Veterans Fellowship

 

The inaugural Veterans Fellowship cohort gathers in the Shavelson-Webb Library. From left to right: Kadyn Michaels, Eli Edelson (instructor), Nicole Schwegman, Tracy Thompson, Brian McDevitt Jr., Cathy Torres, and Rylan Tuohy.

 

Since 2010, the Writers Guild Foundation has supported emerging writers from military backgrounds through the Veterans Writing Project. Today, the program is one of the strongest of its kind.

However, drastic changes in the industry over the last decade have made breaking in as a professional screenwriter more challenging than ever. To better serve our growing pool of talented alumni working to break into the industry, WGF launched the Veterans Fellowship.

The fellowship’s mission is to provide educational resources, professional guidance, and career-building opportunities for Veterans Writing Project alumni who are on the threshold of breaking in as professional TV writers.

Fellows participate in an 8-week course where they gain hands-on experience in simulated writers’ rooms and a nuanced understanding of support roles and writers’ room etiquette. Throughout the program, each fellow is assigned a one-on-one showrunner mentor who helps them polish their script, develop a refined self-pitch, and prepare for real-world networking opportunities with industry professionals.

Meet the Alumni

Six talented fellows were selected for the 2024 cohort: Brian McDevitt, Jr., Cathy Torres, Kadyn Michaels, Nicole Schwegman, Rylan Tuohy, and Tracy Thompson. Visit our alumni page to learn more!

Talent Requests

Are you an industry professional seeking new writer connections? If so, we welcome you to visit our Alumni Talent Portal!

The Talent Portal features graduates’ bios and links to their resumes and samples. You will also gain access to the 2024 Veterans Fellowship Lookbook, an invaluable resource for anyone seeking qualified candidates for support staff or staff writer positions.

To request access, please visit this page and complete the talent request form.

About the Program

The 8-week Veterans Fellowship centers around professional development and curated mentorship, featuring a variety of guest speakers from every corner of the industry. Each fellow is paired with a showrunner who shares their format and genre interests. Mentors provide their mentees with valuable feedback on their scripts and unique insight into the business of writing for the screen.  

By the end of the course, alumni will have multiple polished samples, a refined self-pitch, hands-on experience in simulated writers’ rooms, a nuanced understanding of support roles and writers’ room etiquette, and more. Most importantly, they will have the opportunity to participate in several meaningful networking opportunities with industry professionals who have the potential to hire them.

 

  • Meetings are hosted in-person at WGAW HQ in Los Angeles.

  • The 2025 Fellowship begins in late March 2025 and concludes around mid-May.

    Meetings take place Monday evenings.

  • WGF’s Veterans Fellowship is reserved exclusively for graduates of The Veterans Writing Project. See “Eligibility” for additional requirements.

  • No more than 5 or 6 mentees are selected for each cohort.

    Each participant is assigned a showrunner-mentor who shares their format and genre preferences. Mentors and mentees will meet each week on a mutually determined schedule.

  • Workshops are led by the core instructor, Eli Edelson. Mentors and guest speakers will also contribute to each discussion.

 
 

MEET THE INSTRUCTOR

Eli Edelson is a writer and producer who recently wrapped work on three seasons of the Freeform drama Motherland: Fort Salem. He has worked as a writers' assistant for drama shows on FOX (Bones), Netflix (Unbelievable), and HBO Max (Raised by Wolves) before being promoted to writer. Eli is a longtime mentor with the Veterans Writing Project as well as the Writers’ Access Support Staff Training Program. He is represented by All Trades Content, A3, and FKKS.

Eli Edelson, Core Instructor

 

Fellowship Vs. Writing Project

The Veterans Writing Project and Veterans Fellowship each serve a unique purpose and audience.

Veterans Fellowship

  • 8 weeks, 5-6 participants

  • Open to Veterans Writing Project alumni who are on the threshold of breaking into the industry

  • Focused on the business of screenwriting and career building opportunities

Veterans Writing Project

  • 8-9 months, 40-50 participants

  • Open to U.S. military veterans who are seeking a career as a professional screenwriter

  • Focused on craft and the process of writing a script

For more information on the Veterans Writing Project, click here.

Eligibility

WGF’s Veterans Fellowship is reserved exclusively for graduates of The Veterans Writing Project.

To apply for this program, applicants must:

  • Have previously completed both The Veterans Writing Project extended yearlong program AND the kickoff retreat weekend.

  • Reside in or near the Greater Los Angeles area and be able to attend all in-person meetings. *

  • Provide examples of meaningful past and ongoing efforts to break into the industry.

  • Demonstrate interest in pursuing a career in television and be able to provide samples of at least two completed scripts.

Applicants who have NOT previously participated in The Veterans Writing Project or those who only attended the Weekend Retreat or short-term summer program will be disqualified.

If you participated in The Veterans Writing Project prior to the addition of yearlong workshops, you will be eligible to re-apply for that program. Click here for details about the VWP.

* Regarding applicants who reside outside of the Greater Los Angeles area, WGF will consider offering admission to non-local candidates who 1) can commit to attending weekly meetings in-person and 2) plan to move to the Los Angeles area.

How to Apply

 

The application window for the 2025 Veterans Fellowship will open on December 5, 2024.

Interested applicants will receive updates about the next admissions cycle via the Veterans Writing Project Alumni Newsletter. If you are a graduate of the VWP and would like to subscribe to this newsletter, please email your name and graduation year to vets@wgfoundation.org.

Applicants must be prepared to submit the following:

  • Detailed summary of their writing background and creative preferences

  • Professional resume

  • 2-3 essay question responses (topics will not be disclosed in advance)

  • 500-word personal statement

  • Minimum of two (2) completed scripts, including at least one television script that matches your preferred genre

  • Names and contact information for up to three (3) industry references, including at least one current or former Veterans Writing Project mentor

    • A select number of finalists will be required to submit ONE letter of recommendation from one of the industry references listed in your application. Recommendation letters can be submitted by any of the references listed, not just VWP mentors.

    • NOTE: Recommendations will be submitted by the recommender directly. WGF will contact the top listed reference to request they complete a Google Form in place of a PDF submission.

Additional requirements may be added.

Timeline

The 2025 timeline is as follows:

  • December 5, 2024: Applications open

  • January 15, 2025: Applications close

  • March 31, 2025: 8-week course begins

  • May 19, 2025: 8-week course ends

Dates are subject to change

If you are selected, you must be available to submit requested prep materials and occasional interviews or meetings. Fellows will be expected to participate in events, mixers, and workshops throughout 2025 following completion of the 8-week course.

Selection Process

Selections will be made with the support of a small admissions committee made up of current and former Veterans Writing Project mentors or program supporters. WGF will solicit recommendations from mentors prior to the commencement of the review process.

One-on-one mentorship serves as a core component of the fellowship, so selection will be based largely on the pool of available showrunner-mentors.

Volunteering

If you are a WGA member or industry professional who is interested in supporting this program, please contact Kira at kvandenbrande@wgfoundation.org.