Showrunner Bootcamp
A crash course for first-time and aspiring showrunners
The Showrunner Bootcamp is a workshop-style intensive for mid-level to senior writers and aspiring showrunners.
The program is designed for established writers who are looking to advance their skills from writing to showrunning and learning how to manage a writer’s room.
The Bootcamp covers all aspects of working as a showrunner, including staffing, team management, and schedule management.
What People Are Saying
“As I enter my first major showrunning gig, the lessons and experience I gained from Anthony and the BIPOC TV & Film Showrunner Bootcamp are proving to be invaluable. This program covers all the bases and truly sets us up for success. It's a real blessing!”
— Fall 2021 participant
“On my way to creating my own show, I found the BIPOC TV & FILM Showrunner Bootcamp and it prepared me for everything I always wanted to know but didn't know whom to ask, about showrunning, getting a series off the ground and keeping that series in the air. Thank you to Anthony, Jinder, and BIPOC TV & FILM for this amazing workshop.”
— Fall 2021 participant
“It's such a rare opportunity to learn from seasoned, BIPOC showrunners working in Canada. Anthony helped us feel seen and inspired us to make ripples in the industry. It changed the way I look at being a showrunner and gives me hope for what Canadian TV will look like in the future.”
— Fall 2021 participant
Call for applications is now closed.
This program is not being offered currently.
Eligibility Criteria
The BIPOC TV & FILM Showrunners’ Bootcamp is open to Canadian residents who are Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized (Persons of Colour). To be eligible you must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
You have/had a show (for web or television) in development with a Canadian or US broadcaster or production company;
You have attained a producer-level credit on at least one season of a Canadian series; OR,
You have a story editor (head writer) credit on an animated series.
Program Highlights
Managing and staffing your creative team
How to cultivate a safe working environment
How to communicate and delegate effectively
How to manage relationships and set realistic expectations with producers
How to manage a co-showrunning relationship
Managing schedules
Breaking down line producing and budgets
Pitfalls for showrunners to avoid
Determining budget realities and priorities
Staying within your budget and production schedule
Production and Post-production
Post production workflow from day one to delivery
Tracking dailies
Working with editors (giving and taking notes)
What to look for at the mix and in colour correction
Managing Relationships
Building and managing relationships with your writers, actors, crew, non-writing producers, broadcasters
This program was co-designed by
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Anthony Q. Farrell
WRITER, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR
Anthony Q. Farrell is the Showrunner and Executive Producer of the sci-fi primetime comedy Overlord & The Underwoods. He has served as the showrunner for The Parker Andersons, Amelia Parker, and the BAFTA-winning CBBC series Secret Life of Boys, which he also created. In the past, he has written for NBC’s The Office, Canada’s international hit Little Mosque On The Prairie, and Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans. He is in active development on several other shows that he hopes to share in the near future. He lives in Toronto with his amazing family.
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Jinder Oujla-Chalmers
WRITER, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR
For over 30 years, Jinder (Inner Vision Productions) has worked on diversity issues and was instrumental in the creation of the Writers’ Guild of Canada’s (WGC) Bell Media Screenwriters Diversity and the Bell Media Diverse Producers programs. Jinder was a founding board member of the Asian Heritage Film Society in Vancouver B.C. and is the former vice-president of the Female Eye Film Festival. She has also designed curricula and facilitated film and television writing programmes Kingston University (London, UK) and the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s school of journalism. The WGC Sondra Kelly Award-winner currently sits on the City of Toronto’s film, television and digital media board and on the WGC diversity committee.
Related Press
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The Hollywood Reporter
‘The Office’ Writer Anthony Q. Farrell Aims to Fix Canadian TV’s Diversity Problem With Showrunner Bootcamp
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Playback (August 2021)
BIPOC TV & Film launches showrunner training bootcamp
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Playback (December 2021)
Showrunner of the Year: Anthony Q. Farrell
