Three alumni chosen for coveted script writing program

In association with the Banff World Media Festival, Corus Entertainment released this year’s recipients of the Corus Apprenticeship Program: Young Adult Scripted (external link, opens in new window) . Of the five recipients, three writers are graduates of Toronto Metropolitan University. 

For this year’s program, emerging writers from underrepresented communities were encouraged to apply for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to BANFF 2022 alongside a coveted two-week internship inside the writing room of Corus-supported Live-action television production. 

The Banff World Media Festival brings together industry professionals and change-makers from across the globe for a four-day-long event dedicated to world television and digital content. The festival features panels, masterclasses and keynote addresses and is a hub for creatives to exchange ideas, network with peers and bask in the region's beauty. 

With the help of the Corus Apprenticeship Program: Young Adult Scripted, three graduates of The Creative School, Maxine Grossman, Taylor Hopkins and Jadiel Dowlin Lewis, flew west to experience the world-class event first-hand. At one of these keynote addresses, Taylor Hopkins and Maxine Grossman, two RTA alumni chosen for the program, alongside TMU alum Jadiel Dowlin Lewis were featured in the Young Adult Diverse Screen Writing presentation by Corus Entertainment for an audience full of industry executives. 

Maxine Grossman graduated from RTA Media in 2018 and had the opportunity to participate in the RTA in LA program. She has also been selected for numerous awards and competitions, including the Women on Screen Web Series Incubator (2019), FEM Script Lab (2019) and the Magee TV Diverse screenwriters award (2018 and 2019).

Similarly, Taylor Hopkins graduated from RTA Media in 2019 and has since been selected as part of the inaugural class of The Creative School's Scriptwriting and Story Design MFA. Her multimedia storytelling abilities tend to focus on lost souls, found families and our collective search for meaning. 

Film alum Jadiel Dowlin Lewis was also selected as a recipient. Dowlin has led a successful career as an Emmy-nominated actor and creator of genre-driven film and TV, working alongside some of the industry's biggest producers, studios and networks. He was also named "One of Canada's Rising Stars" by The Hollywood Reporter, was awarded a full scholarship for his double major in Film Studies and Philosophy programs at Toronto Metropolitan University and has written for Cartoon Network and TVO Kids.

While these young professionals have vastly different experiences, they have one thing in common: a passion for writing that aided them in their successful application to the Corus Apprentice Program.

Sought out for industry-ready excellence

The application process was highly competitive, and the five recipients were selected from a cohort of 130 talented writers across Canada.

“Being chosen as one of five out of over 130 applicants by such well-regarded industry executives is a huge testament to my skills and strengths as a writer and creative producer,” stated Grossman.

For Lewis, the award represents a shift towards the diversity of the film industry, from ethnic representation to different storytelling genres. 

“This was not just a win for me, it was a win for the Canadian TV industry being that it was the year which had the most submissions, which speaks to the sheer amount of driven diverse creatives hungry to create young adult television,” he explained.

Each alum submitted their original script focused on young adult television, using skills acquired through both professional experience and degrees.

“While the script I submitted to the program was written outside the bounds of any particular class, I learned how to write an entertaining script from my courses at RTA—lessons which have been reinforced during my time in the Scriptwriting and Story Design MFA,” commented Hopkins. “I would also like to specifically shout out RTA professor James Nadler, who taught me dramatic writing and wrote a recommendation letter for my admittance into the Corus program, along with Dr. Laurie Petrou, who is not only a great teacher, but a terrific writer herself, and one who lifts up all of her students. I’ve had a quote of hers on my wall all semester: ‘The trick is to keep on.’”

The trick is to keep on

One of the reasons each recipient applied was to extend the boundary of what young adult television could accomplish and to ensure proper representation was fostered: on and off- screen.

“When you’re feeling isolated as a young adult, it can be difficult to cope,” stated Hopkins. “You have more responsibilities than kids do, but you still don’t have the power of an adult. As a human and audience member, you want to be treated with respect. Not all shows did that when I was growing up. Some talked down to young adults, or never had us in mind at all.”

This lack of representation is why applying for and getting accepted into the Corus Apprenticeship Program was valuable to each recipient. In this light, all of the alumni in the program got to experience a festival of a lifetime, network with industry executives and play a part in shaping the future of young adult television. A future in which they can create television in which they can relate to and see similar life experiences that they might not have seen on the big screen in the past.

Lewis explained that he views the Banff World Media Festival as indicative of navigating the film industry itself. 

“The conference centre is surrounded by sweeping mountains, which are representative of the obstacles many artists must face to arrive at the top,” he said. “However, as one climbs a mountain/faces obstacles to get to their goal, they quickly find that it’s important to enjoy the onerous journey as well. Otherwise, the road to ultimate creative expression won’t be fulfilling.” 

Alongside their invitation to the Banff World Media Festival, the apprenticeship program awarded each recipient the opportunity to work in the writer’s room of a Corus-supported live-action television production between June 2022 and June 2023. While news of which show is yet to be released, it’s guaranteed to be a remarkable experience. One that will provide real-world experience and the opportunity to show team leadership what they have to offer.

Recognizing the creators and change-makers of tomorrow

Programs like these are immeasurably beneficial for young professionals trying to build a career as a scriptwriter. It provides new graduates, especially those from underrepresented communities, the opportunity to get a glimpse behind the scenes and demonstrate their talent.

But as Taylor Hopkins affirmed, the best thing any aspiring writer can do is to persevere and continue to work on their craft, despite the mountain of “No’s” that may come their way first.

“I am grateful to be amongst such a talented cohort, but I also want to give major props to all the applicants who did not get selected this time around,” exclaimed Hopkins. “Writers face a lot of rejection, and I received many “no’s” this year before this amazing YES. Receiving a “no” is admirable. It proves you are putting yourself out there. If you or your story are rejected, as Dr. Petrou put it,‘the trick is to keep on.’”

About The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University 

The Creative School is a dynamic faculty at Toronto Metropolitan University making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Comprised of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.