The Writer’s Room Cycle 2

After a successful first cycle, we are once again bringing together South Asian talent with a passion for storytelling to elevate each others’ stories in this 10 week virtual workshop. Writers will leverage their unique perspectives to curate provocative ideas and develop them into ready-to-shoot scripts.

What stories matter to you?

Application

ELIGIBILITY & EXPECTATIONS

All applicants with an interest in screenwriting and commitment to growth are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be available for a 1.5 hour weekly virtual meeting over the 10 week period. Additionally, applicants should expect to read about 1-2 hours of their peers’ work each week.

We do not require any formal writing experience, but we do expect a deep passion for storytelling, personal accountability, and strong work ethic from each of our applicants.

TIMELINE

Applications open: January 3rd, 2022

Applications close: January 24th, 2022

Selections announced: February 1st, 2022

Program start date: Week of February 9th, 2022

10 week workshop; 1 meeting per week, 1.5 hours in length. 

FORMAT

All projects developed in The Writer’s Room must be either short film or TV pilot format. We recommend that those seeking to write a feature approach the room as a way to develop a proof-of-concept short for their project.

APPLICATION FORM

Applications for Cycle 2 are now closed. Sign up for our Newsletter and follow us on Instagram to stay in the loop about future programs from Rickshaw.

TWR Team

 

Priya Kiran

Program Director

Priya Kiran (she/her) is an independent writer, director, and producer whose work reflects her Midwestern upbringing and Desi heritage. Having grown up in small town Iowa, Priya experienced what it was like to grow up without feeling represented on the silver screen and understood how that influenced the world around her. She found and focused on her craft at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and has since been creating art dedicated to uplifting underrepresented communities. Inspired by Indian cinema her artwork strives to present her Indian identity, emphasizing authenticity and empathy through her peculiarly natural, yet whimsical lens.

Jaie Peshawaria

Room Lead

Jaie is a writer-producer & writer-director currently based in Los Angeles. He grew up in the suburbs of Chino Hills and attended UCLA. Jaie has interned in development & production at the Producers Guild of America, STARZ, Focus Features, and NBCUniversal’s USA & SYFY. Today he works as Vice President at Walkgood Productions, a hybrid Film & TV production company. He’s gone through both Sundance Co//ab’s Directing program and TV Writing program. Jaie is committed to telling inspiring, informing, and entertaining South Asian stories, stories of the diaspora, and stories with South Asian leads.

Akshay Ravi

Room Lead

Akshay Ravi is a writer, director, and producer currently based in LA and San Francisco. He graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2020 with a double major in Film and Television Production and Media Arts and Practice. As a storyteller, Akshay loves telling stories that explore complex social issues through the lens of underrepresented voices, with a particular eye to telling the best story possible. He has worked on films that have been accepted to film festivals such as Palm Springs International Film Festival, LA Shorts, and more.
Akshay currently works full time as a Production Assistant at ILM, but spends nearly all of my free time trying to learn new languages (currently: Japanese), cooking, exploring nature, volunteering, and trying to master firebending (joking - obviously).

 

 FAQs

  • You do not have to be South Asian or of South Asian descent to apply, but your application must show a willingness to uplift South Asian stories. If you’re for the mission of uplifting South Asian art, then you belong in the room.

  • While you may apply with an idea for a feature film, writing developed in the room must be either a short film or television pilot format. We recommend writers with an interest in developing a feature to approach the room as a way to work on a proof-of-concept short film for their project.

  • You do not need any formal writing experience to apply to The Writer’s Room. We do expect writers to have access to screenwriting software and a basic understanding of screenplay format prior to the start of the rooms.

  • You do not need to live in the US to apply, but if selected, you must be available for the weekly meetings. Please keep this in mind when providing weekly availability in your application.

  • Yes, you may still apply again for Cycle 2, but please understand that your application will be objectively reviewed as with all other applicants. No preference or special treatment will be given to past writers.