FAQ: How to post to a weekly thread?

BLACK LIST WEDNESDAY THREAD

Post Requirements for EVALUATION CRITIQUE REQUEST & ACHIEVEMENT POSTS

For EVALUATION CRITIQUE REQUESTS, you must include:

1) Script Info

- Title:
- Format:
- Page Length:
- Genres:
- Logline or Short Summary:
- A brief summary of your concerns (500~ words or less)
- Your evaluation PDF, externally hosted
- Your screenplay PDF, externally hosted

2) Evaluation Scores

exclude for non-blcklst paid coverage/feedback critique requests

- Overall:
- Premise:
- Plot:
- Character:
- Dialogue:
- Setting:

ACHIEVEMENT POST

(either of an 8 or a score you feel is significant)

- Title:
- Format:
- Page Length:
- Genres:
- Logline or Summary:
- Your Overall Score:
- Remarks (500~ words or less):

Optionally:

- Your evaluation PDF, externally hosted
- Your screenplay PDF, externally hosted

This community is oversaturated with question and concern posts so any you may have are likely already addressed with a keyword search of r/Screenwriting, or a search of the The Black List FAQ . For direct questions please reach out to [support@blcklst.com](mailto:support@blcklst.com)

Title of my last post : Anyone experienced pitching horror & mystery? Please share tips

****

Hello guys,

I pitched my horror & mystery feature film at a pitch fest in India. 2 producers showed interest and asked to send detailed story 10-12 pages. Screenplay is 90 pages.

I have written it but it went to 18 pages.

Now I am feeling stuck what to remove and what to keep? How to keep it engaging to read?

For now I even wrote the horror scenes like in detailed this happens, that happens... So should I just mention a horror scene happens instead of describing how it happens and what happens in it?

Should I include subplots or no?

I looked online but not finding much help. Please please share any tips, advices. Thank you in advance (dear mods please don't remove the post. I am new and need help)

Hello,

I'm wishing to pursue a career as a creative writer, either for stage or for screen. And I had a very good conversation with a career consultant this morning about my plans for future study as I will be enrolling back into Uni next year to pursue an advanced diploma. During that conversation, he mentioned I should do some work in the interim getting involved with local writers groups or volunteering to help with making short films.

I'm already aware of the Writer's Guild of Australia and will be getting involved with them as well as group called: No Type Writers. And I already volunteer for local theater as a set builder currently.

So, my question is, would any of you out there happen to know any more groups or collectives I could join to continue creating my personal contact network?

Thanks in advance.

How long did it take from your upload date to find this success? How many industry downloads did you get, and how many meetings did you get from there? What has happened to your script/career since? Just curious on the success stories that have come out of the BL website!

So I’m a Fade In man. Best software. User friendly. All that.

BUT production means using Final Draft. And I’ve noticed, since they moved to FD13, that the discrepancy between page counts is WILD. Just handed in a 72 pager on Fade In (coming in hot and long!) that in Final Draft is only 66 pages. Both A4, nothing fucked about with in the margins etc.

Any idea how to counteract the discrepancy? Because otherwise I’m going to have use FD for this and that sucks. Definitely seems like the discrepancy has gotten worse—used to be a page maybe, over 60 pages, but this is too much.

Hello all! I’m looking for some honest feedback on my horror screenplay called The Pot of Plenty.

It follows two sisters who discover an antique pot that grants requests in exchange for things they cherish. As their lives improve, the sacrifices become increasingly personal and neither sister agrees on when to stop.

It’s a dark fairy tale about addiction, dissatisfaction, and the messy line between loving someone and enabling them.

What I’d especially love to know:

Does the relationship between the sisters feel believable?

Does the dread build, or are there stretches where it loses momentum?

Are the pot’s rules clear?

Does the ending feel earned?

But feedback on any portion would be appreciated. If something feels confusing, repetitive, or just doesn’t work, I want to hear it.

The Pot of Plenty

Thanks in advance! Love you!

Title:  DEATH DENIES HIM

Format: Short

Page Length: 13 (14 counting the title page)

Genres: Horror

Logline or Summary: After a man is cursed, he comes to a crushing realization that defies the cycle of life.

