Reflections of 3rd Annual Black List Feature Writers Lab Participants

7 writers. 7 mentors. 5 days. 1 incredible experience.

From October 17–22, 2016, seven screenwriters gathered in Los Angeles for the 3rd Annual Black List Feature Writers Lab. The writers — Tom Dean, Lauri Donahue, Julie A. Lynch, Noga Pnueli, Max Schwartz, Jason Young, and Christine Zosche — had been selected on the basis of scripts they had uploaded to the Black List website and a personal statement about the story they were writing and their creative aspirations.

During the week, they attended several events including a special screening of the movie Arrival, a Q&A breakfast the next day with the movie’s screenwriter, roundtables with production executives and managers, a session with Lindsay Doran on the “Psychology of Storytelling,” and a star-studded performance The Biggest Show in support of Young Storytellers.

The core of the week, however, was to analyze, develop, and workshop the writers’ scripts. They began with a group session which I moderated, giving the writers an opportunity to reflect on their stories — what their original inspiration was, what their emotional connection to the material is, what works, and what doesn’t work — and prepare them for their mentor meetings.

And what a group of mentors!

Eric Heisserer (ARRIVAL), Stephany Folsom (THOR: RAGNAROK), Graham Moore (THE IMITATION GAME), Kirsten Smith (LEGALLY BLONDE), Scott Neustadter (THE FAULT IN OUR STARS), Victoria Strouse (FINDING DORY) and Scott Myers (GO INTO THE STORY, the official screenwriting blog of the Black List).

Over the course of two days, each writer met one-on-one with four mentors for 90 minute long sessions. We capped off the week with two group meetings which I led in which together we workshopped each writer’s story with a goal of providing a path forward into and through the rewriting process.

All in all, it was a remarkable week. Here are a few thoughts on the experience from the participating writers:

I joked beforehand with my friend that I was “supposedly” going into some sort of “Screenwriters’ Big Brother House” in Hollywood, but that if I called her with the code words “avocado toast” that meant I was in mortal danger and needed to be rescued.

Having read my fellow “Lab Rats’” scripts beforehand, I knew what a fantastically diverse crew they were creatively. And meeting them at the glam Kardashian-esque reality-show house was no disappointment as we immediately bonded in the urgent manner that occurs on a Hitchcock lifeboat, or on a malfunctioning jet that may or may not plunge into the sea.

Joking aside, the Black List Lab experience was indeed more intense than I imagined it would be, but in the best way. There was a camaraderie that lifted us and got us through the intense framework of the symposium. It felt like a year of film school in a single week.

— Max Schwartz

I went in thinking that my script, The Bushwhacker, was pretty good. After all, it had been one of seven picked out of the 1000 submissions for the Black List lab. It also won the More Magazine/Women in Film screenwriting award and made the top-thirty of the Nicholl (twice, even).

But all that amazing feedback revealed issues and opportunities I’d never seen before, and now I’m deep in a rewrite.

— Lauri Donahue

Having the honor to participate in the Black List Lab was humbling, intense, beautiful, and exhilarating. Much could be said about the mentors — a collection of unspeakably high talents pouring over our work, taking notes, and providing for us thoughtful dedication, honest feedback, and genuine encouragement. Their generosity was beyond comprehension. Much, too, could be said of the revolving door of guest speakers and industry professionals who deconstructed the business, challenged the way we approach story, and asked us to consider the responsibility we as writers of film and television have to help shape a more inclusive and tolerant culture. And finally, much could be said of the Black List staff and their dedication to the craft of screenwriting and their love of writers. More is indebted to them than could ever be repaid.

It’s hard to believe that so much could be packaged into a single week, and yet still harder to believe that the week’s most inspiring and important aspect is that which I have yet to mention: the bond and friendship I now share with six other writers.

— Tom Dean

The think tank experience was completed by our mentoring session with Scott Myers. Scott’s emphasis on the internal transformation of the character tied all of the pitching lessons we’d learned together with all of the mentors’ notes and the notes of our fellow writers. Scott’s approach to structure deepens the story while simplifying the telling. And, in fact, is the perfect guide for creating a pitch. It was magical the way that Scott helped us synthesize the entire week.

The lab was the shot in the arm I needed. I’m now armed with the brilliant suggestions of the mentors and my fellow writers and the encouragement of Franklin, Megan, Kate and Terry. You all have given me the tools and stamina to revise my script and take the necessary risks. Thank you all for an incredible week.

— Julie Lynch

Although Kevin Bacon did feature briefly in a cameo at NeueHouse, the true stars of the week were the mentors themselves: Eric Heisserer (Arrival), Stephany Folsom (Thor: Ragnarok), Graham Moore (The Imitation Game), Kirsten Smith (Legally Blond), Scott Neustadter (The Fault In Our Stars), Victoria Strouse (Finding Dory) and Scott Myers (Go Into The Story). Each of the mentors was incredibly helpful in providing not only specific notes about our scripts, but in giving us insanely-helpful advice on our careers going forward. The time we got to spend talking to these uber-talented screenwriters was the true prize of the week — and I’d like to thank one of the mentors in particular for going above and beyond with your heartfelt advice and encouragement. You know who you are!

— Jason Young

Before this week, I never truly felt confident that this career I was working so hard to launch would ever pan out. I lacked a community, and I lacked validation — my own midnight pep talks in the mirror would lift my spirits, at best, only until the next morning. But because of the Lab, I now feel so supported by so many people much more talented and accomplished than I am. I feel that becoming a professional screenwriter is no longer a matter of if, it’s a matter of when, and that feeling — as anyone aspiring to enter this business knows — is everything.

I may never fully understand why so many brilliant people would give so freely of their time and talents and choose to invest in me — but I will always be grateful for it. This Lab was life- and career-changing in so many ways — the beginning of something BIG.

Oh, and the food is amazing. Can we go back?

— Christine Zosche

By the time I came to appreciate the invaluable education we were so lucky to be getting here, something else happened. I started feeling empowered. Writing is such a lonely profession. Especially for beginner writers who are fumbling in the dark and trying to figure out their path. Usually in pajamas. With wine. And Kleenex. The camaraderie of the lab, with the mentors, but also among the participants, made us feel like we are not alone. Not anymore. We are a family now. In fact, the Black List used that word several times — Family. It was like a warm hug we can take home and use as fuel when we are once more in our pajamas alone, fumbling in the dark.

— Noga Pnueli

All in all, a wonderful and memorable experience!

This was my 8th Black List writing lab and in fact, I’ve been a part of every single one of the feature-writing events the Black List has hosted. You can read reflections by participants in previous sessions below:

Las Vegas (September 2013)

New York (May 2015)

Toronto (September 2015)

Chicago (October 2015)

San Francisco (October 2015)

Los Angeles (November 2015)

Athena Film Festival (February 2016)

Kudos yet again to the Black List for providing educational opportunities for writers outside the Hollywood system to deepen their understanding of the craft and take their scripted projects to the next level.

Check out the Black List for more such opportunities.