Franklin Leonard

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  • Re: Franklin Leonard

    Well, I guess I kinda sort of know Bono. So there's one!

    And I think the line between querying and referrals is clear. No need to hash that out.

    How many repped/pro writers do I know? Probably 10-15 at this point. They got reps through referrals, fellowships, and working on shows as PAs and WAs.

    I've never had any success with it. Tons of reads and a grand total of one meeting with a manager who offered representation, but in the end I'm glad I said no. He would've sucked.

    And that post from the BL is six years old. Isn't that around the time it started? I'd guess there was more excitement about it then, so an 8 would get more recognition. I'm not sure if that's the case now. The shine seems to have worn off. But I could be wrong.

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    • Re: Franklin Leonard

      Is there a difference between now and maybe 5 years ago? Different writers have broken in at different time periods so they might have different experiences.

      Comment


      • Re: Franklin Leonard

        Originally posted by docgonzo View Post
        Well, I guess I kinda sort of know Bono. So there's one!

        And I think the line between querying and referrals is clear. No need to hash that out.

        How many repped/pro writers do I know? Probably 10-15 at this point. They got reps through referrals, fellowships, and working on shows as PAs and WAs.

        I've never had any success with it. Tons of reads and a grand total of one meeting with a manager who offered representation, but in the end I'm glad I said no. He would've sucked.

        And that post from the BL is six years old. Isn't that around the time it started? I'd guess there was more excitement about it then, so an 8 would get more recognition. I'm not sure if that's the case now. The shine seems to have worn off. But I could be wrong.
        now you know two.

        it's weird, i wrote this post and it seems to have disappeared into the ether.

        i had two rep offers within a week of sending queries and about two dozen read requests. i had to send out emails telling the remaining requests that the spec was no longer available for consideration. i used the fact that i had Black List scores of 8s and 9s in the query. people in the industry probably "know" about the Black List more now than they did a couple years ago. other pro writers refer to it [the black list] as a resource to have your work be noticed.

        a few people, among many, who do respond to queries:

        1. Jake Wagner
        2. Brooklyn Weaver
        3. Aaron Kaplan
        4. David Alpert
        5. Adam Kolbrenner

        remember that most managers at this level are also producers, so to attract them they have to really love, love, love your material. they are not the only game in town, but i say this to show that some of the biggest game play. there are many others that do as well.

        there are many ways to break in. referrals are difficult if you're an out of towner, living on the outside looking in, simply because you are not in proximity to make those direct connections. queries work. believe it or not, your choice in the matter. 10% return on a well constructed logline is average in my experience. send hundreds if you can. it's a numbers game.

        don't give up. don't give in.

        no one in hollywood made it because they quit.
        "Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy b/c you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say." -- Edward Snowden

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        • Re: Franklin Leonard

          Guess I'm the late guy to the party...

          After not being a writer for 3 years I tried the Black List website to get my foot back in the door as a writer without having to call in favors. I dunno, guess I was being stubborn. I was hella skeptical, for good reason. Put my script up. I got low scores on everything but my character work. Bruh, I already sold this script! WTF!? I got zero read requests. None.

          I don't know what I was thinking. I said "F' this!", pulled the script down and went the traditional route. Called in favors to pass my stuff around. A couple weeks later I was repped up again. That's how I got repped the second time.

          To add to the data: I don't know anyone who's gotten repped by cold query nor The Black List website.

          And here's a miserable stat: My ex (CAA agent) in 15 years never signed anyone who came to her via the "friends and family" submission. 100 reads? Hard to say. Most of them she just had them 'covered', read the coverage, and passed based on that. She never signed anyone who wasn't a referral from someone else high up. NO ONE. EVER. In fact, she never chased clients. Never read queries. Never went to conferences. Never read a single script on the real BlackList (though some of her clients were on it). Clients were basically handed to her on a silver platter. Agents have it cush...

          Managers work a little (MUCH?) harder to find new clients.


          ps... I remember when Franklin asked my ex what she thought of the idea of starting the Blacklist (the real one). She's one of the people he pitched the idea to first. She told me the idea. I thought it was cool. But, it's turned into something insidious (the website). Although, in Franklin's defense, I'd sell out the Blacklist name too. Why not? This whole town is insidious.
          Bruh, fukkin *smooches*! Feel me? Ha!

          Comment


          • Re: Franklin Leonard

            The guy who wrote this Reddit post (who sold a script to a low-level producer through the BL website) thinks that the main people who find use for the site are up-and-coming producers seeking low-budget material they can produce. Not so much managers (particularly high-level ones) or agents.

            https://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriti...le_maximizing/

            I think this is one of the reasons we'll never see the BL put out information about representation outcomes for the site.
            "I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork.-- Peter De Vries

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            • Re: Franklin Leonard

              ...Oh, and let me add that:

              My same (dark) script that tanked on TheBlacklist website via low scores and zero reads is the same script that went to showrrunners and got me in the running for 3 network shows.

