Meryl Streep is taking yet another step on the path of being amazing by funding a screenwriters lab for femlae writers over 40. Can we get a hell yeah!?! The group will be run by New York Women in Film and Television and organized by Iris, a collective of female filmmakers. It will be called, plainly and perfectly, Writers Lab. Streep announced her involvement during a Sunday panel at Tribeca Film Festival.
According to the website, the application period begins May 1st and end June 1st 2015 at 5pm EST (make a note of that, potential submitters!). The eight accepted candidates will gather for an intensive workshop at Wiawaka Center For Women on Lake George, NY from September 18-20, 2015. Sounds heavenly.
Among the mentors who will participate in the Lab’s inaugural year are writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood (Beyond the Lights), Caroline Kaplan (Boyhood), as well as writers Kirsten Smith (Legally Blonde) and Jessica Bendinger (Bring It On). What a super eclectic mix of talented ladies and projects: We’re so psyched about this!
Think you have what it takes? Of course you do! The Lab is seeking submissions from all racial, socioeconomic, and cultural groups, full submission information can be found on the NYWIFT web page. But even though it’s not called the Women Who Are Females Ladies Lab For Writers, this is a girls-over-40 club—and as Hollywood works to even out its gender balance, we think that in this case that’s a really good thing. Thanks Meryl!
Image c/o Variety