Wonder Project, the production banner behind faith-based film and TV shows such as the Biblical House of David, has partnered with Stand Together Trust to launch a screenwriting fellowship that will give writers the chance to tell true-life stories in the mold of The Blind Side or Erin Brockovich.
Stand Together, the grant-making organization that has ties to hundreds of charities, is underwriting the program. It will pair emerging screenwriters who have distinct points of view and unique lived experiences with the Stand Together community’s national network of nonprofits to tell true stories of human hope and progress. The goal is to generate feature film screenplays that “reflect an intrinsic hope in humanity and bring the spirit of resilience to moviegoers worldwide,” per a statement from the two companies.
“Every single one of these charities feels like there’s a movie in them to be made, about the founder or a case,” notes Jeremy Latcham, the former Marvel executive turned producer and a senior advisor to Wonder. He created the program and is helping oversee it.
The fellowship positions will be financially compensated, open to writers of all experience levels, and will begin upon final notice of selection.
The fellowship already has a partnership with the Austin Film Festival’s script competition. Applicants for this year’s script competition were able to opt in to submit their material for the fellowship as part of this year’s application process, which concluded this week. The selected writer will be invited to attend the 2025 Austin Film Festival, which will run Oct. 23-30, and will join the first Fellowship class.
“The Stand Together community is committed to empowering people who are making a real difference in their communities,” read a statement from Nick Dunn, Stand Together senior vp of media investments. “This Fellowship brings that spirit to the screen, helping storytellers share powerful narratives that reflect our deep belief in people and our belief that those closest to society’s toughest challenges are often best positioned to tackle them. It’s a celebration of human potential and, as we approach our nation’s 250th anniversary, the enduring power of the American dream.”
Latcham had a hand in launching the Marvel Writer’s Program, in which screenwriters lab-tested Marvel’s IP while also gaining experience. Perhaps the most famous “graduate” was Nicole Perlman, whose script for Guardians of the Galaxy was eventually turned into the hit James Gunn movie.
Latcham believes the grant-making organization’s network has its own type of IP, a plethora of stories about the indomitable strength of the human spirit. They are rooted in true stories centered on “great teachers, medical charities, inner city work,” he said. He believes the types of movies that eventually could come out of the program will be akin to Blind Side, the 2009 hit that starred Sandra Bullock, and Erin Brockovich, the 2000 Oscar-winner, both based on true stories and featuring plenty of heart,
Another aim of the program’s is to find new voices, particularly from non-traditional quarters, hence the partnership with the Austin Film Festival. “The business is contracting. There isn’t a lot of opportunities for new writers, and all the writers working seem to come from the same film schools,” Latcham notes. “You will become a proper screenwriter in the business, no matter where you’re from.”
Wonder and Latcham are currently in production on The Breadwinner, a TriStar Pictures comedy starring stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze. The company, meanwhile, has true life tale Sarah’s Oil, with Zachary Levi, hitting theatres via Amazon MGM later this year. The writing program would birth stories that fall in line with those types of movies.
“In a year or two, we’ll have found a handful of writers and uncovered some really great stories,” says Latcham.