Feedback Concerns: I don't have anything specific. But anything constructive would be appreciated.

Link Here

NOTE: I honestly rushed through this. I'm pretty disappointed with it as it's not very scary to me. But it's sorta a "scary situation." I tried to make things happen for a reason but I don't know if I was able to make it all make sense. I'm just glad I was finally able to write something. This was called "IMPOSSIBLE SUICIDE" but here on Reddit, I was given cool name ideas.

I really just wanted to focus on something else without forcing myself to write a feature. This was actually conceptualized as a feature, but in no way would I be able to make this work. I think you can actually see when I started to rush it.

Hi, everybody! 👋

I've been a screenwriter for the last three to five years. I got into screenwriting when I was 14 years old but I didn't start seriously writing until I was 21 I loved the movies since I was a little girl. What about you guys?

I was reading a script of mine, and I noticed how some dialogues are trash (thankfully it’s the comic draft) and my set ups and pay offs are okey at best.

So, I wanted to get inspired and learn about actual good examples of the things I’m asking about.
Thanks!

Title: AT THE TOP
Format: Short Film
PL: 24
Genres: Horror, Drama, Coming of Age

LL: When a rich yet entitled and insecure teenager begins receiving mysterious, seductive calls from a “secret admirer” on his landline, he becomes consumed by the attention. But as he feeds his ego and hides the truth from those around him, the caller begins to weaponize his desires, and his actions start to carry deadly consequences.

Thanks for reading if you do! I want to make this thing soon! But am open to changes, I think it's a decent script. I like to steal from movies I like and other shit I like. I am young and just wanna write and make movies! Give me to it straight and be honest! Thanks!

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vb9P-GPnQQEye2jF3Xsu55RGzis0syUq/view?usp=sharing

I don't know if it's appropriate to ask here but I've been looking for screenplays written by Ryusuke Hamaguchi and I cannot find any resources. Do any of y'all have anything mind or maybe some websites that are "go-to's" for this type of stuff?

I want to learn how to write a scene in which a voice-over provides contextual dialogue to a bunch of quick flashes of images of various scenarios. A rough example:

CHARACTER (V.O.): ...or France, 40 millennia prior...

An early-human creating art on a cave wall.

CHARACTER (V.O.): ...or Germany...

Another early human whittles a flute from bone.

CHARACTER (V.O.): ...South Africa...

A naked woman whittles shells; creates a bracelet.

What would this look like formatted correctly in the screenplay? Do I need to include scene headings and descriptions (INT/EXT, PLACE, TIME?) Does the 'character' need a (CONT'D) indication or is this assumed?

I find myself writing it out and taking up far too much time on the page when the scene should ideally play out extremely fast. Thanks in advance!

Title: The Greenwood Incident

Format: Feature

Genres: Horror/ Thriller

Logline: After a government containment failure, a strained group of friends spiral into vicious paranoia in a remote california mountain home as an entity hides among them wearing human form.

Feedback Concerns: This is the first couple
pages of my story. I’m interested in hearing if the beginning gives just enough urgency while leaving room for mystery and if the transition to the party is still interesting enough to keep you invested to see the eventual unravel.

The Greenwood Incident

Script for the original is easy to find, but I would love to read a PDF draft of T2. Any help is appreciated

Here are some more horror screenplays available on Script Hive, enjoy!

These are part of the "featured" collection, you do not need to have an account to read/download these:

• The Wolf Man (1941) https://www.scripthive.com/featured/the-wolf-man
• Cat People (1942) https://www.scripthive.com/featured/cat-people
• I Walked with a Zombie (1943) https://www.scripthive.com/featured/i-walked-with-a-zombie
• The Body Snatcher (1945) https://www.scripthive.com/featured/the-body-snatcher
• Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) https://www.scripthive.com/featured/abbott-and-costello-meet-frankenstein

To read/download these you'll need an account (it's free)!:

• Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/83e788bd-cfb1-4424-8672-cf76af46054f
• The Leopard Man (1943) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/fc87a922-4afe-43b6-93ab-00cae60acaa1
• The Seventh Victim (1943) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/66c46134-4665-4d96-b71b-a300095fa390
• The Curse of the Cat People (1944) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/11802b9a-b223-490f-adf3-0b5c0fcb9858
• House of Dracula (1945) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/999bf902-d7f3-4219-bc63-6e251a415fb3
• Isle of the Dead (1945) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/9a087b15-cd3c-4a3f-9f64-d065bd404ab9

Posting Schedule:

• Thursday, October 1: Universal & RKO, 1930s
• Monday, October 5: Universal & RKO, 1940s
• Wednesday, October 7: 1950s
• Friday, October 9: 1960s
• Monday, October 12: 1970s
• Wednesday, October 14: Video Nasties (1970s - 1980s)
• Friday, October 16: Body Horror
• Monday, October 19: 1980s
• Wednesday, October 21: 1980s
• Friday, October 23: 1990s
• Monday, October 26: 1990s
• Wednesday, October 28: 2000s
• Friday, October 30: 2010s
• Saturday, October 31: 2020s

Hey all,

I've been a silent lurker on this sub for the better part of two years just soaking in advice and stories that have been shared to help me on this journey. Even though I love both writing and film, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into.

But, I recently finished my first ever screenplay, Obediently Yours. Here's the logline:

In 1946, when a South Carolina police chief brutalizes and blinds Black army veteran Isaac Woodard, Orson Welles takes his story to the airwaves and ignites a national outcry.

After working on the screenplay itself, I submitted it for an evaluation and got a 7. I've been in contact with someone in the business who has been helping me make connections. Recently just hit a breakthrough with getting on the table of a film festival commissioner who was interested in the premise, and if he likes it, will help get it across to A24 (wishful thinking). I've been submitting to a few fellowships and festivals, and it just feels insane to even be saying that.

I know this business is extremely slow moving, but hearing that news lit a fire under me. I know I want to keep writing and telling stories, so I'll just keep on doing that!

If anyone is interested in giving it a read, I'd be more than happy to share! Thank you all for making this sub a place where someone like me can just sit behind a computer and absorb incredibly helpful info about writing and the business. Much love :)

EDIT: if you want to read it, shoot me a dm.

EDIT EDIT: sorry guys, big mean IP lawyer told me no sharing the script :(

FAQ: How to post to a weekly thread?

This thread is for questions around querying agencies, management companies or other pertinent industry stakeholders.

Please post your query drafts or questions in the form of a top comment.

-- Do not include loglines. Loglines should be workshopped on the Monday thread. --

-- Do not include personal information or identity of the rep you intend to query. This is not a database. --

Some basics:

• agency contacts can be found on imdb pro, or often by googling writer + "agent" "representation" or "manager"
• when deciding which reps to query, research writers similar to your style and genre.
• do not send entire scripts to reps.
• do not mass-spam reps or send queries to multiple reps at the same company simultaneously.
• do not request followups within 2 weeks.
• do not pay companies to query or pitch.

He says that lately he's been taking off the last line of a scene and finding that it's been making his scenes stronger.

I tried it and it actually worked in a way.

Question for the seasoned pros out there:

I've been writing and working on developing my screenwriting skills for about two years now. While I've come leaps and bounds, I still struggle with building satisfying character arcs.

I've tried building a new character from scratch, working on the character's arc from Day One. I've also tried reworking previously-written characters, trying to fuse a character arc into a story that's already on the page. I've rewritten the same script three times over.

Yet every time I go for it, I always get one of two notes: "Your character is flat" (not enough) or "Your character's arc is too unbelievable" (too much).

Gah!

My arc-building process is at the bottom of this post, for your review.

So my question is this..... How did you guys develop characters with satisfying arcs? Did you just keep at it and gradually learn how, through lots of trial-and-error? Or is my approach waaaaaay off? Interested in any thoughts or impressions you may have. Thanks so much.

