Screenwriters Residency Program in Treasure Beach, Jamaica

by ScreenCraft on March 20, 2017

“IN THIS PARISH WE WORK, NOT SHIRK." The old painted sign proclaims the local work ethic and welcomes people to St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica - about a 2-hour drive from Kingston. The slogan promises the best of St. Bess, a rural seaside population set apart from the rest of Jamaica. The able farmers and fishermen have fostered the reputation of this beautiful, unspoiled region of the island.

And in September, 2017 some of Hollywood's top professionals are heading to a boutique seaside hotel - and we're accepting applications for aspiring screenwriters to join us! Why a screenwriters residency program in Jamaica? Well - to start with, because we're thrilled to partner with the prestigious Calabash International Literary Festival! And after the success of our screenwriting conference in Nashville last year, we wanted to build on that momentum. After the Nashville conference, three of our attendees signed with Hollywood literary managers as a direct-result of mentorship they received at our conference.Because of the profound value of face-to-face meetings, we are convinced that the best thing emerging writers can do is immerse themselves in mentorship with experienced industry professionals.

What better way to help foster creative and professional relationships, then in a quiet, boutique hotel estate overlooking the Caribbean Sea?

This exclusive 5-day program will provide fourteen (14) emerging screenwriters (film and/or TV) the opportunity to development their screenplays in paradise with some of Hollywood's top professionals.

The mentors include:

Geoffrey Fletcher, Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Precious and Violet & Daisy
Peter Craig, screenwriter (WGA Award-nominated Screenwriter of THE TOWN, HUNGER GAMES MOCKINGJAY 1 & 2)
Eric Fineman, Vice President of Production at SONY PICTURES STUDIOS (exec on such films as SPIDER-MAN and GOOSEBUMPS)
Zack Estrin, writer (showrunner of FOX’s TV series PRISON BREAK and screenwriter / showrunner for Netflix's upcoming big-budget adventure series LOST IN SPACE)
Hannah Ozer, Literary Manager at KAPLAN/PERRONE (literary management company representing the film and TV writers of DIE HARD, 500 DAYS OF SUMMER, MYSTERIES OF LAURA and more).

About the venue:

The late Perry Henzell co-wrote and directed Jamaica’s first major motion picture, The Harder They Come. According to Rolling Stone, it has the best movie soundtrack of all time. Perry's wife Sally is a set-designer, poet and artist to the core, and she is the creative mind behind Jakes Hotel in Treasure Beach, Jamaica. The pristine south coast of Jamaica is untouched by mass-tourism which has developed other parts of the island. The colorful, whimsical property includes a driftwood-enclosed yoga deck above the sea and a world-class spa with island aromas below, as well as a salt-water pool and easy access to swim in the sea.The local restaurants serve FARM FRESH food, growing everything from sweet melons to scotch bonnet. The fishermen here maintain their centuries-old traditions with nets, traps and dugout canoes.