New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

[Bruce Rose]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

If your reviews come in at 8 or higher, and you get into the weekly email, or if you make it into the Top List, you'll see some more pro traffic.

This is not necessarily the case. I think it's fair to say it raises the odds of increasing pro traffic but it is far from a guarantee.

[MichaelJ]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

Hi TinLizzie!

Once again you are so kind! Thanks for taking the time to define the BL terminology, much appreciated. So I was way off in my interpretation! An actual paid reader is evaluating... or will be, has just downloaded my script probably with a bunch of other downloads to read in time. Also, I thought the paid reader was able to choose scripts in the area of their interest and not be assigned a script where you say they are actually assigned a particular script. "The "queue" is the line-up of scripts that a BL reader is assigned."

So they (a paid reader) can't choose like a Romantic Comedy over Sci-Fi that they must read what they are assigned?

I thought BL tries to do that, match readers with their favorite areas to read. I just wish BL would match a reader in the areas of their interest as even movie-goers also do so. I was only trying to understand BL overview and terminology yet also being certain I was interpreting my script overview correctly. So no disappointment, just happier and appreciative to have a better understanding thanks to your sharing of knowledge. Thanks so much for all the help you've been in the past too, a magnanimous deed!

Kindest Regards,
Mike

[celticbeauty]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

This is not necessarily the case. I think it's fair to say it raises the odds of increasing pro traffic but it is far from a guarantee.

I never said it was a guarantee of a read. I said he'll see more traffic (ie. more views), which he very likely would. I also didn't say how many more views. Just that there would be an increase from where it is now (without any reviews).

[SundownInRetreat]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

I never said it was a guarantee of a read. I said he'll see more traffic (ie. more views), which he very likely would. I also didn't say how many more views. Just that there would be an increase from where it is now (without any reviews).

Yes. It's a mistake to confuse clarity with pedantry. I'm sure most people understood what you meant.

[FranklinLeonard]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

Hi TinLizzie!

Once again you are so kind! Thanks for taking the time to define the BL terminology, much appreciated. So I was way off in my interpretation! An actual paid reader is evaluating... or will be, has just downloaded my script probably with a bunch of other downloads to read in time. Also, I thought the paid reader was able to choose scripts in the area of their interest and not be assigned a script where you say they are actually assigned a particular script. "The "queue" is the line-up of scripts that a BL reader is assigned."

So they (a paid reader) can't choose like a Romantic Comedy over Sci-Fi that they must read what they are assigned?

I thought BL tries to do that, match readers with their favorite areas to read. I just wish BL would match a reader in the areas of their interest as even movie-goers also do so. I was only trying to understand BL overview and terminology yet also being certain I was interpreting my script overview correctly. So no disappointment, just happier and appreciative to have a better understanding thanks to your sharing of knowledge. Thanks so much for all the help you've been in the past too, a magnanimous deed!

Kindest Regards,
Mike

Our readers are ONLY assigned scripts in the genres in which they have interest. Period. Full stop.

[celticbeauty]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

Hi TinLizzie!

Once again you are so kind! Thanks for taking the time to define the BL terminology, much appreciated. So I was way off in my interpretation! An actual paid reader is evaluating... or will be, has just downloaded my script probably with a bunch of other downloads to read in time. Also, I thought the paid reader was able to choose scripts in the area of their interest and not be assigned a script where you say they are actually assigned a particular script. "The "queue" is the line-up of scripts that a BL reader is assigned."

So they (a paid reader) can't choose like a Romantic Comedy over Sci-Fi that they must read what they are assigned?

I thought BL tries to do that, match readers with their favorite areas to read. I just wish BL would match a reader in the areas of their interest as even movie-goers also do so. I was only trying to understand BL overview and terminology yet also being certain I was interpreting my script overview correctly. So no disappointment, just happier and appreciative to have a better understanding thanks to your sharing of knowledge. Thanks so much for all the help you've been in the past too, a magnanimous deed!

Kindest Regards,
Mike

Before posting questions, you may want to refer to the Black List Help & FAQ page here:
http://www.blcklst.com/help/

Your question was answered there. It says:
"How do the readers get assigned a script? Do I get to find out who my reader is?
Our readers conduct all of their work anonymously (though we monitor it closely and expect a very high standard.) They're assigned scripts based on their stated genre preferences. A romantic comedy fan will never read a horror script and vice versa, unless that reader is the rare person who seeks out both genres."

Reads are assigned, but they are assigned based on the readers pre-selected preferences.

