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5 Lessons Screenwriters Can Learn from The Black List 2012 (Plus 2 Bonus Lessons!)

Christopher Boone — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:45:09 +0000

Each year, The Black List surveys approximately 300 film executives and asks them to name up to ten of their favorite screenplays from the current calendar year that have yet to begin principal photography. The votes are tallied and published in order of screenplays with the most votes in, well, The Black List. As Franklin Leonard and his team at The Black List put it: “The Black List is not a ‘best of’ list. It is, at best, a ‘most liked’ list.” So, why should we care? Well, if you’re a screenwriter fortunate enough to have a screenplay on The Black List 2012, your stock just went up in Hollywood. If you’re a screenwriter outside of the system, The Black List can provide insights into what storylines, concepts and genres have recently made the rounds, picked up producers and found financing. In addition to the list itself (link below), here are five lessons screenwriters can learn from The Black List 2012: (more…)

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The Black List's Paid Screenplay Service Reveals Key Data from First Month

Christopher Boone — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:30:08 +0000

A month ago, when the Black List launched its new paid screenplay service to provide aspiring screenwriters with access to industry professionals, I had some concerns. After hearing Franklin Leonard discuss the service in more detail with John August and Craig Mazin on their ScriptNotes podcast, I was more encouraged, but still not sold 100%. More specifically, I voiced my hope that Leonard and his team at The Black List would not only share successes of the service, but would also provide statistics about the service that would provide aspiring screenwriters with data they could use to make informed decisions about paying for this new service. I’m happy to report that on the heels of sharing its first success story, The Black List has done almost exactly what I asked. (more…)

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The Black List Announces First Success Story for New Screenplay Service, Writer Signs With CAA

Christopher Boone — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:00:10 +0000

We said the new screenplay service from The Black List would have a success story and we would hear about it. This week, only one month after its launch, The Black List announced that screenwriter Justin Kremer signed with CAA as a result of his screenplay McCarthy getting discovered via the new Black List paid service for screenwriters to post their screenplays online to be read and rated by industry professionals. Yes, the first writer discovered from The Black List’s new service happened to write a screenplay that has a connection of sorts to the historical blacklist. The Black List founder Franklin Leonard even remarked, “My personal interest in this period of Hollywood history is no secret. It’s part of why the Black List is called what it is. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t read the script as soon as the review was completed to be sure someone wasn’t playing an elaborate practical joke.” Well, Kremer’s script is no joke. Check out what Kremer had to say about The Black List service from the company’s press release: (more…)

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The Black List Founder Franklin Leonard Clarifies New Paid Service for Screenwriters

Christopher Boone — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:31:28 +0000

Last week, The Black List announced a new paid service for aspiring screenwriters to get their scripts in front of industry professionals. The idea of putting together a database of undiscovered screenplays that professional readers rate and industry professionals can search sounds pretty good. Add to this the fact that algorithms promote scripts to industry professionals based on their preferences à la Netflix or Amazon makes it sound even better. Knowing that over 1,100 industry professionals using the database have been vetted (chosen from over 5,000 applicants) and range from agency assistants to studio presidents may convince several aspiring screenwriters to submit their scripts post haste. The idea of paying for access to these industry professionals, however, may stop several aspiring screenwriters in their tracks – is this just another scheme to make money off the thousands of wannabe screenwriters with no industry access? Thankfully, John August and Craig Mazin put The Black List founder Franklin Leonard in the hot seat during their live podcast recording at the Austin Film Festival last week to find out. (more…)

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The Black List's New Paid Service Aims to Connect Screenwriters with Industry Professionals

Christopher Boone — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:39:01 +0000

For the uninitiated, The Black List compiles a list of the “most liked” unproduced screenplays according to the opinions of studio and production executives and their readers. At the time of The Black List’s publication in December each year, many of the scripts on the list have been acquired and are either in production or active development toward production. Getting a script listed on The Black List certainly boosts a screenwriter’s credentials within the industry and can lead to more work. Now, the people behind The Black List have launched a new paid service for aspiring screenwriters trying to get their screenplays in the hands of industry professionals. Here are the details: (more…)

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Keep Up to Date on the Spec Script Market with TheGrid and Go Into the Story

Christopher Boone — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:00:45 +0000

For many of us on NFS, we’re pursuing our filmmaking goals through the independent, DIY route. If you’re focused more specifically on screenwriting like myself, however, you may find yourself straddling the line writing content you can sell to the Hollywood studios and writing content you want to make as your passion project. Either way, it’s important to know what’s currently in development and production so you know what is selling and so you don’t get blindsided when you discover your current script is already in production as a major feature film. For decades, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have been the standard trades for Hollywood. For the independent film community, IndieWire has established itself as the must-read sight. These publications typically cover done deals or finished films. For screenwriters that want to know what specs are heading out into the market before the deal is done, there’s TheGrid. (more…)

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