2026 Black List Project Lab
This is the group of talented writer-directors I am working with this week in Ojai!
Via Deadline:
EXCLUSIVE: The Black List has named the six filmmakers for its 2026 Projects Lab. They are Mike Ambs (Falling Forward), Sierra Falconer (Cry For Me, Baby), Georgia Fu (Approximate Joy), Seth Kelman (Vessels), Megan Spatz (North) and Brandon Tyson (Ta Ta Dear).
Now in its third year, the program provides creative mentorship and professional support to promising filmmakers as they further develop their feature script during a weeklong workshop in Ojai, CA. The Projects Lab is an extension of The Black List’s Writers Labs, which have been running annually since 2013. The Projects Lab offers writer-directors the chance to develop a screenplay that they next intend to direct.
Returning mentors include Pippa Bianco (Share) and Hannah Fidell (A Teacher), Kaz Firpo (Eternals), Molly McGlynn (Irish Blood) and Anu Valia (Shrinking). Pitching and peer workshop sessions will be led by Scott Myers (The Protagonist’s Journey, Spec Script Deals: 1991-2025) who has been a part of every single annual Black List Lab so far.
I met the Project Lab members yesterday for our first cohort session where I asked each to reflect on the inspiration for their script projects, their emotional connection to the material, what they think works in the present draft, and what needs work. I gave them a few minutes to write down their thoughts for each question. A two-fold goal: (1) To provide background for the group about their creative connection to each of their projects; (2) To take them back to their original instincts for I find that usually represents the purest vision of their stories.
Today and tomorrow, they meet individually with the other mentors. Tomorrow afternoon, I share my How to Pitch a Movie presentation, something I've been doing at the labs for the last decade. Writers often spotlight it as a high point of their lab experience.
Then Thursday, our Big Day. We meet from 9AM-4PM to workshop each of the script projects. We meet in what we call the Writers Cottage.
We spend up to an hour on each script project. We begin with mentor feedback. Then open it up: What do the cohort members think work in the present draft? What needs work? Then it's time for reactions, brainstorming, and suggestions. The workshop is both exhausting and exhilarating, and sets up each write with a path forward into their rewrite process.
As the Deadline article notes, I've participated as a mentor at every single Black List lab: This current lab is my 29th session! Always an amazing experience.
Beautiful day in Ojai! The sun is out. The sky is blue. And the creativity is flowing.
Someday, I hope to see you here to work on your script project.
Onward!