Screenwriting : Deactivated My Black List tonight by Mike W. Rogers

I agree completely! I got an overall 7 on my pilot, but the notes really only gave a few easy fixes. I'm starting to think that they set it up, so that you'll keep resubmitting drafts.... or maybe it was just a 7. Who knows? Either way, I'm with you. I deactivated too, but got some good notes.

If you score well I guess it makes sense to keep it up there, Executive definitely check it but if you don't score well and buy another review (reasoning: that is only one persons opinion) but now your in like $100.00 and I can think of 4 other services which are cheaper and historically better when your not trying to sell the next Good Will Hunting.

Thanks for listening and responding!!!

Of course Sven! I'll drop you a message. If it's something I can't answer well find someone who can!

Last comment on this, I don't mean to bash the service. I believe clarity on how their service actually works would be appreciated.

A. S. Templeton Facts.

I had a similar experience to A.S. Templeton. The BL is a money making endeavor, that's all.

I've never used it, but it's worth noting that it's not unusual for a https://blcklst.com script to become film. I've seen it happen a number of times.

Blake, my apologies, but I assume you are confusing the BL Annual Industry Survey — the yearly tallied list of unproduced screenplays that are the top picks made by those within the industry — with the BL Script Listing Data Base Website, the link you posted. Same brand name, two different services. Scripts from various Annual Surveys have indeed been made into films, but most on those survey lists are repped screenwriters and/or well established screenwriters/filmmakers. Whereas that may not be said of the site. The Annual Industry Survey and the Script Listing Website for amateur writers have little to do with each other... except perhaps confuse.

Thank you Beth! That kind of explains it!

The BL should only be used by writers who have the money to burn by rolling the dice. It uses inexperienced readers (who get paid peanuts) so the scores you get will be inconsistent and mostly arbitrary. If you score highly, you MIGHT get exposure for your script and therein lies the only real value of the service. (You may also get actionable notes in the reader reviews that are helpful, but I wouldn't count on it.) So if you sign up for the BL, be aware it could be money down the drain.

The first blacklist was comprised of Hollywood professionals who supported communism in the 40's and 50's. They couldn't work in Hollywood because of this. Robert Bolt and Dalton Trumbo were on it. The second blacklist is the annual survey. Sort of ironic, and it came long after the first. The third one, which this thread is about, shouldn't have called itself the blacklist. This has only confused things. If anyone's interested, there's an alternative to this called spec scout. Their pricing is different, but if you want to submit to the online blacklist you'd probably end up paying the same as spec scout I think. Spec scout is relatively new so I can't fully vouch for it. But maybe a good option to keep an eye on as an alternative for anyone thinking about submitting to the blacklist. It's $297 for three simultaneous reads, and if your score averages 75/100 or higher, you get hosted, if it doesn't you still get three separate coverage write ups on your screenplay. Their scores are more consistent than the blacklist from what I know, and their readers are better and more qualified. But check it out for yourself.

https://specscout.com/

Good point Dan! The getting off the ass and moving thing...the only advise I have NOT followed so far!

How did she set up meetings with managers?

She picked up the phone and called

Dan M. That is how I got my Agent. I picked up the phone and called.

That's an awesome story. I think we may start to take for granted that the agents don't want to meet with us unless we have some serious heat, so we try to find the path of least resistance. Really inspiring.

I'm curious to see what happens with that. I heard of a script on BL that received 10 from one reader and 3 from another. It seems so crazy to me that a script can receive a perfect score from one reader and a brutal one from another, especially if they're supposed to be trained readers.

They're not trained readers at all. The pay rate they offer proves that. I got a 7 then a 3 on the same script. A 10 and a 3 is just ridiculous. One script I uploaded got a quarterfinalist in Screamcraft, a consider from ScreenplayReaders and was the number 1 rated monthly script on Zoetrope. I paid for 2 evaluations and they came back a 4 and a 3. So Screamcraft readers were wrong, ScreenplayReaders reader was wrong and the 8 people on Zoetrope were wrong? No. The BL is a money waster.

Lol beware of folks with 0 credits who know more than folks with jobs.

Complain about websites, complain about feedback, complain about contests, about women only fellowships, just a bunch of complainers.

look in the mirror. That is the only person stopping you from making movies.

Sure CJ, keep telling working Americans how to run American businesses.

