New Voices • New Mexico

Screenwriting program for emerging New Mexican screenwriters and filmmakers

Stowe Story Labs is proud to partner with Film New Mexico to present a three-part writing program for 10 talented New Mexicans interested in developing a feature film or TV script.

If selected to participate, other than the application fee and travel, there are no program fees and both meals and lodging costs will be covered. Chosen participants will be responsible for their transportation to both the Narrative Lab and the Writers' Retreat. As discussed below, the selection of participants is through a competitive application process.

Applications are now closed for the 2022 season.

Goals of the Program:

This three-part program will help emerging screenwriters and filmmakers learn skills and approaches to building a new feature film or TV script, starting with the foundation of story.

The intent is to help participants turn their ideas or earliest drafts into fully developed scripts, to support participants in building ancillary documents, such as project one-sheets, look books, and to review approaches to getting the work out into the world. By the end of the program, participants should have a good first draft of a script, a confident ability to talk about the project, and will be prepared to push the work forward.

Part I: Three-day Narrative Story Lab

  • Runs May 13-15, 2022 at the Taos Hotel & Spa, El Monte Sagrado

  • Skill development and focus on story structure, character, and theme; conversation about story; packaging; elements of creative production; casting; adaptation; and finance and distribution

  • Direct access to working industry professionals, who are top in their fields, as program mentors

  • Opportunities to build knowledge, skills, and insights to navigate the film industry

  • A network of talented peers, vital in this collaborative art and business

  • Peer-to-peer script note sessions

  • Workshop, roundtable, and social time

  • Intent is participants develop skills, tools, and approaches to advance their story ideas; an ability to pitch the project in many different scenarios; and a good sense of how to advance the work

  • Program facilitated by Stowe Founder and Director David Rocchio

Part II: Four-month online writing program

  • Twelve, three-hour online group sessions

  • Participants will write on their own time to meet the program's creative deadlines

  • Blocks of structured writing time

  • Three separate one-on-one meetings at key points in the process

  • Building stories from a character-centered approach focusing on internal conflict as the touchstone for development

  • By the end of the program, writers will have written a first draft, a logline, and a synopsis of a new narrative feature or television script

  • Program led by Stowe Co-Founder David Pope

Part III: Four-day Writers’ Retreat

  • Runs November 4-7, 2022 in Taos, also at the El Monte Sagrado

  • Two, one-on-one, one-hour meetings with two different industry mentors to discuss your script, approach to project, or career pathway

  • Daily structured one hour small group, peer-to-peer meetings

  • Group workshop sessions on subjects vital to developing the craft and navigating the business of screenwriting

  • Shared meal times, evening drinks, and activities giving an opportunity for broader conversations between peers and mentors

  • Time to reflect and write

  • Intent is participants leave the Retreat with actionable, concrete, steps to consider in making revisions to their script, and an action plan to advance the project

  • Program led by Stowe Founder and Director David Rocchio

applications are closed for the 2022 run of this program

Participants will be selected through a competitive application process.

Applications will be evaluated based on establishing a demonstrable ability to write a feature or television script, learn to incorporate new skills and approaches into the work, a collaborative nature, and—most importantly—the ability to develop their story idea.

The program will be limited to ten emerging talents.

If you have questions about this program email us at: info@stowestorylabs.org

About Film New mexico:

Film New Mexico is a division of the New Mexico Economic Development Department and serves the film and television industry locally, nationally, and internationally. Their purpose is to market the state to the film industry, service the productions, and create jobs for New Mexicans. They assist productions with finding potential filming locations; do consults regarding the financial aspects of a project; connect productions with the crew, vendor services, and film liaisons throughout the state. In addition to promoting and providing production services, the film office is initiating emerging media opportunities for the state and working to expand industry infrastructure. To learn more, click here.

About Stowe Story Labs:

Stowe Story Labs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping top emerging screenwriters, filmmakers, and creative producers get work made and seen. They do this work through a series of labs, retreats, workshops, and ongoing mentoring programs aimed to help emerging talents learn skills and craft. Program participants work with industry mentors who give tailored, meaningful feedback on their projects. Many times, these relationships continue outside of the workshops—organically or we facilitate through our alumni programs. To see our full list of mentors, click here.