The 2016 Black List is out! Download a copy of the list right here. You can also look back at Black List's from year's past here. The Black List is a compilation of the year's most sought after unproduced scripts. There are certainly politics involved in getting on the list, but no writer would scoff... Continue Reading →
BEN-HUR: From the Page to the Screen
A conversation with the director and cast of the film on practical effects, strong voices, and the power of forgiveness. by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) In 1960, Ben-Hur swept the Academy Awards, taking home Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Picture prizes, just to name a few. Adapting existing source material is challenging, regardless of any other... Continue Reading →
What Does It Take to Draw Audiences to the Theater?
by Fin Wheeler Earlier this month, Derek Thompson from The Atlantic wrote a piece about the Screen Industries’ inability to predict audience tastes and migrations: "2016 is on pace to be the worst year for movies, by tickets bought per US adult, since before the 1920’s. What’s going on?" Research shows that while going to... Continue Reading →
3 Insights from the 2016 Toronto Screenwriting Conference
by Erin Cardiff (@EC1979) There are about 2,500 miles between Toronto and Los Angeles, or what can often be an unpleasant five-plus-hour flight. It can be tough to be based here and still feel connected to work that is mostly performed so far away. Thankfully, this is where the Toronto Screenwriting Conference comes in. The... Continue Reading →
5 Lessons from the 2016 Best Original Screenplay Nominees
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) This Sunday night marks the 88th Academy Awards, honoring the best cinematic storytelling in 2015. As writers, we get to see the finest in our field compete for the prize of Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay. While it takes tremendous talent to adapt an existing work for the screen, those... Continue Reading →