PILOT ACCELERATOR

Increasing the representation of women and non-binary writers in television

In this highly competitive virtual accelerator program for TV writers, 6-8 fellows will receive three weeks of industry training before having the opportunity to pitch to major studios, production companies, representatives, and producers. The entire accelerator, including training and pitching, will occur online.

The goal of this program is to launch the careers of our fellows, which could take the form of selling their TV pilot; securing follow-up meetings with executives; getting hired as a freelance writer, staff writer or writing support staff on an existing series; and/or making valuable industry contacts. This program aims to increase the representation of women and non-binary people on screen and in writers rooms.

Applications are closed. Join our mailing list to be notified of upcoming opportunities.

This program would not be possible without the support of

Western Digital, SanDisk, Final Draft and Coverfly.

WHO HEARS THE PITCHES

For every accelerator, we get over 20 studios and production companies on board to hear pitches. Fellows typically receive 6 to 10 requests for pitch meetings. These pitch meetings are all one-on-one, and 85% of the meetings end with a request to read the full script. Here is a list of the companies we have worked with in the past:

"It was a real pleasure not only to meet these talented women, but also to hear their exceptionally polished pitches. The level of detail, passion and intention these fellows were able to deliver in a 10 minute pitch is usually reserved for meetings double or triple the length. A testament to the mentorship and feedback they've received through Moonshot and a delight to experience the spoils of"

- Jasmine Russ, VP of development & production at Fabel Entertainment

WHO READS THE SCRIPTS?

Semi-finalists' pilots will be read by an incredible group of judges, including showrunners, executive producers, series creators and TV writers. This panel of judges will help us select the finalists, who will then go through a virtual interview before the 6-8 fellows are selected. Even if you are not selected as a fellow, there is still a chance you might be contacted if one of these judges likes your script enough to interview or refer you for a writing position.

Before getting to the semi-finalist stage, all scripts are read at least twice by our internal team, volunteer readers, and former fellows.

Click to read the bios of our current and past judges:

Where do I register and pay for the course?

After you click "Join," you will be prompted to create an account. The payment page will pop up as soon as you log in. You will also need to be signed in to request to join the waitlist for any of the courses that are not currently available.
Who will be teaching the How to Pitch Your Pilot course?

You’ll learn directly from Moonshot Initiative co-founders Katrina Medoff and Tracy Sayre, who have prepared Moonshot Pilot Accelerator (formerly WWFC’s Pilot Accelerator) fellows to pitch to major studios and production companies. They have sat in on more than 100 pitch meetings they set up for their fellows with companies including HBO, Netflix, Warner Bros., Hulu, Showtime, Comedy Central, and more. Execs have shared that the Moonshot fellows' pitches were exceptionally polished and that they were more prepared than many of the pitches they normally see. Now, they’re bringing their expertise gained from the Moonshot Pilot Accelerator to Moonshot’s “How to Pitch Your Pilot” course.
What are the dates and times of the live virtual meetups?

For our How to Pitch Your Project course in November 2023, these are the dates and times: Monday, Nov. 6, 5-6:30 p.m. Pacific / 8-9:30 p.m. Eastern Thursday, Nov. 16, 5-6:30 p.m. Pacific / 8-9:30 p.m. Eastern Monday, Nov. 20, 5-6:30 p.m. Pacific / 8-9:30 p.m. Eastern
How do I sign up to receive instructor feedback on my pitch?

To receive live instructor feedback on your pitch, sign up via our Calendly link (available in your course registration email or on moonshotinitiative.com/courses once you have registered and logged in). You must select a feedback date by Nov. 2 to guarantee your spot.
Do I have to have a project to pitch to participate in the course? Is it required to sign up for an instructor feedback session?

You are welcome to soak up everything there is to learn from the course and live sessions without pitching your work! Often, we learn the most from observing others, because it's easier to be objective about what is needed to improve a pitch. Come watch and learn!
Will the live meetings be recorded?

We will be recording portions of the live virtual meetups and posting them on the group discussion board at a later date. However, some of the time in the live meetup will be spent in breakout rooms, which of course will not be recorded. The only way to experience this part of the course will be to join live.
What are the dates and times of the peer practice sessions?

There are two peer practice sessions during the How to Pitch Your Pilot course in November 2023. This is your opportunity to receive feedback on your pitch from a classmate and to hone your ability to give feedback by assessing your partner’s pitch. There are two days for peer pitch practice: Thursday, Nov. 9 (choose your meeting time with your partner) Monday, Nov. 13 (choose your meeting time with your partner) Sign up for one or both practice sessions via our peer pitch practice sign-up form (available in your course registration email or on moonshotinitiative.com/courses).
In the How to Pitch Your Project course, will I be preparing a pitch deck?

The How to Pitch Your Project course focuses on the skill of verbal pitching, so we will not be preparing any visual aids or pitch decks. Given the limited class time, we will be prioritizing mastering the art of speaking about your work, your ideas, and yourself as a creative.
What kinds of verbal pitches will I be preparing for the How to Pitch Your Project course?

Course participants will be preparing both a 30-second elevator pitch and a longer version of the pitch. Please note that while in typical pitch meetings, pitches might be 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or even longer, you will be working on the skill of verbal pitching in a more condensed fashion. Our belief is that it is always easier to expand upon a pitch than to make it more concise; it’s important to be able to convey ideas succinctly when needed. Our course will help you hone your verbal pitching skills so that you are able to build a more in-depth pitch when need be.

What happens during the accelerator

The accelerator sessions take place on June 18, 20, 25, 26, 27 and July 9, 10, 11 and each session is three hours long. Pitch week is from July 15 to July 19. Click here to learn about the guest lecturers. Here are more details about the sessions:

Functionality You Will Love

Perfect the pitch

You'll meet with a development executive (Jasmine Russ, VP of Development at Fabel Entertainment) and a showrunner (Elle Johnson of Netflix's "Self-Made") to get feedback from the perspective of the people who buy and sell stories.

Have fun with it

We'll have a mock writers' room with a showrunner to prepare you for life as a TV writer. We'll also have a session with a speech coach, Samara Bay, to make sure you can express yourself fully.

Career Advice

You'll meet with an entertainment lawyer (Rebecca Neipris of First Gen Law), an agent (Rukayat Giwa at CAA), and manager to discuss how to best protect yourself as a writer and have a long, lucrative career.

Pitch Week

The 20 companies that have agreed to hear pitches will review the loglines we send them. Each company will select at least 3 people to hear pitches. This way, you're only pitching to companies who are interested in your work. Each fellow pitches to 6-10 companies on average.