Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

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  • #46
    Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

    Originally posted by finalact4 View Post
    The deal with the 8s... if you get an 8 on any of your elements your script's logline gets sent out in the weekly email. If your evals come in in two separate weeks and you get an 8 on each evaluation, your script gets sent out twice.
    Hey Lisa, where did you find the information about scripts receiving an 8 on any element being included in the weekly email? I know that an overall 8 will get you highlighted, but I wasn't aware that a single 8 in your evaluation would also be enough to get you a shout out.

    I just received my second evaluation and now have two 7's - solid enough to land me on the top lists, but not enough to light the world on fire. I did manage to get an 8 in one of my categories, though, so reading this post has me curious - I just can't find confirmation of this anywhere.

    Really praying you're right, though - would definitely take out the sting of this 7 a little!

    EDIT: Wait, you're totally right. I did a little digging and found confirmation on the Black List Help Page. Sorry about that - I should have dug a little deeper the first time!
    Last edited by PhaseIV; 05-15-2020, 09:52 AM. Reason: Found my answer somewhere else.

    Comment


    • #47
      Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

      Originally posted by PhaseIV View Post
      Hey Lisa, where did you find the information about scripts receiving an 8 on any element being included in the weekly email? I know that an overall 8 will get you highlighted, but I wasn't aware that a single 8 in your evaluation would also be enough to get you a shout out.

      I just received my second evaluation and now have two 7's - solid enough to land me on the top lists, but not enough to light the world on fire. I did manage to get an 8 in one of my categories, though, so reading this post has me curious - I just can't find confirmation of this anywhere.
      What I've noticed about the Black List in the two years I was out of circulation is that they have become A LOT less transparent to writers. Take one look at the FAQs and there is very little in the way of any real information.

      Both of my scripts are reader endorsed (both received 8s &9s). That means the script has received at least two 8s and/or above. If you look at the FAQs for the industry professionals you will see that it states that scripts that have a minimum of two 8s are "reader endorsed." This is how they signal to the industry that these are the highest scoring scripts.

      They used to send you an email when you received an 8 and offer free 2 free additional reviews-- I do not know if they still do this. Does anyone else?

      Oh, I see you found the confirmation.

      Take a bit of time, if you care to, and check out at the top scripts. If they show the graph, you will see that even the highest scoring scripts have lowball scores along side high scores. It's a pain because it's a slow process, the screens always default to the "period" time frame.

      The Black List says they have "guidelines," that their readers use, but they don't share them.

      Hey, it's their site. It is what it is.

      As long a there is no competition, and the industry uses it because it's free, has a brand behind it that the industry somewhat believes in, it's another resource and they aren't changing it.

      FA4
      "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


      • #48
        Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

        Originally posted by Satriales View Post
        If you can't crap out a draft and get 7s and 8s consistently, I'd submit that you probably aren't ready for representation.
        You're entitled to your opinion, of course, and not to be argumentative, and I mean that honestly, but this statement is kind of offensive. "Crap out a draft?" Who does that? I mean, seriously?

        I know you're a direct person, but the reality is not everyone can afford to pay $75 a pop, amounting to several hundreds of dollars, to generate a consensus on The Black List.

        That's WHY they offer you a DISCOUNT if there's a two or more point disparity. It's to encourage you to pay to get that consensus.

        Here is the reality...

        Some black list reviews are wrong.

        There are poor readers. They rush reading. Get information wrong. Contradict themselves. They write poorly. And can be biased. IOW, they're human.

        Here is a hypothetical...

        If you have a spread of ratings that include FOUR 8s, a 6, a 4, a 3... you will not make the top lists, because your average score is below the community average of 6.19. And if you're that writer that can only pay for two?

        What do you do if the first two are an 8 and a 3? You dispute the 3 (hopefully get it replaced) and ultimately realize you may have to purchase more, which is TBL's goal-- they want you to pay to create that consensus.

        There are spreads like that. By your rules the four 8s are meaningless? I think the four represent the consensus more than the other three ratings. Maybe you'd agree with that?

        The 6 is probably viable, but to have four readers give someone 8s and then another give it a 3? There shouldn't be that much disparity.

        And don't get me wrong. I use The Black List. I use other resources, too. What I'm saying is, it's a little more complicated than simply "crapping out" a draft that receives consistent 7s and 8s. You aren't visible to anyone if your average score is below the community average, and an outlier 3 can obliterate you from the top list placement in a blink.

