

Hollywood's Black List (Classic)
13 snips Feb 22, 2023
Franklin Leonard, a film executive and the founder of The Black List, discusses his journey from a junior executive to transforming Hollywood's script selection process. He reveals how a simple spreadsheet and an anonymous email address helped him unveil exceptional screenplays hidden among thousands of mediocre ones. Leonard delves into the challenges of finding diverse voices in the industry, the impact of The Black List on Hollywood's power dynamics, and how it has celebrated promising talents and reshaped the narrative landscape.
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Franklin's Interview
- Franklin Leonard, a self-proclaimed black nerd and film enthusiast, struggled to answer Leonardo DiCaprio's favorite movie question during a job interview.
- He later sent a list of his 100 favorite movies and landed the job at DiCaprio's production company.
Finding Gems in the Ocean of Scripts
- In Hollywood, finding good scripts is challenging due to the sheer volume and lack of reliable indicators of quality.
- Junior executives live in fear of missing the next big script.
The Script Reader's Struggle
- Franklin's job involved reading numerous scripts, most of which were subpar, leading to unproductive weekends and the fear of missing out.
- Hollywood's bias towards established white writers often overlooks talented writers from diverse backgrounds.