Rapid Response: A new script for the book biz and Hollywood, with The Black List’s Franklin Leonard
Oct 1, 2024
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Franklin Leonard, Founder and CEO of The Black List, revolutionizes how Hollywood discovers scripts and is now bridging the gap between literature and film. He highlights the bottlenecks in talent discovery and the billions in missed revenue from diverse voices in storytelling. Leonard discusses the importance of adapting novels into films and the financial benefits of inclusive narratives. He also addresses the role of AI in creativity, emphasizing its limitations in capturing human emotion essential to compelling stories.
Franklin Leonard's expansion of The Black List into the book industry aims to connect overlooked literature with Hollywood's demand for adaptations, boosting visibility and revenue.
The podcast emphasizes the need for re-evaluating industry assumptions about risk to foster creativity and discover untapped talent across creative sectors.
Deep dives
Economic Impact of The Blacklist
The Blacklist, initiated as a platform for promoting unproduced screenplays, has recently expanded to include novels, which represents a significant evolution in its mission. This expansion aims to bridge the gap between literary talent and the film industry by allowing novelists to create profiles showcasing their works, thus increasing their visibility to publishers and filmmakers. Evidence suggests a dramatic monetary incentive tied to this initiative, as adaptations of novels frequently contribute significantly to the film industry’s revenue, highlighting a clear connection between literature and cinematic success. The platform intends to unearth exceptional writing that might otherwise remain unnoticed, potentially leading to lucrative publishing and adaptation opportunities.
Challenging Perceptions of Risk
Franklin Leonard emphasizes that the entertainment industry operates under flawed assumptions regarding risk, which stifles creativity and financial growth. He argues that conventional wisdom about certain genres or demographics being commercially unviable can lead to significant economic losses for Hollywood. For instance, historical perceptions about female-driven action films led to numerous missed opportunities, as evidenced by the success of films like 'Hunger Games' and 'Black Panther.' By re-evaluating what constitutes 'risk,' The Blacklist seeks to mitigate these biases and support projects that might otherwise be overlooked, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and profitable creative landscape.
Linking Literature and Film
The interconnectedness of the book publishing and film industries reinforces the need for platforms like The Blacklist to identify promising novels that can be transformed into successful film or TV adaptations. Leonard mentions partnerships with prominent producers to facilitate this process, highlighting specific examples, such as the adaptation of self-published novels that have achieved notable success. These collaborations aim to create a seamless pathway for authors to reach broader audiences via film and television. Ultimately, the initiative positions The Blacklist as a crucial connector, fulfilling the desires of both authors seeking recognition and film executives looking for viable source material.
The Future of Creative Industries
Leonard remains optimistic about the evolving landscape of creative industries, despite the challenges that creators face regarding resources and opportunities. He notes that while the difficulty in getting projects funded has increased, the current era allows for a greater diversity of voices and stories to be heard. Leonard acknowledges that historical biases have often marginalized certain groups but asserts that this is changing, with opportunities arising for underrepresented talents. As the industry adapts to recognize and leverage this potential, both filmmakers and novelists are positioned to experience a promising future driven by unique narratives and innovative ideas.
The Black List has reshaped Hollywood by identifying overlooked screenplays from Argo to The King’s Speech that have become commercial and artistic successes. Now, founder Franklin Leonard is opening The Black List’s successful model to the book industry. He shares what Hollywood and publishing have in common: a bottleneck in talent discovery, and billions in missed revenue from untapped audiences. Leonard is already linking novelists to Hollywood’s ever-growing appetite for adaptations. His insights apply to many industries, from the cost of making knee-jerk assumptions to the importance of finding risks worth taking.