        I was repped because of The Black List. My manager doesn't manage anymore. My work has been read by studios, large and medium sized prodcos, even prodcos with top directors. Came close with a few. Nothing went wide.

        I am currently seeking a new manager, the same as many writers on this board.

        When I use a site like Black List I expect to get what I'm paying for and, I have to say, that as long as you are in the right, can communicate your claim clearly and are persistent, they can be accommodating.
        FA4

        (no offense intended)
        "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


        • #49
          Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

          Originally posted by finalact4 View Post
          You're entitled to your opinion, of course, and not to be argumentative, and I mean that honestly, but this statement is kind of offensive. "Crap out a draft?" Who does that? I mean, seriously?

          I know you're a direct person, but the reality is not everyone can afford to pay $75 a pop, amounting to several hundreds of dollars, to generate a consensus on The Black List.

          That's WHY they offer you a DISCOUNT if there's a two or more point disparity. It's to encourage you to pay to get that consensus.

          Here is the reality...

          Some black list reviews are wrong.

          There are poor readers. They rush reading. Get information wrong. Contradict themselves. They write poorly. And can be biased. IOW, they're human.

          Here is a hypothetical...

          If you have a spread of ratings that include FOUR 8s, a 6, a 4, a 3... you will not make the top lists, because your average score is below the community average of 6.19. And if you're that writer that can only pay for two?

          What do you do if the first two are an 8 and a 3? You dispute the 3 (hopefully get it replaced) and ultimately realize you may have to purchase more, which is TBL's goal-- they want you to pay to create that consensus.

          There are spreads like that. By your rules the four 8s are meaningless? I think the four represent the consensus more than the other three ratings. Maybe you'd agree with that?

          The 6 is probably viable, but to have four readers give someone 8s and then another give it a 3? There shouldn't be that much disparity.

          And don't get me wrong. I use The Black List. I use other resources, too. What I'm saying is, it's a little more complicated than simply "crapping out" a draft that receives consistent 7s and 8s. You aren't visible to anyone if your average score is below the community average, and an outlier 3 can obliterate you from the top list placement in a blink.

          I was repped because of The Black List. My manager doesn't manage anymore. My work has been read by studios, large and medium sized prodcos, even prodcos with top directors. Came close with a few. Nothing went wide.

          I am currently seeking a new manager, the same as many writers on this board.

          When I use a site like Black List I expect to get what I'm paying for and, I have to say, that as long as you are in the right, can communicate your claim clearly and are persistent, they can be accommodating.
          FA4

          (no offense intended)
          I'm curious what you found offensive?

          I found Blcklst reviewers to be terribly inconsistent. Scores vary wildly, as we both stated. I'm not suggesting anyone blow any kind of money they don't have on the service. In a vacuum, if you had ten reviews I want to see a consistent baseline of performance. A bunch of 7s and 8s in there. I'm sure there would be outliers. But I think if you're ready to be repped, you need to be able to produce something with relative ease that stands out as high-performing amateur.

          Look, maybe you've (the royal you) written something amazingly controversial. (I think I went 9-3-9-2 on my second pilot) Or there's the Rosemary Kennedy example I cited. There will often be outliers that will ding the overall rating. But I've read enough on there over the years to be able to eyeball it. I don't take much from two ratings. Get me to four though? I'm willing to start making judgements about whether or not the writer is close to being ready.

          Comment


          • #50
            Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

            Originally posted by Satriales View Post
            I’m curious what you found offensive?

            I found Blcklst reviewers to be terribly inconsistent. Scores vary wildly, as we both stated. I’m not suggesting anyone blow any kind of money they don’t have on the service. In a vacuum, if you had ten reviews I want to see a consistent baseline of performance. A bunch of 7s and 8s in there. I’m sure there would be outliers. But I think if you’re ready to be repped, you need to be able to produce something with relative ease that stands out as high-performing amateur.

            Look, maybe you’ve (the royal you) written something amazingly controversial. (I think I went 9-3-9-2 on my second pilot) Or there’s the Rosemary Kennedy example I cited. There will often be outliers that will ding the overall rating. But I’ve read enough on there over the years to be able to eyeball it. I don’t take much from two ratings. Get me to four though? I’m willing to start making judgements about whether or not the writer is close to being ready.
            Admittedly, it could be that it just hit me wrong. Texting, tweeting and posting online often can lead to misunderstandings with regards to tone and intent when there's no voice or facial expressions to rely on.

