Script Angel Launches Inclusion Scholarship

Script Angel, a screenwriter-coaching and talent-development company founded by Hayley McKenzie, has launched an Inclusion Scholarship for its screenwriter-coaching program.

A passion project of Script Angel coach and diversity advocate Jay Harley, the Inclusion Scholarship will initially offer three months of screenwriter coaching, via video-call sessions, to one writer. It is open to all U.K. residents who are from an under-represented background in the film and television industry, which may include their socio-economic background, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability or illness. Also eligible are those from an under-represented demographic, such as being from a traveler community or growing up in care.

Script Angel is looking for writers who have completed a draft of a drama or comedy script for television or feature film, and who want help to develop their work further.

Harley said: “I thought it was time to put my money where my mouth is. I’ve been talking about inclusion for so long and I finally had the opportunity to do something about it. Thanks to Hayley’s amazing support and her generous donation of resources, we’ve turned this round in a couple of months so we can start engaging with writers as soon as possible, and hopefully for a long time to come. I’ve been treated, in the industry, as if diversity is my hobby when actually it is a pillar of TV and film or at least it should be. I can’t wait to be excited by the talent that diverse writers have to offer.”

McKenzie added:: “We want to help disadvantaged writers with talent and professional ambition, who might not otherwise be able to benefit from this kind of industry-level training. Writers from under-represented groups often feel excluded from the creative industries, and from the screen industries in particular. As well as developing their technical skills we want to give them the creative confidence to feel entitled to be heard.”