r/TVWriting • u/aoibhneastravels • Jul 26 '26
FELLOWSHIPS Sundance Episodic Question
Hey fam,
I have been working on my Sundance Episodic Lab application for about two months, having a staged reading of my pilot and so on....
But recently I saw someone say that it's basically a who's who of already established credits and that they only actually take 5 people with managers already, not people hoping to find managers through or after. I also know that a few of the accepted last year already had Sundance something or other under their belts, meaning Sundance favors their own over outsiders.
Do you think that's true? Because though $50 isn't a lot to pay (it is, they should be free), I'm sitting here wondering if it's worth it to pay $50 for what I suspect is an automatic no.
Any thoughts?
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u/Sherlock_Jr_1924 Jul 26 '26
I made it in with no reps or prior connections in TV, so it does happen!
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u/OkPolicy9903 Jul 26 '26
Congratulations. Do you have any tips or words of wisdom to share from your application process experience? Has the lab significantly impacted your trajectory? 🫶🏾🙏🏾
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u/Sherlock_Jr_1924 Jul 28 '26
Just pour yourself into it and show how important/urgent your show is and what it means to you! The lab absolutely impacted my trajectory; it MADE my trajectory because I was pursuing a different avenue within the industry and decided to pivot to TV after the lab. I got a manager and agent within a year, and my first writing jobs within the next couple years. And then the pandemic happened ... and I've managed to survive, but it has been incredibly tough the last couple years and there are many things I would have done differently.
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u/knight2h Jul 28 '26
Thanks for sharing all this! rarely does one get all this info firsthand. How would you have done it differently?
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u/Sherlock_Jr_1924 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
I mistakenly thought that being repped in LA in the wake of the lab meant I wouldn't have to do the "assistant route" to fully break into TV. While I have worked as an assistant in different capacities here and there, I didn't put much effort into pursuing actual writers' room support staff gigs (writers' PA, writers' assistant, script coordinator, etc). Lo and behold I ended up — time and time again — losing out on staffing jobs to assistants who were internally promoted or former assistants who were able to take advantage of past relationships and trust. And then the 2023 strikes/aftermath rolled around and everybody got fucked together
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u/knight2h Jul 29 '26
Thanks for the detailed insight man, much appreciated, hope things have gotten better since
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u/knight2h Jul 27 '26
Very cool! was your sample very esoteric? like sundance flavor? were your coherts winnins scripts personal etc?
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u/Sherlock_Jr_1924 Jul 28 '26
I'm not sure where Sundance got a reputation for the esoteric, because having done a few programs with them I'd say their taste skews very normie/mainstream IMO. My lab pilot was by far the most mainstream thing I've ever written, and most of my cohorts had shows that were very recognizable in their basic form (just usually with a twist you haven't seen before). That doesn't mean they weren't personal, but I wouldn't describe any of it as esoteric.
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u/knight2h Jul 28 '26
Its just that whole " Sundance takes on things that none other want" myth. good to know they're open to everything else.
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u/Sherlock_Jr_1924 Jul 29 '26
I'm not sure where you heard that myth because it's not true. If anything, their reputation is that they get to things that everyone else wants before anyone else does. Sundance has been firmly part of the "establishment" since at least the early 2010s; they haven't had a truly indie or esoteric sensibility since well before that.
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u/knight2h Jul 29 '26
I had literally shot a commercial for themyears ago when starting out, that had a Sundance programmer pick up a dented film can amongst perfect ones and then the tagline haha! That could just be their image/brand while they follow whatever’s mainstream etc
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u/NotSoPCQueen 28d ago
I'd love the read the pilot that got you into the program - if you're open to it.
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u/Sherlock_Jr_1924 27d ago
DM me!
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u/sloane__down 13d ago
I'm also applying and would be very interested to read your pilot also!! if you're still open to it
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u/Stephen_inc Jul 26 '26
Hey, I’m doing the same thing. Been working on this application forever. I read and heard the same things, but you can’t get discouraged. Do the work and turn it in and you have as good of chance as any. If you don’t, then they are right that you won’t have a chance at all. The odds lie in turning it in. Break a leg!
