Interview (Written): Suzanne Allain
A Black List blog interview with Suzanne Allain:
Her script MR. MALCOLM’S LIST was just chosen as the finalist from our most recent partnership with Warner Brothers. Suzanne has signed a two-step blind deal with Warner Brothers as a result of opting her script in on the site.
How did you first hear about The Black List?
On the forums of the site Done Deal Pro.
Since using The Black List, how has your career been impacted?
I have a career. Before using The Black List, there was some interest in my work but no paying jobs. I was about to give up completely on screenwriting; I felt I’d wasted enough time (and money) on a fruitless endeavor and I couldn’t afford to keep doing so. But I decided to give it one last try and uploaded MR. MALCOLM’S LIST to the site. Not only did I find representation, I also got a blind script deal through The Black List’s partnership with WB.
Any tips for writers interested in the site?
I have a few:
* If you do try The Black List, don’t overreact if you don’t get the score you think you deserve. The first screenplay I uploaded to The Black List scored a 6 and I was convinced that it deserved a much higher score. I still think that script is good, (and actually a 6 from The Black List is not a terrible score) but after I uploaded MR. MALCOLM’S LIST it consistently scored in the 7 to 9 range, from multiple readers. Now I sometimes use The Black List as an objective critique of my work. Of course, if you firmly believe your review was inaccurate, you do have the option of contacting The Black List’s customer support and pleading your case. But I strongly recommend you take a deep breath and re-read the review; there’s usually something there that you can use to rewrite your script and make it better.
* Use positive comments/high ratings you get from The Black List reviewers in queries. This got me read requests at a few production companies before I had representation. Even low scoring reviews have positive remarks in the “Strengths” section. No need to mention the score, just use a short excerpt from the reviewer’s comments and query away.
* If you have a high score, don’t remove your script too soon. I made the mistake the first time I uploaded MR. MALCOLM’S LIST of taking it down at the end of the first month. I didn’t realize that it hadn’t yet gone out in the email blast to industry pros and that once it did, no one who received that email could read my script. I’m not saying you have to continue to host your script for years, but it might be a good idea to do so for more than a month or two.
* Opt in to the opportunities on the Black List. The Black List has a revolving list of partnerships/deals. Even if I hadn’t ended up winning the blind deal at WB, the actual exposure I received by being a finalist was helpful in generating buzz and getting representation. So if you qualify for any of the opportunities, definitely opt in. That being said, you probably will need to have a high enough rating to be selected (i.e., an 8 or above.)
As it turns out, Suzanne is a long-time GITS follower!
Twitter: @suzanneallain.
To read the rest of the Black List blog interview, go here.