            I guess it was the idea that your worst work, and not your best, should be able to easily secure 7s and 8s, seemed unrealistic to me, because it took my best work to get high scores.

            And I will admit, as you experienced, after having a manager my writing took a leap in quality. I think most of it was due to the importance of clarity, consistency and well developed characters. It's a different ball game when you have someone on your team whose goal is to help you be the best writer you can be.

            I remember when Jeff Lowell posted his experiment. The 6 was a result of a strong feeling from the reader at the time that his representation of women was a shortfall of the script, even taking into consideration of the fact that the script was about the porn industry set in the 70s, I think.

            I just want to encourage good writers to take blows from The Black List, contests, and even peers in stride. My advice is to consider the comments and criticisms carefully, use what you agree with and let the rest go, because this will always be a part of working as a writer.

            And I do agree that the Black List reviews can be inconsistent. As I mentioned, I have always pushed back on ones that I felt needed to be disputed and they have replaced them. The readers seemed better when they first started.

            Best and stay safe,
            FA4
            "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


            • #51
              Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

              Originally posted by finalact4 View Post
              What I've noticed about the Black List in the two years I was out of circulation is that they have become A LOT less transparent to writers. Take one look at the FAQs and there is very little in the way of any real information.

              Both of my scripts are reader endorsed (both received 8s &9s). That means the script has received at least two 8s and/or above. If you look at the FAQs for the industry professionals you will see that it states that scripts that have a minimum of two 8s are "reader endorsed." This is how they signal to the industry that these are the highest scoring scripts.

              They used to send you an email when you received an 8 and offer free 2 free additional reviews-- I do not know if they still do this. Does anyone else?

              Oh, I see you found the confirmation.

              Take a bit of time, if you care to, and check out at the top scripts. If they show the graph, you will see that even the highest scoring scripts have lowball scores along side high scores. It's a pain because it's a slow process, the screens always default to the "period" time frame.

              The Black List says they have "guidelines," that their readers use, but they don't share them.

              Hey, it's their site. It is what it is.

              As long a there is no competition, and the industry uses it because it's free, has a brand behind it that the industry somewhat believes in, it's another resource and they aren't changing it.

              FA4
              Thanks so much for this, FA4 - as a baby writer who has often dreamed about appearing on a BL Top List, it's been a slightly disillusioning to finally end up there and hear absolutely nothing. My script is currently within the top 10 for its genre but in the week since it arrived there, I've managed to garner a whopping three whole views and not a single download. Not sure if there's a deficiency with my logline, the site's user base or a little bit of both, but I was definitely hoping for something more than... this? Again, I only have two 7's right now so maybe it takes an 8 or 9 to really light that tinder, but it's been a pretty depressing experience so far, haha

              Comment


              • #52
                Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

                How many screenplays have been made into movies after being 'discovered' on the Black List? Does anyone know?
                Know this: I'm a lazy amateur, so trust not a word what I write.
                "The ugly can be beautiful. The pretty, never." ~ Oscar Wilde

                Comment


                • #53
                  Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

                  Originally posted by Crayon View Post
                  How many screenplays have been made into movies after being 'discovered' on the Black List? Does anyone know?
                  My understanding is that it isn't too many, but I've heard plenty of anecdotal stories about writers finding representation there and that's really the main thing I'm chasing right now.

                  Comment


                  • #54
                    Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

                    Originally posted by Crayon View Post
                    How many screenplays have been made into movies after being 'discovered' on the Black List? Does anyone know?
                    I can't provide any number, but they're quick to point out a large number of major award winners and blockbusters that "were on the BL".

                    It seems that posting the script on this site has become as typical a part of marketing ("What's your BL score?!" as entrance in film festivals and showing up at comicon etc. (depending on the film type).

                    I'm thinking even regular writers are figuring it's a better deal than contests. If true, Franklin Leonard's cornering more than one market with this.

                    What a guy!

                    It's all part of the prestige component, something he captured with great success (through his cred before he started the site), as opposed to the equivalent script hosting/logline hunting/coverage sites such as VPF, InkTip, and the free ScriptRevolution.