Anyway, best of luck, wasting too much time bullshitting on Black List & Franklin, nobody is stopping you but your own conspiracies and bad craft.

LOL. Beware of folks whose only credits are rejections. In short, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Look, the majority of our S32 members (including all on this thread) either express dislike, concern, dissatisfaction and/or alarm when it comes to the Black List Script Listing Data Base Website. All certainly have the right to do so. It will be interesting to see what unfolds with a legal investigation, and its possible ripple effect.

The 3 score seems very common with BL. I think their readers do it in a way to manipulate the system. If they feel the script doesn't deserve to reach an over 8 average, then they'll destroy its chances. But this isn't the proper way to evaluate a script. I've read an okay amount of spec scripts and I think maybe one I'd give as low as a 3. I think it's very discouraging for writers too.

Michael, personally speaking, I think you made a wise decision deactivating your BL account. I hope this discussion helped you somewhat. And I wish you the best with your writing endeavors. Good luck to you, sir! ;)

Sorry for your experience. I never tried BL before, so I guess I lucked out. It's out to directors now. http://www.billtaub.com/whistle-blower-high-praise-indeed/ For paid evaluations '8' is the top score. An average over 6.1 is supposed to be really good.

Pros aint doing Hollywood from a UK computer.

Beth Fox Heisinger BETH, THANK YOU!!!!!! (the caps are due to the distance from your comment)

You're welcome, Michael. ;)

I'm in Australia and have connected with a US producer and also a US director with two of my scripts. They don't care where I live because they loved my work. Skype is a thing, look it up.

I once saw a man eat his own head! No, but in all seriousness, it's 2017 and talent is talent.

>Pros aint [sic] doing Hollywood from a UK computer.

Er, yes they are. Plenty of them!

Blimey.

CJ

I'm doin alright. I don't waste time obsessin about a website & unknown Reader evaluations. What happened to you in past, you can't let go.

Guys... C'mon.

Hear hear, Beth. Dan's constant criticisms of pretty much every one's aspirations here has started to become very tiresome. His posts/responses are also quite laughable given his profile and notices of nothing but failure/rejection. If only there was some way to block his posts?

CJ

You too buddy. You know Im just effing around, waitin for the ink to dry on my deal. Best to you, sir! We all want to play!

CJ, I have fought for this community every day for the past five years—and have been the one to get toxic and damaging members removed, all while following S32 policies and criteria. No fear here. The final call to suspend someone is up to management. I greatly appreciate incredible members who contribute so much of their time and knowledge, like yourself and countless others. I have gotten to know Dan M, as many of us have. If you or A.S. or anyone would like to complain officially about a member, I'm happy to take that complaint. Or please send your concerns to management through "Contact Us." A.S., if you are so unhappy with me, or any moderator, or the site and community and its policies, then please do send in a stronger, formal complaint. And, Michael, I apologize for the personal disputes that erupted within your post. Those surely are not helpful to you, nor to those who are here to talk about screenwriting topics. And I apologize for my final comments. I'm here to help. It's never my intention to "hijack" a thread. Now let's please let this thread return to its subject, and the Screenwriting forum return to its overall topic of screenwriting. ;)

Thank you Beth, I really do appreciate all you do! Please don't stop. As for this thread, I moved on a while ago.

You are appreciated Beth Fox Heisinger I'm amazed at how unappreciative people can be.

Alle Segretti was here? I sent that nutcase 2 of my scripts which of course were trash and I had no idea what I was doing. That person is not stable. I blocked Alle on Facebook. Can someone PM me and let me know if she did anything I should be concerned about?

Otherwise I respectfully disagree with Lauras take. For the first time I looked into Stage32s paid coverage and I think its a much safer bet to lay $149 or $249 down for an ACTUAL professional to read your script rather than pay $25 for hosting and buying 2 evaluations from 2 nobodies, like me, for $150 and taking a complete crap shoot. Pitching on here or VPF isn't comparable to the evaluations I don't think.

Matthew. Alle Segretti will never anything if she lives to be 200 years old so I wouldn't worry about her making something you wrote. I miss her because she caused some real good heated discussions.

She made zero sense but has millions of dollars of projects in development, just ask, she'll tell you. She told me my scripts weren't scripts but treatments/novels/script mish mashes that no one would touch. When she told me that I went, no and wrote her off as an internet nutter. Seems I was correct.

Mathew. She does tell a good story but nobody would hand over millions of dollars to her to make a movie.