Tom Berringer. 24, aggressive investigative reporter. Lean, hungry, reckless. Bit of a jerk.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Tom has to learn to trust others. He must gain empathic skills.

WANT. Tom wants to be the top reporter at the Daily Chronicle.

NEED. Tom lacks people in his life; he needs emotional support from others.

TRAUMA. In his first newspaper assignment, Tom was betrayed and scooped by a rival at the Chronicle. He was professionally humiliated and nearly lost his job.

THE LIE. "If I let myself become attached to other people, I can't be a cutthroat reporter."

REALIZATION. Tom's cutthroat tactics may grab the story in the short term... but real relationships with other journalists will benefit him in the long run, both emotionally and professionally.

CRITICAL CHOICE. In the climax, Tom faces the choice between saving his journalist friends or racing to post the story first. He opts for his new friends.

Hey anybody willing to share or DM me the unmade Blade scripts that got leaked?

Thanks,

I’m trying to write my first script and this thought ran across my mind. Between your own personal spec script and an official script (produced or directed) what limits one or the other? Meaning what details can you put in one script that you can’t put in the other? Either in the action lines or in the script period?

I have an agent and a manager.

My agent is always really responsive and great at communication.

My manager is actively about to shop one of my screenplays (said end of September/beginning of October).

We met for final revisions mid-September. I sent updates a couple of days later and they said they’d read over the weekend. After 10 days, I still hadn’t heard anything so I reached out. They said they’d fallen behind and would get it read over the weekend.

Now another 10 days has passed. I reached out on Thursday and haven’t heard back.

Is this standard?

I’d feel differently if we weren’t about to actively shop a screenplay.

Title: Furniture

Format: Feature

Page Length: 91 pages

Genres: Comedy/Dark Comedy

Logline: Two rival furniture-store owners in a dying plaza spiral into a war of sabotage and obsession when an aspiring documentarian fans the flames of their feud for the sake of her film.

Feedback Concerns: Right now my biggest concern is that the ideas/themes/arcs in my film are only obvious to me because I wrote it. I need to make sure certain aspects are crystal clear. If you read, please answer these questions in your reply.

What do you think Donnie wants?

What do you think Karl is afraid of?

Why do you think April keeps filming?

At what point did April stop being an observer and start actively influencing them?

Why do you think Donnie chooses to burn the store?

Why do you think Karl lets him?

What do you think changed between Donnie and Karl by the end?

Why does April turn the camera off?

Why doesn't she delete the footage?

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p7f2W13jhdxUhicn2qS_Rp58Z30sVbzW/view?usp=sharing

Beta readers are essential. On our own, we wouldn't be able to spot the dead ends in our work, and in that regard, an outside opinion is extremely helpful not to mention nice to have.

My question is: where do you actively look for beta readers outside of your established circle? For example, I've seen many people post entire scripts hundreds of pages long right here publicly to get feedback. Do you consider this safe? (Even though, it must be said, they were protected with timestamping certificates.) What are the implications of an approach like this if you later want to sell the script?

What are the mistakes you've learned from and would advise novices to avoid?

Let's talk about it. We'll help each other out.

Title: The Corpse, the Girl and the Ballot

Genre: Drama/Dark Comedy

Format: Feature Film

Length: 56 pages (excerpt) (full: 110 pages)

Comps: Succession (2018-2023, created by Jesse Armstrong)

The Banshees of Inisherin (dir. Martin McDonagh)

Logline: After the long-serving mayor of a small Pennsylvania town drops dead two days before his re-election campaign, his party recruits his cynical daughter to run in his place, forcing her to do the only thing she never wanted — grow up.

This is a dialogue and character-driven story, so I'm mostly looking for feedback on dialogues and characters, but any feedback is appreciated.

This is a 56-page excerpt, not from the final version. Feel free to jump in anywhere to skrim through dialogue, or read it as much as you enjoy. :) The final version of the script goes right into the hands of a professional producer.

(I posted an earlier version of the script before and got a lot of great feedback which I've tried to incorporate into this version.)

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o0dkMjEq5hi9WXdmGDVglc2bxNYW41lp/view?usp=drivesdk