                    I sure admire FL's entrepreneurship, but have never myself been able to take advantage of his site due to the cost. I see he has some great educational/reference resources on the site, but I still despise the name and think he should have retitled it from "black list" when he monetized it from his old script survey. And I like listening to the guy speak and admire his passion, but still think he's charging the wrong side (s/b the users ie. reps/producers, like those expensive personnel contact sites I-forget-their-names; but I guess those are more like IMDB, which charges both the talent and rep side oh well).

                    My daily BL rant. Who cares, eh?

                    Comment


                    • #55
                      Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

                      That’s not it. When they cite it was on the Black List it means it was part of the annual Black List. There is no score. (Well, there are number of votes received but no one cares, really) And they, shadily IMO, attach their brand to something they had little to do with.

                      Comment


                      • #56
                        Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

                        An 8 and a 3....that's quite a disparity. That's like if two English teachers, one graded the same paper an A and the other a F. If such a wide margin happens, the site should look at that and see why themselves....not have the writer have to dispute it.

                        Comment


                        • #57
                          Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

                          Well, the one script that excelled on the Black List website was Susan Allain with Mr. Malcom's List. It was the first that received a lot of attention with a studio executive that loved the script, said so publically, and shared it. This was a few years ago. And it was in production and I believe released, last year?

                          YAY SUSAN!!

                          To give some perspective. My script TRACKER produced these results a couple years ago... it is currently still hosted on the site, is a featured script and is reader endorsed. It received 8s & 9s. Three people have wanted to get it produced. Part of the issue, I believe, is that the budget ranks about $50 million and they just aren't making a lot of features at this budget, not to mention that most serial killer stories now reside in the streaming TV series format. Also consider that while it was hosted at this time I was repped by both a manager and a lawyer, so any manager that "viewed" the script information would have seen that and moved on.

                          Views: 2,055
                          Indy Pro downloads: 98
                          Writer downloads: 112

                          Now, I don't know who in the industry downloaded it. If you search by the "most popular" script, it is #9. Think about those numbers.

                          It still has an average that is above the community average and when I asked the black list WHY it no longer showed up on the top list, even though its score is more than high enough, they said this...

                          "We want to focus on newer writers."

                          Which is bullshit. What they're REALLY saying is that they support the writers that continue to pay for reviews, because if I bought two additional reviews and they averaged above the community average it would be back on the top list.

                          It doesn't matter WHEN your script was written. A good script is a good script. I read one script (before it was on the black list) currently on the TOP LIST, was also on the list in 2013 (7 years ago). Its done well in contests and even got the writer into Imagine Impact 2. This script was good in 2009 and I'm certain its good now. But the point is, it shouldn't matter if you have the scores you should stay on the top lists.

                          It's all about getting your script to the RIGHT person.

                          Yes, FL is capitalizing on the brand he created with the Annual Black List and, from the podcasts I've heard, managers do look to The Black List as a resource but their general belief is that most of the material is not up to the pro level.

                          I have a new spec on the site. I have an industry view with a rating of 9. It's a rom com so the next review might well be a 2. haha. I have disputed an evaluation and they are giving me a new one to replace it. I am still not visible because I only have ONE review, not two, it takes two that average above the community average to get on the top lists. It's been on the site for a month and here are the results...

                          Total views: 7
                          Pro downloads: 2
                          Writer downloads: 2

                          As far as the disparity between an 8 and a 3? FL has defended it with the statement that it's based on THAT reader's expectation of a rating based on HOW LIKELY he would be to recommend it. I don't know, maybe they worked for the Christian Network and read a dark action thriller thinking, HELL, I would never recommend this.

                          Readers read based on WHAT the person that has hired them WANTS. If you don't establish a standard guideline or rubric that ALL READERS MUST ADHERER TO, then you have 1) no consistency, and 2) no validity.

                          I have absolutely no respect for any reader that speed reads scripts to make a buck as fast as possible. YOUR job is to do your job WELL and circumventing your responsibilities because you're too ****ing lazy to do a good job, just pisses the **** out of me.

                          Titan Creed gave me notes on the script on the site now and he gave like 14 pages of carefully considered comments designed to address my intentions. They were hones and fair. I may not agree with all of them, but his examination gave me insight into weaknesses I needed to strengthen. I've now used him twice and have two scripts in the cue.

                          I don't think the quality of readers is the same now as it was a few years ago. Sometimes, the comments are so general that you know they didn't read it. It's really disappointing.

                          What ever happened to being proud of the job you do, regardless of whether you feel you're paid appropriately for it.