[Bruce Rose]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

I never said it was a guarantee of a read. I said he'll see more traffic (ie. more views), which he very likely would. I also didn't say how many more views. Just that there would be an increase from where it is now (without any reviews).

The statement "very likely would" makes sense to me. You need a qualifier like "probably" or "likely" or the sentence just isn't true (like your last sentence above). This is a point worth making because I think it is wrong to misrepresent the significance of making the top list or an e-mail and create unrealistic expectations among potential users of the site. BTW, Franklin doesn't do this, neither should posters on this forum. I had a script on the top list for weeks and I didn't see an uptick in pro views or downloads. My concept score qualified for an e-mail and I didn't see an uptick in views or downloads. All I know is my experience and I'm sure others have had different experiences. I would also bet I'm not the only one who didn't see more "pro traffic" being on the list or an e-mail. I didn't get an overall 8 and I'm sure there's something unappealing about my logline, potential demographic, genre, or concept but that is irrelevant to the point being made.

There is no guarantee of an increase in pro views or downloads if a script makes a top list or an e-mail.

[celticbeauty]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

The statement "very likely would" makes sense to me. You need a qualifier like "probably" or "likely" or the sentence just isn't true (like your last sentence above). This is a point worth making because I think it is wrong to misrepresent the significance of making the top list or an e-mail and create unrealistic expectations among potential users of the site. BTW, Franklin doesn't do this, neither should posters on this forum. I had a script on the top list for weeks and I didn't see an uptick in pro views or downloads. My concept score qualified for an e-mail and I didn't see an uptick in views or downloads. All I know is my experience and I'm sure others have had different experiences. I would also bet I'm not the only one who didn't see more "pro traffic" being on the list or an e-mail. I didn't get an overall 8 and I'm sure there's something unappealing about my logline, potential demographic, genre, or concept but that is irrelevant to the point being made.

There is no guarantee of an increase in pro views or downloads if a script makes a top list or an e-mail.

Again, I made no guarantees. You're reading too far into what was said. Please let it go so we can get this thread back to what it was intended for--questions for Franklin.

To that end, Franklin, a member of my writing group had a couple questions regarding the TBS/TNT initiative, so I'm posting on his behalf. It says that pilots are preferred, but those who don't have a pilot can opt-in with a feature. Would it put a writer at a disadvantage to opt in with a feature? Good writing is good writing, but writing a pilot is in many ways different than writing a feature. Would Turner consider an emerging writer without any experience writing a pilot before (especially given the strength of many of the pilots listed on the site over the past few months)? Under what circumstance would you short list the writer of a feature script over the writer of a television pilot?

Thanks in advance for the information.

[DayJobWriter]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

Question for Franklin: have you considered hosting shorts (perhaps 2-40 pages)?

I'd host one or two!

[nrc79]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

Here's a question I haven't yet seen in these forums:
How often do pro downloads result in ratings? Has anyone crunched those numbers yet? My script was included in last week's email roundup, and since then, it's been downloaded half a dozen times. But no new ratings have been posted.
I'm asking because it seems you need two or more ratings to land on a "top list." So far, I've only bought one review (and so, only have one rating). I'm wondering if I should buy another review or wait to see what happens w/ the downloads... My impression is, you need two high reviews within the same month to make it onto a top list, so if I'm going to buy another review, I need to do it soon.

[radley]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

Many thanks to Franklin for providing another avenue for writers to get their work seen.

I recently received a BL script review with an overall score of 6. Nothing to write home about, to be sure, but the evaluation was really encouraging. The reader cited the script as very strong conceptually, with a truly original idea and a potential for great success. (Tone and narrative need work).

Since the script eval. read much better than the overall score, I'm considering making the eval. visible; however, as a newbie, I'm not able to properly assess the pros and cons.

Any insights are appreciated.

[JaGra]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

Is it possible for writers to pay for Blabklist services via PayPal?

If not, will this be added in the future for those who are uncomfortable using credit cards online?

[happywash]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

Just curious as to what time the Monday email/newsletter touting the 8s and above goes out?

[ClintW3]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

I'm certain this issue has been addressed, but dang if I can find it in this long, long, looooooong thread.

If you have significantly revised a script, what is the best way to put it on the list other without the scores of an earlier version coming into play?

New version, new paid reads, fresh start. A do over, as it were?

Thanks.

[sallain]

Re: New Black List Thread - Franklin Leonard answers your questions

If you have significantly revised a script, what is the best way to put it on the list other without the scores of an earlier version coming into play?

New version, new paid reads, fresh start. A do over, as it were?

Remove Script, then Add Script.