              Trippy shiz... I don't get this town.
              Bruh, fukkin *smooches*! Feel me? Ha!

              Comment


              • Re: Franklin Leonard

                Originally posted by UpandComing View Post
                The guy who wrote this Reddit post (who sold a script to a low-level producer through the BL website) thinks that the main people who find use for the site are up-and-coming producers seeking low-budget material they can produce. Not so much managers (particularly high-level ones) or agents.

                https://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriti...le_maximizing/

                I think this is one of the reasons we'll never see the BL put out information about representation outcomes for the site.
                True, it's a great place to pad your PILE if you're a wannabe producer. Free filtering system for a dude running an operation out of his closet. They don't pay, correct?

                Ps... Franklin, you're welcome, I bought you dinner!
                Bruh, fukkin *smooches*! Feel me? Ha!

                Comment


                • Re: Franklin Leonard

                  Originally posted by GucciGhostXXX View Post
                  True, it's a great place to pad your PILE if you're a wannabe producer. Free filtering system for a dude running an operation out of his closet. They don't pay, correct?

                  Ps... Franklin, you're welcome, I bought you dinner!
                  Nope, pro members don't have to pay a cent. Just us rich writers! Gotta love it.

                  You seem to have been in this town for some time. Feel free to chime in with any knowledge/thoughts you may have in the Daily Beast thread (in the Articles section) about Max Landis. Like whether his career is over, lol.
                  "I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork.-- Peter De Vries

                  Comment


                  • Re: Franklin Leonard

                    Originally posted by GucciGhostXXX View Post
                    ...Oh, and let me add that:

                    My same (dark) script that tanked on TheBlacklist website via low scores and zero reads is the same script that went to showrrunners and got me in the running for 3 network shows.

                    Trippy shiz... I don't get this town.
                    Do you think this says something about TheBlacklist in particular? Or is this the sort of inconsistency that you get from industry readers in general?

                    Comment


                    • Re: Franklin Leonard

                      Originally posted by ScreenRider View Post
                      Do you think this says something about TheBlacklist in particular? Or is this the sort of inconsistency that you get from industry readers in general?
                      jumping in for a sec...

                      i went to a private meeting with a V.P. of production. she said she sent everything to their reader. i asked, "do you ever disagree with the reader?" she said, "all the time," but i still send it to the reader.

                      admittedly, there are wide varying reviews on The Black List. people who receive several 9s can still get 5s. people have opinions.

                      there are some pretty impressive top scripts up right now.
                      "Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy b/c you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say." -- Edward Snowden

                      Comment


                      • Re: Franklin Leonard

                        Originally posted by LauriD View Post
                        The problem with all for-profit script-listing sites is that the return on investment for writers is dismal. Only a tiny percentage of scripts get read, and an even tinier percentage of listings lead to options, sales, representation, or paying work.
                        I couldn't disagree more. Sure, the chance of your script being optioned let alone produced is still minimal but the ROI is fantastic if you score well. It opens doors and even if it did nothing else, that is a great return.

                        Pre-BL you'd get a recommend or consider from prodco X and there was nothing you could do with that you so in order to catch the eye you had to place high in 1 of the 3 big competitions - all of which are knockout format which means worthy scripts are jettisoned to make the numbers work - but with TBL(and a good score) you have a solid calling card and no knockout format, meaning anyone can get in on the action as long as their scripts are good.

                        My enquiry success rate was practically zero pre-TBL but after I scored high, and had the subject line to reflect this, I got a lot more interest. And that's all anyone can hope for. So for me, that's worth the $150 or whatever the cost is these days. I'm sure everyone who's hit brick wall after brick wall with their enquiries would gladly pay double that for to open doors.

                        It seems too many blame TBL for their lack of success after TBL sent eyeballs their way but that's not its fault. That's a combination of your script and the state and approach of the movie-making industry.
                        M.A.G.A.

                        Comment


                        • Re: Franklin Leonard

                          Originally posted by finalact4 View Post
                          and it's no different than a respected screenwriting contest.

                          when i hear statements about how dismal the chances are with a for-profit screenwriting site, i'm amazed that anyone thinks entering a screenwriting competition is any different. i mean, seriously. chances of winning the Nicholl are "dismal, too."

                          let's consider a little perspective working off facts.

                          2018 Nicholl
                          i think we all agree that the semifinalists are the most important 'winners,' right? here are the results for 2018.