                          I don't know... I actually hate the conversations about the black list. I know it doesn't seem so, but I'd like to help inform others, so they walk in with their eyes open.

                          Had a long day. Stay safe everyone. And remember, it all starts with ONE person believing in your work. I'm not gonna give up looking for mine-- don't give up looking for yours.
                          FA4
                          "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


                          • #58
                            Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

                            All you have to do is go back and read reviews to great movies that got trashed by big critics to see how it's just opinion. Nothing more. Your favorite TV show -- someone else hates. So just imagine having only the words to the movie -- the screenplay -- there is no Harrison Ford in the movie -- no soundtrack --and you can see how it's even more of a crap shoot when random readers are reading random screenplays on random days in genres they might love or hate.

                            I'm a comedy guy -- so I prefer to read comedy specs -- however -- I'm also harder on comedy specs because that's my thing. I may be much more forgiving of a thriller movie as a reader. Or I may not understand it as well as my mind thinks differently and give it a bad grade. All these factors go into someone reading you script.

                            I honestly do not get these debates. Been going on here for all the time I've been here.

                            Even friends that we share the same jokes, world will love one of my scripts, hate the others. And they are on my side. So imagine that random reader.

                            It's not grading a math test. There is no right answer. That's the thing that people do not seem to get. You can't write a 7 or 10 or 3 script. It's not up to you. It's up to them.

                            In real worlds terms, a rep or producers like or doesn't like your script enough to want to do something with it. Some reps want to take a "5" script as BL might say and make it a 10. Some reps will pass. One rep might read it and think it's already a "9" and send it right out. It's all subjective.

                            There is of course good writing and bad. If you write well you will have success on BL site and any contest. You should take that as a sign you're pretty good and keep on trying other avenues too. But you should NOT take it as PROOF you're script is perfect and why aren't these people buying it? Same way you shouldn't take it as EVIDENCE you stink if you get bad scores.

                            You can be on the New York Times Bestseller list -- top 10 -- one week if you sell 1000 books depending on the level of competition and number of books released that week. So a book on the bestseller list could have sold a 100K books in one week and another book 5000 and they are both on the same list. It's just based on timing. And rarely on the quality of the book vs the great book sitting on the shelf that sold 4 copies that week.

                            You know in your heart if you're writing and script are good. You are validated along the way from friends, peers, contests... you get better as you go. One day you'll wake up and go "Oh, i am a good writer. I know it. I'm going to try and find a manager to sell this."

                            And I hope we all get there soon. I'm cheering for us all.

                            Comment


                            • #59
                              Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

                              Originally posted by finalact4 View Post
                              Well, the one script that excelled on the Black List website was Susan Allain with Mr. Malcom's List. It was the first that received a lot of attention with a studio executive that loved the script, said so publically, and shared it. This was a few years ago. And it was in production and I believe released, last year?

                              YAY SUSAN!!

                              To give some perspective. My script TRACKER produced these results a couple years ago... it is currently still hosted on the site, is a featured script and is reader endorsed. It received 8s & 9s. Three people have wanted to get it produced. Part of the issue, I believe, is that the budget ranks about $50 million and they just aren't making a lot of features at this budget, not to mention that most serial killer stories now reside in the streaming TV series format. Also consider that while it was hosted at this time I was repped by both a manager and a lawyer, so any manager that "viewed" the script information would have seen that and moved on.

                              Views: 2,055
                              Indy Pro downloads: 98
                              Writer downloads: 112

                              Now, I don't know who in the industry downloaded it. If you search by the "most popular" script, it is #9. Think about those numbers.

                              It still has an average that is above the community average and when I asked the black list WHY it no longer showed up on the top list, even though its score is more than high enough, they said this...

                              "We want to focus on newer writers."

                              Which is bullshit. What they're REALLY saying is that they support the writers that continue to pay for reviews, because if I bought two additional reviews and they averaged above the community average it would be back on the top list.

                              It doesn't matter WHEN your script was written. A good script is a good script. I read one script (before it was on the black list) currently on the TOP LIST, was also on the list in 2013 (7 years ago). Its done well in contests and even got the writer into Imagine Impact 2. This script was good in 2009 and I'm certain its good now. But the point is, it shouldn't matter if you have the scores you should stay on the top lists.

                              It's all about getting your script to the RIGHT person.

