8 Reasons You Should Apply to Stowe Story Labs

Stowe Story Labs, held in Stowe, Vermont (a little over an hour from my hometown) each September, has been an absolutely pivotal experience in my life.

I was a Labber (what participants are called) in 2013, the first year the Labs were held. I almost didn’t apply, but my mother encouraged me to. And I’m so glad I did. Like I said: pivotal. I’m sure that if I hadn’t attended, I would not have gotten so serious about screenwriting and indie filmmaking. I’d still consider it a “hobby” instead of a passion and potential career path.

Now, I’m involved with the Labs as a volunteer, and wouldn’t miss it for anything. It’s the highlight of my year, professionally and often personally.

Anyway, if you’re a screenwriter, I highly recommend applying to the Fall Narrative Lab. And here are eight reasons why I think you should:

1. You get advice from amazing mentors

Seriously, Stowe brings together some amazing industry mentors. David Pope, Chris Millis, Mark Piznarski, Ellen Parks, Amy Hobby (who was just nominated for an Oscar!), Anne Hubbell, and so many others. And the best part is that they’re all very accessible throughout the Labs. The only real rule about chatting with the mentors is that we don’t pitch our projects unless asked to.

Here’s a photo of David Pope chatting with Chris Kratt (of children’s television fame) from the 2015 Labs:

A photo posted by Cameron Chapman (@cam_chapman) on Sep 12, 2015 at 3:00pm PDT

2. You’ll figure out how to pitch your story to directors, producers, and anyone else who can help get it made

Pitching is a huge part of the Fall Narrative Labs. Figuring out how to talk about your work with people you encounter in all sorts of situations is a key part of Labs. You’ll pitch peer groups and mentors until you get over any potential fear you have of the pitching process. The upside is that pitching is done in smaller groups now, as opposed to in front of the entire room like the year I attended.

3.  You’ll meet other screenwriters, creative producers, and directors from all over the country (and the world) at all different levels

Labs attracts screenwriters from all over the US, and around the world. There’s a strong Vermont contingent each year, but there are also a ton of Labbers from elsewhere. There have been participants from Australia, New Zealand, and Belgium (among other countries I’m sure I’m forgetting), as well as numerous US states. They bring a variety of experience and experiences to Labs, and everyone benefits.

4. Stowe is a beautiful town

Come on, this is Vermont. It’s GORGEOUS here in September. The leaves are usually just starting to change. And Stowe is one of the more beautiful places in Vermont to begin with. Just check this out:

A photo posted by Beckie Burr (@beckieburr) on Nov 5, 2015 at 3:27am PST

5. It’s a community

One thing that’s happening with the Labs is that we’re forming a community around it. Both by individual year, but also in general. We run alumni groups to keep in touch, and collaborations are starting to grow out of the connections made at Labs. And we’re all there to support and help each other in our careers.

6. You’ll make life-long connections

Okay, it might be a little early to say that you’ll make life-long connections when the Labs have only been happening for 3 years, but I can say that I’m still in touch with people I met at Labs the first year. And in the second and third years. We chat, we have coffee occasionally, we read each other’s scripts, we celebrete each others successes, and we support each other. I’m getting ready to start collaborating on a script with a Labber from 2014 that I met while volunteering. I have hopes of working with some of the Vermont-based filmmakers I’ve met, too.

7. You’ll become a better screenwriter

When I left Labs the first year, I had the knowledge I needed to fix the screenplay I had been working on for over 2 years. This was a script I had rewritten half a dozen times, but could never quite figure out what was wrong with it. I identified the problem right away in the first readthrough I did after Labs, and was able to fix it in less than a day. All because of the talks by David Pope and Chris Millis.

8. You’ll walk away from the Labs completely inspired

This is one of the reasons I come back year after year. The Labs are inspiring. The conversations, the lectures, the round table discussions, the entire atmosphere, is just one of the most inspirational places I’ve found. When I leave Labs, I’m also inspired and energized to get a ton of work done. I’m more productive in the month or two after Labs than at any other time of year.

So there are my top eight reasons to apply to the Fall Narrative Labs this year! I’m happy to talk about Labs with anyone considering applying (or accepted and unsure about going). Just shoot me a comment or an email!