How To Apply
With all of our workshops, room and board are provided free to all attendees. Tuition is also free, and travel funds may be provided to some attendees coming from out of state. Participants in our Internship Program will also be provided with travel expenses, plus a monthly stipend.
To apply for either or both programs, please visit our Application page. Follow the instructions on the form there. Make sure you also read the Application Rules and Release Agreement.
Special Offer: For the month of April, applying to either or both programs is free. Take advantage of it now, for starting May 1 we will start charging $25 to apply.
“A great way to meet like-minded liberty people and get a pragmatic take on the industry!” – a workshop attendee
FAQS?
What will the 2012 Internship Program be like?
You will work as an intern in an active film and/or TV production company that develops and makes movies and TV shows. You will work a more-or-less standard work schedule (M-F) for about three months. The tentative start date is June 4, 2012 and the end date is August 24, 2012 (this may vary depending on the company’s needs and any other special contingencies). We are only accepting three interns this year, each of whom will be placed at a different company. You will be expected to check in with the program administrators from time to time and you may also be required to work on a side project such as a short film or screenplay in your spare time during the summer.
What will the 2012 Workshop be like?
For a foretaste, go to the 2011 Workshop page to see the faculty and schedule for last year’s event. It’s a good bet that the 2012 event will be similar to that, only better. This year’s workshop is tentatively scheduled for August 17-19, 2012 and will be hosted on the campus of UCLA. Keep checking back at this website and our Facebook page, where we will post updates as our plans are finalized.
Can I apply to both the Internship Program and the Workshop?
Yes. The application form is the same for both. There is a check list on the form to indicate which program you are applying to. You can check “Both Programs” if you would like to be considered for both. If you are admitted to the 2012 Internship Program, you will also be automatically accepted into the 2012 Workshop and will be expected to attend.
What kind of applicants are you looking for? (This applies to both the internship program and the workshop.)
We are looking for up-and-coming filmmakers who are on their way to a promising career. The ideal candidate would be a current film school student or recent graduate, or someone who has worked in the industry, and who has at least one completed screenplay or short film that shows off their talent level. They also should demonstrate a passion for liberty and a free society. You must be at least 21 years of age or older at the time of either the internship start date or the workshop (as applicable). Internship applicants must be prepared to follow a regular work schedule throughout the summer. Having a familiarity with the screenplay coverage process is also a plus for the internship. Keep in mind that only three applicants will be accepted to the internship program, while the workshop will accept about two dozen applicants. So the bar is correspondingly higher for the internship than for the workshop. This is one reason we encourage you to apply for both. If you don’t make it into the internship program, you still have a chance to partake in the Taliesin Nexus experience.
Can I apply to the internship even if I’ve attended one of your workshops in the past?
Yes. (But you can’t attend the workshop more than once, unless you return covered in glory from your illustrious Hollywood career to serve as a faculty member.)
Do I have to be a film student or film school graduate to apply?
No — as long as you can demonstrate a commitment and aptitude to pursuing a career in the filmmaking industry. Ways to substantiate this would include working in the entertainment business, completing one or more quality feature screenplays, making short videos or films, or working in new media or other creative fields. (All applicants must share a creative sample such as a completed screenplay or short film.)
What do you require for the application process?
The application form is self-explanatory. The form asks for: 1) your contact and biographical information, 2) two brief essays on your career goals and influences, 3) a creative sample such as a screenplay or short film, 4) a resume, 5) consent to our Rules and Release Agreement, and 6) a $25 application fee. (You need only pay one fee whether you apply for one or both programs). (NOTE: The application fee is waived until May 1, so apply early!) You are also asked to check the appropriate box on the form which indicates whether you are applying for the internship, the workshop, or both. (You need only submit one application with accompanying materials even if you are applying for both programs.) The process is completely paperless; everything is submitted electronically through the online application form.
What do you look for in a screenplay submitted with our application?
First, it must pass the professionalism test. In other words, is it formatted according to professional standards and does it avoid mistakes that are the mark of an amateur? For example, is the screenplay formatted as if the writer used a screenwriting program, with all of the spacings and page formatting and slug lines and dialogue blocks in the right places? Does it look and feel like a script — e.g., pages have lots of white space, aren’t crowded with too much text, and it weighs in at about 100-120 pages. (If TV or some other medium is your thing, you can submit an appropriately sized sample script.) With hundreds of how-to screenwriting books available, there’s no excuse to flunk this test. After that, it boils down to originality and talent. (Yup, it’s just that easy.) Do you know how to properly structure a story? Does it surprise or take us in an unexpected direction? You may get bonus points if your story artfully promotes some of the liberty values we are seeking to advance — although nothing kills a script or movie faster than a ham-fisted message.
How about movies/videos?
It’s harder to generalize about them, since we expect quite a range, everything from 2-minute shorts to 2-hour features. (Please, don’t give us more than two hours of video in total.) Professionalism and originality are, once again, the two main factors in play. Is it shot well, how effectively does it hold our interest, and most of all, is it something we’ve seen before? (You don’t want to hear a “yes” to that last one, by the way.) If you link more than one short, don’t expect us to see all of them, so list the one you want us to see first at the top. We only feel obligated to watch or read one submitted sample from each applicant. Any more are completely optional, both for you and us. Oh, and please make sure that it is really easy and simple for us to view your videos online. You can imagine how we may feel after spending two hours downloading specialized software just to watch your Claymation homage to Werner Herzog’s Even Dwarfs Started Small.
What is the deadline to submit an application?
The application deadline for the 2012 Internship program is May 4, 2012 (midnight PDT, if you want us to be even more specific). The deadline for the 2012 Filmmakers Workshop application is June 4, 2012. (Any application submitted after May 4th will only be considered for the workshop.)
Does it matter when I apply?
We will be accepting some applicants on a rolling basis. So if you wait until the last minute, there may be fewer slots open, which may lower your chances of being chosen. It behooves you to apply early. Also, if you apply before May 1, you can apply for free.
What if I don’t live in the L.A. area?
We don’t want that to be a hindrance to any worthy applicants. So if you think you have the talent to be a great filmmaker and can back it up with a creative sample, by all means apply. If you are accepted to either the internship or the workshop, we may pick up the (reasonably priced) tab for your travel to and from L.A. Workshop attendees will also receive free room and board during the workshop, and interns will receive a stipend to help cover living expenses.
Any other questions?
Send them to us via our contact form and we’ll do our best to answer them.
I like what you’re doing and I’d like to participate as a faculty member or volunteer or give money to help create more workshops and sponsor more students.
Please get in touch with us via our contact form. As we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations may be tax-deductible.
