and their projects are below. List courtesy of NYWIFT.
The Fledgling, Tara Orr Brenninkmeyer
The Surveillance of Ordinary Things, Susan Brunig
The Skeleton Watch, Tricia Cerrone
The Last Train to London, Meg Waite Clayton
At Sea, Jiwon Lee
Picking Up Porter Douglas, Ann LeSchander
Extreme Closeup, Julia O’Hara
The Retreat, Alyson Richards
Blue World, Miatta Ronco
Borderline, Kenyetta Raelyn
Little Buffalo, C.C. Webster
Hunt Relic, Elizabeth Ziemska