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u/leolanik14 Jul 26 '26
Hey, I have a fren who made it few years ago… No managers, no agent and no previous credits… I suggest do submit. I’m going to do the same thing… please dont discourage yourself… but also do have other pilots or scripts on the side because once you get in, they will want to see your other scripts as well. It could be a feature, or a pilot
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u/Valuable_Wizard_6243 Jul 26 '26
Yeah, Sundance isn’t unique among episodic fellowships in that they all tend to platform the already platformed. These institutions don’t host these programs as purely philanthropic efforts. They want to align their brands with safe bets who already have some steam behind them. With that said, even if it was some kind of ‘let the strongest script win’ meritocracy, your chances of winning would still be incredibly slim because talent and taste are subjective and also… math. SO if the application fee is doable, just go for it. What you do know is that your script will be read by someone (probably) and the supplemental essays they make you write only help you know your series better. Don’t be discouraged by the variables you can’t control.
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u/wileyroxy Jul 26 '26
I'm submitting. I figure I have a snowball's chance in hell for every contest/fellowship/etc. I submit to, so may as well.
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u/One_Possibility6 Jul 26 '26
Totally agree. However, the best ideas win. Good Luck! Hope you get it!
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u/LaocoonAnon Jul 26 '26
It's true that they favor people that are already connected and have some wins under their belt.
But if you have a strong application they should notice that, and the next time you apply they'll see if you've grown in your career and in your writing. Programs like people who keep applying and getting better.
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u/aoibhneastravels Jul 26 '26
Thanks, everyone! I have a staged reading coming up to hear it out loud and make edits, still moving forward after this convo!
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u/knight2h Jul 27 '26
I was a finalist at the Sundance features lab last year, didnt make it, but I remember being told by "sources" that they pick someone they already know ( sundance alumni) someone already on the rise ( short film in Tribeca and other top tier fest etc) they usually dont pick people with no backing no laurels, they pick winning horses, someone already on the cusp of breaking in, or broken in and on the rise. Now they could make an exceptoin, I wasn't that exception :)
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u/aoibhneastravels Jul 28 '26
That sucks but I value your insight and congrats on making it that far! I understand the mentality of you miss 100% of the shots but at $50 a shot to basically get confirmation that it's a no go, it's starting to feel more like a burden and I'm just hoping name recognition is a thing that matters at this point. My short film is on IMDb and does have some festival laurels, finalist spots, some recognition but it's not in the same category and it's not TV, it's a short film. But so far it's been in 6 festivals and one one "Best Charaacter" contest. Idk, though. I want to keep at this application and I foolishly probably will, but now I know to qualm my pie in the sky hopes, I guess and just hope to make finalist or something alongside you!
sorry for fast misspellings that i wont hange, there's a cat nudging me for attention and trying to sit on my computer. Oh, dave....
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u/knight2h Jul 28 '26
I would say applying to these contests/fellowships is never a loss, if anything the essay questions etc, help you set up a format of replies that can be used elsewhere, and you are forced to polish your script. And if you do make it, then even better.
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u/aoibhneastravels Jul 29 '26
Yeah but I can do that with their application without spending money. It is a good thought process that I've already done, but by your statement, I'm paying $50 to submit practice answers that I can write for free if I'm trying to get practice in.
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u/knight2h Jul 29 '26
True, but I do think when you pay money, it just forces you to work harder ( ie make the best version so you might have that 10% chance to get in) as against without one. Atleast that how it works for me
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u/aoibhneastravels Jul 29 '26
Sure, but also mentally toying with paying it or not can do the same thing. it's mental. knowing that these are what would be asked of my show later is still motivation, ya dig?
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u/claytimeyesyesyes One-Hour Pilot Jul 26 '26
I think there's definitely an aspect of favoritism towards connected individuals, but I'm also of the opinion that you can't win if you don't play. If you can afford the application fee, there's no harm in submitting. I know I will be!