Hey Content Creators: ABFF and VH1 are Searching for YOU

Hey Content Creators: ABFF and VH1 are Searching for YOU


If you’ve been hearing all your life that you’re a great storyteller who should share your talent with the world, now is your chance. The American Black Film Festival has teamed up with VH1 to launch Unscripted Storytellers, a nationwide search to identify promising content creators of unscripted reality and documentary television with exceptional show ideas. What this means for you is that there are no more excuses. The opportunity is there, it’s time to work.

[Related: ABFF Searches for Your Talent with HBO, Comcast NBCUniversal, TV One and McDonald’s]

Here’s what’s going on:

The Unscripted Storytelling Workshop is focused on teaching you how to develop a compelling pitch along with the business of non-fiction content on television. After you’ve submitted your concept, up to five finalists will then participate in a workshop that will take place during the 20th annual American Black Film Festival June 18—19 in Miami.

“The Unscripted Storytelling Workshop, hosted by VH1, is the latest addition to the American Black Film Festival’s Talent Discovery Programs,” says Melanie Sharee, ABFF Programming Director. “Unscripted television has asserted itself across the globe as one of the most popular forms of TV, and VH1 is undeniably a leader within the space. We are committed to building inroads for today’s emerging content creators, paving the way for future innovation.”

Here’s what you need to know

  • Open to U.S. residents, of African descent, age 21 and older
  • Entrant must submit a treatment comprised of the following:
  1. Title: A dynamic title to represent your central idea.
  2. Logline: A one or two sentence statement of the idea being proposed (circa 25 words)
  3. Synopsis: A three-paragraph synopsis outlining the idea in more detail (circa 300-500 words).
  4. Episodes:  (Optional) A top line episode storyline summary (circa 500-1000 words).
  5. Characters:  (Optional) Short descriptive outlines for each of the main characters (circa 100 words each)

That’s all you need to know to set your looming content creating dreams in motion. Create an awesomely undeniable concept, generate a meaty, appealing storyline, develop layered incredible characters, and submit. It really is just that simple.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 20, 2016.  Visit http://www.abff.com/non-fiction-storytelling-workshop/ for full submission guidelines and entry form.

For more information about the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts, American Black Film Festival, taking place in Miami, Florida, June 15—19, log on to www.ABFF.com.


×