Eligibility criteria for all Screen Queensland initiatives are detailed in the Terms of Trade. Please read this document before preparing your application. 

This initiative will best suit Queensland writers (including writing teams), who are keen to take an active role, beyond writing, in the development, packaging and selling of their work to market, and who will engage with established producers to craft their work with a commercial audience in mind. Established and emerging showrunners and producers who also write are welcome to apply.   

This initiative is open to early, mid-career and experienced practitioners, and all applicants with a unique and commercial take on the above Wattpad WEBTOON Studios properties are encouraged to apply. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen practitioners are encouraged to apply. Additionally, we are committed to ensuring diverse representation across all aspects of the production and development process, including female; age; Aboriginal identity; Torres Strait Islander identity; cultural and linguistic diversity; disability; LGBTQIA+, location (including regional and remote areas); and socio-economic status. 

Submit your concept via SmartyGrants by 5:00pm AEST, Friday 22 March

The three titles are available to access via the button above. You must read and agree to the terms of the release form, following which you will be sent a download link for the PDF files (Apartment 239 and All Good Things)/link to School Bus Graveyard on the WEBTOON platform.  

Please note the release form is not the application form. Only completed applications will be considered. 

Your application will need to include a pitch of up to 10 pages that gives assessors a clear idea of your “take” on the Wattpad WEBTOON Studios title you have selected, as well as the existing screenwriting sample (minimum 30 pages) that best demonstrates your screenwriting ability.  

Items you need to include in your pitch are: 

• logline 
• synopsis 
• the take – how you propose to adapt the original title for screen (include a strong hook). 
• the story – broken down into episode summaries for series or, for features, an outline with a clear structure e.g. 3 act structure. This should be the longest part of your pitch and we suggest a minimum of 3 pages. 
• the characters – a brief summary of the main characters in your story world. 
• tone and style – briefly discuss the tone and style of your adaptation, including what your story-world is like, and if there are any particular rules of how you tell story in this world, etc. Please include some visual references These can be original or borrowed from existing materials and referenced. Please also reference how your idea is the same or different as existing titles in that genre. 
• the themes – why is this story important for you to tell now? 
• the audience and potential market – be specific in age, gender, what they watch, how they watch, and tell us who your target broadcast or distribution partners would be; think about both the appeal to the title’s existing Wattpad WEBTOON Studios audience, and how it will appeal to a broader viewing audience. 
• the team – your bio(s). 

Applicants that make the shortlist may be asked to attend an interview to discuss their pitch for Screen Queensland of their ‘take’ on their Wattpad WEBTOON Studios adaptation. 

We are looking for pitches with a strong commercial hook that will appeal to audiences around the world. The ideal pitch will appeal both to the built-in audience in that genre and to a broader crossover audience. We are looking for individuals or writing teams with the capability both to write to a professional standard and to write for a broad commercial marketplace. This opportunity is open to emerging, mid-career and established Queensland talent. Your application will be assessed on the following: 

• STORY: the originality of idea or ‘take’; the strength of the hook, plot, characters, dialogue 
• AUDIENCE: market potential; the pitch’s likelihood of engaging both the loyal Wattpad WEBTOON Studios audience and a broader commercial audience. 
• TALENT: track record and potential of the applicant/team; impact on Queensland talent 

Here’s an outline of the stages of development supported by Screen Queensland through this initiative, and beyond.

1. Applications – read the material and complete you application via SmartyGrants.
   Closing: Friday 22 March
2. Assessment – Screen Queensland and Wattpad WEBTOON Studios will select three (3) takes, one per story, for further development. Announcement of selected applicants: Friday 10 May 
3. Treatment stage – Successful applicants will be funded up to $15,000 to develop their pitch to polished treatment stage.  This funding may also cover costs such as Script Editor’s notes. Approximate due date of treatment: Friday 12 July 
4. Callout to producers – At treatment stage, Screen Queensland will do a callout to producers seeking to explore whether they might be interested in optioning the material. Screen Queensland will assist the selected writers in commencing conversations with producers. Indicative announcement: Friday 2 August
5. Selection of top two projects – Screen Queensland and Wattpad WEBTOON Studios will select two of the three projects developed to treatment stage for further investment to script stage. Please note, selection of top two projects will be based on creative merit, though positive interest from producing community is desirable. Likely announcement: Friday 30 August
6. Scripting stage – Top two applicants produce and deliver a draft screenplay. This may be either a full feature-length screenplay for features, or a pilot episode for series, to a minimum of polished second draft. Selected projects will be funded up to $35,000 to deliver their screenplays. This funding may also be required to cover costs such as a writers’ room and Script Editor expenses. Approximate due date of draft screenplay: Friday 1 November

If you’re an established producer with a strong track record, and if you’d like to follow the progress of this initiative, please click here to register your interest. Screen Queensland will facilitate introductions between producers and selected writers as treatments and scripts become available later in the year.