Aspiring Comics? The CTBF Launches the Betty Box and Peter Rogers Comedy Writing Programme with Submissions Now Open

SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN FOR INAUGURAL WRITING PROGRAMME

The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF), the UK charity for people working behind the scenes in cinema, film and television, has today announced the launch of the Betty Box and Peter Rogers Comedy Writing Programme in partnership with Big Talk Productions and LOCO London Comedy Film Festival.

The programme will select four emerging writers, each of whom will receive £10,000 and participate in a personalised six-month programme of industry support as they develop a comedy feature screenplay or six-part comedy series for television. The grant is given in honour of Betty Box and Peter Rogers, the legendary producers of the Doctor and Carry On series, and aims to discover original, exciting voices by offering a unique launching pad to those passionate writers who are in need of financial and industry support, and who may not otherwise have a chance to develop their craft and careers.

The selected participants will have their work developed by Big Talk Productions, one of the UK’s leading film and television production companies, and will receive comprehensive professional support from the CTBF and LOCO. The programme will culminate in a live, fully-cast table read to an industry audience at the 6th LOCO London Comedy Film Festival, May 2017, following which the four writers will be poised to embark on the next stage of their writing careers.

The Betty Box and Peter Rogers Comedy Writing Programme reflects the CTBF’s ongoing commitment to industry support, alongside the organisation’s flagship initiative, The John Brabourne awards, and the recently launched Richard Attenborough Scholarship.

Barry Jenkins, OBE, President of The CTBF commented “The Betty Box and Peter Rogers Comedy Writing Programme provides an exciting opportunity to discover those hidden gems of comedy writers who need support to realise their creative potential. Both Big Talk and LOCO are at the very forefront of the UK’s thriving comedy landscape, ideally placed to support the next wave of talent in the genre. We’re excited to see what this year’s entrants will produce, and we’re certain the programme will prove a fitting legacy for Peter and Betty – two titans of British comedy.”

Submissions are welcomed between July 4th and August 26th 2016, with the four chosen recipients set to be announced at a ceremony in October.

Denise Hicks, Co-founder and Director of The LOCO London Comedy Film Festival added “We are thrilled to be joining forces with the CTBF and Big Talk for the Betty Box and Peter Rogers Comedy Writing Programme, bringing together a great British comedy legacy with our brightest contemporary talents to search for and support four exciting, undiscovered comedy screenwriters. With this generous award we will be able to give our writers the funding and expertise that they need to create their very best work, and to keep British comedy fresh, surprising and, above all, funny."

For further information on the Betty Box and Peter Rogers Comedy Writing Programme, please visit LOCO and to apply visit the CTBF.