NSI is proud to bring together game studios from across the country to give new writers their first break in this rapidly evolving industry.

- Susan Millican, CEO

National Screen Institute

Let the Games Begin!

Cross-Country Call for New Writing Talent

If you’re on the Zeros 2 Heroes site, there is a very good chance you like to play games. Video games, that is. And while many of you may not be eager to admit it, you’ve seen the cold light of dawn that only comes after a night swallowed by the gamepad. You know the secret shame of slipping into your bed just before the alarm goes off, hoping that no one will be aware of yet another evening misspent.

Oh yes, we know who you are.

That’s why we have decided to help launch a new initiative that opens up the Zeros 2 Heroes community to the excesses offered by games... and gives all of our members a chance to break into the industry.

This time, we are honored to be working with the National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI), one of Canada’s oldest nationally recognized training schools in the field of film and television. While they have traditionally focused on writers, directors and producers for linear media, their new program — NSI playWRITE — is a bold venture to help writers break into games.

“Video games have grown from being a new frontier in visual storytelling to one of the most mainstream of mediums,” says Susan Millican, CEO of the National Screen Institute. “NSI is proud to bring together game studios from across the country to give new writers their first break in this rapidly evolving industry.”

The NSI playWRITE program is specifically designed to meet the needs of the game industry, with all aspects being developed in consultation with award-winning studios and leading designers. In many ways, the program is an extended audition for hopeful writers taking their first steps from “zero” to “hero”.

It all starts with an online application that lets writers showcase their work and pitch themselves as people amazingly attuned to the narrative design needs of the industry. A jury of industry professionals will screen all potential participants and select those with the best chance of success.

These lucky few attend the “boot camp” in Vancouver that will be held in conjunction with this year’s VidFest conference. The boot camp will provide intensive hands-on training in the art (and science) of game writing, as well as give participants a chance to work with some of the leading lights in the Vancouver game industry.

Upon completion of boot camp, participants will return to their hometowns and embark on an Independent Design phase. During this time, they will work on their own narrative concepts that will be shared with industry mentors, other
NSI playWRITE participants and members of the larger online audience of gamers. Participating game studios will be using this phase to evaluate the best prospects and offer lucky writers a chance to intern with their company on game production, earning that all-important first professional credit.

The deadline for applications is April 28th, 2008, so there is no time to waste. If you’re interested in becoming a working creative in the game industry, send in your application is NOW!