                          entrants = 6,895
                          semifinalists = 10
                          percent chance = 0.0014 or 0.14%
                          quarter finalists = 226
                          quarter finalists = 0.0327 or 3.2%

                          corrected noted: (thank you Greg)
                          entrants = 6,895 (from the https://www.oscars.org/news/academy-...creenwriters-1
                          finalists = 10
                          percent chance = 0.0014 or 0.14%
                          semifinalists = 149
                          percent chance = .0216 or 2.16%
                          quarter finalists = 375
                          quarter finalists = .0545 or 5.4%


                          looks dismal to me. one tenth of one percent. and you can ONLY enter ONCE a year. there is an entry fee.

                          The Black List (website) using this as a comparison because i can access the information.

                          hosted scripts = 3,747 (rolling annually not once a year)
                          top monthly = 76 scripts (two ratings required)
                          percent = 2%
                          top quarterly = 213 scripts (two ratings required)
                          percent = 5.6%
                          top annual = 208 scripts (four ratings required)
                          percent = 5.5%

                          *this can result in thousands of views of your script over a year's time. and you can host more scripts as you write them throughout the year. the downside is that there is a fee and it can add up.

                          these are facts.

                          the bottom line that seems to elude many is that there just aren't that many amateur writers that are good enough, yet. and the truth is many never will be. you can't blame it on a competition or a for-profit website. it's a simple fact.

                          these are opportunities to get your work noticed. the chances are always dismal, that's why the reward is so coveted.

                          just because you write a script doesn't mean you deserve attention for it. you have to earn it. there are no short cuts. it takes perseverance, dedication and discipline.


                          every writer must follow their own path. something that works for one may not work for the other. i don't waste my time with Nicholl because i know i don't write material that would do well with that competition. that's my choice.

                          writers should seek opportunities and if that means the only thing you can do is send 300 queries, then that's what you do. if you have the means to do more. do it.

                          my only advice would be to be cautious about anything that the industry doesn't use or has't heard about. because winning that could be meaningless.
                          Spot on.
                          M.A.G.A.

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                          • Re: Franklin Leonard

                            Originally posted by LauriD View Post
                            The point of the disruption blog is to suggest a new model, and one less dependent on reps.
                            This is an industry to break into if you can. A capitalist industry that is there to serve itself, not aspirants. It doesn't need to do us any favours and nor should it be that way. The socialist-cum-Utopian approach of making it easier for writes to succeed in, to not need commendations, reps, or paid avenues (pitchfests, competitions, review sites - which no one is compelled to shell out for) is both misguided and wrong.
                            M.A.G.A.

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                            • Re: Franklin Leonard

                              Originally posted by JaGra View Post
                              If your script is good enough to receive an 8,9,or 10, chances are your script is good enough to get reads from free queries.
                              You're. Missing. The. Point.

                              It doesn't matter if your script is the best thing since Lawrence of Arabia if your emails are not being read. Your strong competition or TBL placement is the subject line that stops your email being mass-deleted with everyone else's. Then it's up to your brief email to flesh out your subject line with a brief history of your writing, TBL/comp placing, and log line.

                              Then and only then does your script get opened.


                              Stop being lazy and send out those queries.
                              As abov has just explained, it has nothing to do with being lazy or having a great script. You need to give the powers-that-be reason to give your no-name, nobody email then time of day (let alone your script) over all the other no-name, nobody emails in their inbox.


                              The blacklist pay site exists primary to tell industry folks NOT to read scripts.
                              Wrong again. It exists primarily to tell the industry folks what's the wheat and what's the chaff - that in making it easier for the industry people it's making it easier for those writers who ARE good enough, whose scripts ARE excellent, instead of having them lost in a sea of enquiries where 99.5% are turgid and worthless.


                              If industry pro gets query that sounds interesting, they might look at first few pages.
                              Wrong again. Because they have so many they don't even read them. Just like the music industry, mass deletion is the norm and fear of litigation drives the 'no unsolicited content' mantra. You have to be very lucky for anyone to read your email when it's just a standard begging letter in a sea of begging letters, a sea that's largely dead and rank. Luck, rather than the quality of your script!! Fuck that, I'll take the 'Thriller - top 5% Black List/Austin/Nicholl' option, thanks.
                              Last edited by SundownInRetreat; 07-07-2019, 09:51 AM.
                              M.A.G.A.

                              Comment


                              • Re: Franklin Leonard

                                Originally posted by ScreenRider View Post
                                Do you think this says something about TheBlacklist in particular? Or is this the sort of inconsistency that you get from industry readers in general?
                                I think it’s The Wild Friggin West out there. Truthfully, I think I do better with reads the higher up I go. Meaning, the kids don’t like my shiz but their bosses tend to. So, I try to bypass as many kids as I can, and hope their bosses don’t ask them their opinion.
                                Bruh, fukkin *smooches*! Feel me? Ha!

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