CHEAT SHEET: The Answers We Want To See on Our Moonshot Pilot Accelerator Application

Your submission isn't just about your TV pilot script. Here's how to make your 2026 Moonshot Pilot Accelerator application answers shine, so you could be pitching to HBO, Netflix and more this fall!

Are you submitting your TV pilot script to the Moonshot Pilot Accelerator, where selected fellows have the opportunity to pitch one-on-one to HBO, Netflix and more?

Not only will you have to submit your complete pilot script, but you'll also have to answer a few brief questions. These questions are an important part of your Moonshot Pilot Accelerator application, so spend some time considering your answers before the deadline.

Today, we're taking a look at the application questions and providing some tips to make your answers really shine!

But first, a little bit about the Moonshot Pilot Accelerator:

In this highly competitive virtual accelerator program for TV writers, 6-8 fellows will receive three weeks of industry training before having the opportunity to pitch to major studios, production companies, representatives, and producers. The entire accelerator, including training and pitching, will occur online.

The goal of this program is to launch the careers of our fellows. Already, our past fellows have:

• sold a project to a production company met through the accelerator

• gotten staffed on TV series — in one instance, been hired by another alum

• received representation from an accelerator meeting

• had projects in development with producers they met during the accelerator

• had a project optioned by a production company

• secured follow-up meetings with executives

• gotten hired as writing support staff on an existing series

• and made many valuable industry contacts.​

This program aims to increase the representation of women and gender-expansive people on screen and in writers rooms.

Now, here are our Moonshot Pilot Accelerator application questions and how to answer them:

1. Please provide your project's logline. Your logline should be one to two full sentences, and it should give us a sense of the story and your protagonist. We need to see that there's conflict, and it needs to be a conflict that can last multiple seasons (or a single season if this is a limited series). Often, writers fall into the pitfall of crafting a logline that sounds more like a feature film (or even a short film). We've also seen giant paragraphs in response to this question. Just keep it easy to read and succinct (two sentences or less). Treat this as a calling card, and make us excited to read your pilot.

2. What best describes your project? Here, you'll select "multi-season series" for a TV show that lasts several seasons; "limited series" for a single-season story; or "anthology series" for a project like "American Horror Story" or "True Detective," in which each season has its own contained plot and characters.

3. In 1-2 sentences, how do you envision the rest of the first season and beyond? (120 word limit, but keep it as succinct as possible!) Your pilot episode is just the beginning of a much longer story; it needs to effectively set up the first season as well as the series as a whole. We're asking this question because we want to know how the pilot script fits into the larger story arc, and we want to make sure you have a well-thought-out plan for your project. An answer that would help us get a sense of your project as a whole would be: "In season one, [tell us the overarching storyline of the season]. In seasons two through five, [tell us the major emotional transformation your protagonist undertakes by the series finale]."

4. Why is now the time to tell this story, and why are you the one to tell it? (100 word limit) This is where you get to show off your personal connection to the story. Why are you so passionate about this project? You should also tell us why today's audiences will connect to this idea.

5. How does your project advance the representation of women and/or gender-expansive people on screen? (100 word limit) Moonshot Initiative is a nonprofit created to advance gender equity behind and in front of the camera. Tell us about the women and gender-expansive characters in your project. We'd especially love to hear if there are specific types of characters you haven't yet seen represented on screen.

6. If you have a pitch deck (not required), please provide a URL for viewing this material. A pitch deck is truly not required, so don't throw something together if you don't have one already. If you have materials that show the look and feel of your project or delve deeper into future episodes and seasons, that can help us better understand your idea. We've seen beautiful pitch decks that give us a great sense of a writer's vision for their series. However, if you don't have a deck, it's much more important to spend time revising your pilot script and crafting responses to our application questions. A hastily made deck can detract from your application if your imagery and comparable projects don't match up with what we're seeing in your script, or if your outline of future seasons doesn't make sense.

7. Are you a current resident of New York City? You can apply from anywhere in the world, but thanks to a grant from the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, one seat in the program is guaranteed to go to a New York City resident. If you live in NYC, click "yes." This will make you eligible to be our"Made in NY" Fellow. Checking "yes" will not negatively impact your chances at being selected, because there may be more than one fellow selected from New York City. If selected as the Made in New York fellow, you may be required to show proof of address as a condition for acceptance.

We also ask for some information to help us complete grant applications, since Moonshot Initiative is a 501(c) nonprofit. You will be asked to provide your ZIP code and race/ethnicity; this information does not affect your application, but instead helps Moonshot apply for grant funding. Additionally, we ask how you heard about the program to help us better get the word out in the future!

Best of luck with your application! We can't wait to read your work.