Writer Development Loan

A writer may apply to the Early Development Fund for a Writer Development Loan of up to $7,500 without a producer attached.

The rationale behind this  loan is to provide some remuneration for early stage work on projects, work that screenwriters have historically done for free. The loan is seed money that will help writers to develop their careers; it does not represent the market rate we would expect producers to pay a contracted writer.

The project must not have been submitted previously to NZFC (including to the First Writers’ Initiative). Any writer may apply, apart from current holders of a Writer Award.

Successful applicants for the Writers Development Loan will need to attach a producer to their project before applying to NZFC for any further development funding.
 
Applications can be submitted at any time and will be considered at NZFC’s regular Early Development Fund meetings.
Writers may submit only one application at a time. Successful applicants must submit a report of the work they have done within six months of receiving funding, or at the time of applying with a new project, whichever is the earlier. This report may be a completed draft or an extended outline. We recognise that in some cases the outcome may be a decision to put the project on hold. In this case the report should detail the process that has led to this decision. It should also outline the strategy the writer has employed, or is intending to employ to move the project to the next stage.

Writers should be aware that an initial investment in a project marks a recognition of potential and does not imply continued support. The script will need to make significant advances at each stage if the project is to continue funded progress towards Advanced Development.

Please refer to our FAQ for more information.

Application Checklist
Please send the script (or treatment) in PDF format, and your application in Word or PDF format to development@nzfilm.co.nz in two separate and complete documents. Please include the following in your application and read the notes below. 
  • Writer Development Loan cover sheet (click to download)*
  • one-page synopsis
  • 5-page treatment
  • one-page CV
  • any complete feature film script written by you (this may be a previous draft of the project you are applying for)*.
  • font Times New Roman/Arial, font size 12
Logline (as required on cover sheets)
This is the story of the film distilled into one sentence (typically who the main character is, what they want, need or must do, and what will happen if they don’t get it or succeed in doing it). Please note that a logline is not a tagline, e.g. ‘In space no one can hear you scream’ is a tagline.
 
One-page synopsis*
We suggest you write three paragraphs; please tell the whole story including spoilers. Note this is not a pitch document but a simple, clear record of what happens in the story.
 
Script*
Please use standard industry screenplay formatting and make sure your script has a dated title page and numbered pages. See our FAQ for more information on scripts and formatting.
 
Writer notes
Development notes from the writer clearly identifying current script issues and outlining a proposed path forward to address them are an essential part of any application.
 
Early Development Fund Criteria
  • The availability of NZFC funds
  • The quality of the basic idea as cinema
  • The quality of the writing in the treatment/draft
  • The likelihood of the film reaching a substantial NZ theatrical audience
  • The depth and quality of notes relating to future development of the screenplay
  • The talent and experience of the team involved
  • The viability of the film on the basis of its proposed budget range
  • The intrinsic New Zealand qualities of the project
  • The possibility of key talent development through the development of the project
  • The project’s distinctiveness and quality in comparison to other projects funded by the NZFC in development and production
  • The degree of progress made since the previous application (if applicable)