The New Black List

[figment]

Re: The New Black List

I think it's an interesting development, but people are praising it for costing the same as one contest, which it does... for the first month.

Yep, so how many months is "ideal" for you to leave it up so it actually gets a shot if, in fact, it is a viable project for a sale? If you were only going to leave it up one month, that may be worth it -- but months and months...?

And JoJo -- I agree. Wow!!

[karlosd]

Re: The New Black List

That's $94,450 . . . not bad for a day's work!!!

I'm sure I read somewhere that refers to the total number of scripts in the BlackList database - not just those posted today by 'aspiring screenwriters', or whatever they're calling us now to avoid using the word 'amateur.'

I think it's an interesting development, but people are praising it for costing the same as one contest, which it does... for the first month.

But leave a couple of scripts up there for a few months, and you'll soon have no money left for all those "number one secret tip to being a professional screenwriter" videos you were going to buy yourself for Christmas.

[Paul Striver]

Re: The New Black List

Bitter Script Reader has an excellent overview that provides far more details than the Black List folks have themselves provided:

Why every aspiring writer should be excited about Black List 3.0

http://thebitterscriptreader.blogspo...uld-be_15.html

[RobWriter]

Re: The New Black List

Just signed up for the $25 service and am giving it a shot. There's already been about 3,000 uploads for scripts, so it's pretty freakin' popular at the moment.

Edit: 3,778 uploaded as of 2:30 PM PST.

That's $94,450 . . . not bad for a day's work!!!

In all seriousness though, very curious what the turnaround time is for a review by a BL reader? I imagine there will be in excess of 10,000 scripts uploaded by the end of the month . . . . that seems like a very big pile to get through.

[JoJo]

Re: The New Black List

Just signed up for the $25 service and am giving it a shot. There's already been about 3,000 uploads for scripts, so it's pretty freakin' popular at the moment.

Edit: 3,778 uploaded as of 2:30 PM PST.

Wow.....

[JoJo]

Re: The New Black List

For all of you wondering, it's the same Black List, just an expanded version.

I am Franklin Leonard. The same guy that created the first list while a development executive at Appian Way back in 2005.

I don't know InkTip's service well, so I can't speak to the primary differences, nor do I see them as competition. We are offering something singular and for a, for the most part, lower price point.

I believe InkTip provides in depth coverage. We do not. We provide a brief evaluation and then use the content of that evaluation (which the writer and choose to make public or keep private, entirely their prerogative) to identify the best scripts which are then spotlighted for our membership of, currently, almost 1200 film industry professionals, which is, I believe, far more than what InkTip can offer.

More on that as I learn more about InkTip, but again, to be very, very clear, we do not view them as competition. From what I understand, their coverage service is quite strong.

Franklin, I appreciate your transparency. It would be helpful if you could post a sample review on the website. I'm interested in knowing just how close/extensive a read these scripts get.

[CColoredClown]

Re: The New Black List

Just signed up for the $25 service and am giving it a shot. There's already been about 3,000 uploads for scripts, so it's pretty freakin' popular at the moment.

Edit: 3,778 uploaded as of 2:30 PM PST.

[JoJo]

Re: The New Black List

I'd be interested in knowing how many agents/managers/prodcos would actually read the scripts that received a favorable review.

[Geoff Alexander]

Re: The New Black List

Per linked article: "....The script will be evaluated by professional script readers, and, depending on its evaluation(s), read by as many as 1,000 film industry professionals who are currently a part of the membership site..."

So,I 'd want to know more about this aspect -- evaluated how -- skimmed? The first ten pages read? What would get you ten reads as opposed to a thousand?

And how many months would you have to keep a script up -- if it was hightly rated by an industry professional -- to ensure you were getting those reads? One month? Six? A year? That could really add up.

It's interesting, because you could easily get rid of 90% of the material with a single reader who was tasked with simply determining if any script in question achieved a basic level of competency. Once you do that, then you lean on classifications, and the interactive nature of the system, i.e., industry participants indicating preferences over time which generates a Netflix like "recommend" list. Ultimately, you could conceivably end up with a manageable pool of material that would be put in front of folks who have already indicated a desire for it.

[cshel]

Re: The New Black List

It seems like you'd almost have to pay for an evaluation, and get a good one, in order to really get any reads. But then after a month or two with no takers, you could just quit. I wonder if they let you get the evaluation for $50.00 bucks first, and then decide to be listed based on that, before you have to pay the $25.00, too. If you have a kick-ass concept and log, you might be best served to just query for free, but then again, if you have the money to spare, this might be easier?

[figment]

Re: The New Black List

Per linked article: "....The script will be evaluated by professional script readers, and, depending on its evaluation(s), read by as many as 1,000 film industry professionals who are currently a part of the membership site..."

So,I 'd want to know more about this aspect -- evaluated how -- skimmed? The first ten pages read? What would get you ten reads as opposed to a thousand?

And how many months would you have to keep a script up -- if it was hightly rated by an industry professional -- to ensure you were getting those reads? One month? Six? A year? That could really add up.

[cshel]

Re: The New Black List

$25 a month PLUS $50 for a read?

Why not just query the people on the producers' list for free?

Well, one good thing that comes out of this is at least I won't have to be annoyed about not making the black list any more!

I'm confused. Isn't it still going to be the same pro Black List as before?

It sounds like this is just a separate service for amateurs that wouldn't have anything to do with the original Black List. Unless in some rare instance it led to a great script getting discovered that then went on to get on the Black List.

Is it a bad thing because they are taking advantage of new writers by charging them? Or are you saying it would diminish the importance of being on the Black List in some way?

[JeffLowell]

Re: The New Black List

More reading fees.

There's a reason the WGA bans agencies from charging them, and it's not because they're a wickedly good idea for writers.

[ReneC]

Re: The New Black List

I'm kind of excited by this. The Black List is a top-down list of recommended scripts. This is going to be the bottom-up list, and as long as Franklin's algorithm does its job it will hopefully force the cream to rise to the top, much like the original Black List.

It also puts a little more control in the hands of the writer to actively get in on the Black List's distribution channel. The caveat being you still need to be good enough to rank well and get the reads.

If my understanding is valid, why wouldn't this be a good thing? More great scripts getting into the hands of buyers.

[madworld]

Re: The New Black List

Well, one good thing that comes out of this is at least I won't have to be annoyed about not making the black list any more!

exactly.