                              Yes, FL is capitalizing on the brand he created with the Annual Black List and, from the podcasts I've heard, managers do look to The Black List as a resource but their general belief is that most of the material is not up to the pro level.

                              I have a new spec on the site. I have an industry view with a rating of 9. It's a rom com so the next review might well be a 2. haha. I have disputed an evaluation and they are giving me a new one to replace it. I am still not visible because I only have ONE review, not two, it takes two that average above the community average to get on the top lists. It's been on the site for a month and here are the results...

                              Total views: 7
                              Pro downloads: 2
                              Writer downloads: 2

                              As far as the disparity between an 8 and a 3? FL has defended it with the statement that it's based on THAT reader's expectation of a rating based on HOW LIKELY he would be to recommend it. I don't know, maybe they worked for the Christian Network and read a dark action thriller thinking, HELL, I would never recommend this.

                              Readers read based on WHAT the person that has hired them WANTS. If you don't establish a standard guideline or rubric that ALL READERS MUST ADHERER TO, then you have 1) no consistency, and 2) no validity.

                              I have absolutely no respect for any reader that speed reads scripts to make a buck as fast as possible. YOUR job is to do your job WELL and circumventing your responsibilities because you're too ****ing lazy to do a good job, just pisses the **** out of me.

                              Titan Creed gave me notes on the script on the site now and he gave like 14 pages of carefully considered comments designed to address my intentions. They were hones and fair. I may not agree with all of them, but his examination gave me insight into weaknesses I needed to strengthen. I've now used him twice and have two scripts in the cue.

                              I don't think the quality of readers is the same now as it was a few years ago. Sometimes, the comments are so general that you know they didn't read it. It's really disappointing.

                              What ever happened to being proud of the job you do, regardless of whether you feel you're paid appropriately for it.

                              I don't know... I actually hate the conversations about the black list. I know it doesn't seem so, but I'd like to help inform others, so they walk in with their eyes open.

                              Had a long day. Stay safe everyone. And remember, it all starts with ONE person believing in your work. I'm not gonna give up looking for mine-- don't give up looking for yours.
                              FA4

                              Many educational systems at least attempt to have a standard of judging. They will have teachers grade samples and make sure there isn't a wide fluctuation and what's considered an A, B, C.... It's not just "Hmm... I like it." Scripts aren't just a matter of taste. Even if a genre is not your jam, there should be an ability to judge "American Beauty" A plus from a direct to video script...to someone's first time script.



                              I know you use the Blacklist....but have you considered the top tier contests?

                              Comment


                              • #60
                                Re: Can I do anything with a high placement in a screenwriting competition?

                                Friday: I agree with you. Black List should be able to more consistently identify what a good story/script looks like. I think the problem might have to do with the fact that a reader that has one year experience has a limited view and a lot of personal biases. Are there good readers that have one year experience? Sure. It's possible, BUT you're getting what that company has taught them and not an extensive background.

                                I'm not here debating. I'm offering a point of view from my experience. I will still use black list because 1) it's fast and 2) the industry uses it.

                                I did try contests early on, but when I got to the semifinalist and quarterfinalist and read those scripts after I was a far better writer-- I knew it was bullshit because the scripts were no where near where they needed to be. The concepts were strong. I can absolutely tell the difference between well executed and not.

                                I don't write Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, Green Book or Moonlight fare. Great stories all, but it's not my jam. It's not why I go to the movies. My scripts lean toward high-concept commercial fare. Plot driven action thrillers. Dark tones.

                                I might use Austin this year, but honestly unless you win or place it isn't going to do anything for you. And if you don't write what they are good at, why bother? None of my writing will do well in Nicholl. I'm smart enough to NOT throw money at something that isn't a fit for my writing. And I'm fine with that because I know what it is.

                                I'm shifting focus to a contained thriller along the lines of Gravity meets Solaris. And a dark TV series this year.

                                What I want to share is that you have to consider every avenue and regardless of the naysayers, including me, it's your responsibility as a writer to use every resource you can to find YOUR way in.

                                Queries have always worked well for me. Once I get the second score on the black list i may or may not use it in my queries, but I'm still going to send them out. It costs nothing but time to do so.

                                good luck to everyone and keep writing, keep fighting to get the attention you deserve, and know that we're all going through the same thing.

                                My biggest tip? Learn quickly to "send it and forget it." Move on to the next thing, because the next thing might be a brilliant idea that you never even thought you could have.
                                FA4
                                "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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