Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions
Mine got two 7's and three 6's - for an aggregate score of 6. Below is the reader comments on weaknesses.
"Although the concept itself is strong, the screenplay contains some content that may become too offensive or vivid for audiences, placing the film in a higher rating category than needed. For example, some derogatory language may not be necessary to the story and the sex scene does not need the accompanying dialogue."
Reader when on to say that the film is meant for Indie and would play best to an older audience who doesn't shy away from violence.
Now then. I purposely wrote if for an R rating pushing it to NC-17 because this is an adult drama which tackles controversial subject matter that includes rape, spousal abuse, child custody, emotional distress and meth addiction. I wrote it specifically for Indie market for a target age demographic of 25-50. The reason for this is that the story involves a developing love relationship between a hetero male, a bi female, her lesbian wife and the man's 8 year old son who needs a mother. There is a three way sex scene done in a loving and realistic way- which does include very limited dialog (hold me, i love you, love me, give yourself to him) and I believe this is appropriate for the scene. There is a flashback rape sequence which is very violent and includes a vicious, bare-handed, animalistic murder. The language is strong throughout as the film takes place in the deep south because it is the way people talk - I've lived here all my life so I know.
I wrote this story from personal experience on all fronts in a gritty and realistic manner because I have lived it. Yet at the heart of the story is a beautiful love affair between four people and ends on a very positive note.
I think one of the biggest problems with BL is the age of the readers. It is my understanding these are "first filters" at agencies, prodco's, and the like, which tends to be young people just starting out in the biz. Which is fine because everyone has to start somewhere. But with a script like mine, a young person will have a difficult time coming to grips in understanding the story without the benefit of a frame of reference and usually that comes with personal experience in relationships which is tied to directly to maturity.
My story has received positive professional analysis by script consultants with one even suggesting the film could receive critical acclaim with the right director. So while my BL reader saw what was happening in the script, the small nuances went right over their head. This is not a complaint it is just an observation. And I think this may be the reason that some scripts that are really very good are overlooked not only on BL but in the town as a whole.
My only suggestion for BL is to perhaps have scripts tagged for INDIE (mine is) be sent to readers who specialize in reading Indie material. When I start querying this script, I will only be targeting Indie managers and such because I realize the majors wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole even though I believe it would make money at the box. I am waiting on one more review but I don't anticipate it will be any better, maybe even worse, than the first.
This is all just my 2 pennies and your results may vary.
Mine got two 7's and three 6's - for an aggregate score of 6. Below is the reader comments on weaknesses.
"Although the concept itself is strong, the screenplay contains some content that may become too offensive or vivid for audiences, placing the film in a higher rating category than needed. For example, some derogatory language may not be necessary to the story and the sex scene does not need the accompanying dialogue."
Reader when on to say that the film is meant for Indie and would play best to an older audience who doesn't shy away from violence.
Now then. I purposely wrote if for an R rating pushing it to NC-17 because this is an adult drama which tackles controversial subject matter that includes rape, spousal abuse, child custody, emotional distress and meth addiction. I wrote it specifically for Indie market for a target age demographic of 25-50. The reason for this is that the story involves a developing love relationship between a hetero male, a bi female, her lesbian wife and the man's 8 year old son who needs a mother. There is a three way sex scene done in a loving and realistic way- which does include very limited dialog (hold me, i love you, love me, give yourself to him) and I believe this is appropriate for the scene. There is a flashback rape sequence which is very violent and includes a vicious, bare-handed, animalistic murder. The language is strong throughout as the film takes place in the deep south because it is the way people talk - I've lived here all my life so I know.
I wrote this story from personal experience on all fronts in a gritty and realistic manner because I have lived it. Yet at the heart of the story is a beautiful love affair between four people and ends on a very positive note.
I think one of the biggest problems with BL is the age of the readers. It is my understanding these are "first filters" at agencies, prodco's, and the like, which tends to be young people just starting out in the biz. Which is fine because everyone has to start somewhere. But with a script like mine, a young person will have a difficult time coming to grips in understanding the story without the benefit of a frame of reference and usually that comes with personal experience in relationships which is tied to directly to maturity.
My story has received positive professional analysis by script consultants with one even suggesting the film could receive critical acclaim with the right director. So while my BL reader saw what was happening in the script, the small nuances went right over their head. This is not a complaint it is just an observation. And I think this may be the reason that some scripts that are really very good are overlooked not only on BL but in the town as a whole.
My only suggestion for BL is to perhaps have scripts tagged for INDIE (mine is) be sent to readers who specialize in reading Indie material. When I start querying this script, I will only be targeting Indie managers and such because I realize the majors wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole even though I believe it would make money at the box. I am waiting on one more review but I don't anticipate it will be any better, maybe even worse, than the first.
This is all just my 2 pennies and your results may vary.
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