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Published Nov 17, 2020

How to find hidden value that others miss, w/The Black List's Franklin Leonard

Franklin Leonard uncovers the hidden biases in Hollywood and reshapes the industry with The Black List, a groundbreaking platform that democratizes access to film by spotlighting unproduced scripts, promoting diversity, and propelling marginalized voices to the forefront of storytelling.
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  • Early Inspiration

    initially pursued The Black List as a personal project to find good scripts for himself. He didn't foresee its potential impact on Hollywood. explains that Franklin's instinct to share information was contrarian in an industry where secrecy was the norm 1. This unique approach allowed The Black List to thrive where similar efforts had failed. Franklin's innovation was likened to building a metal detector for undervalued assets, turning overlooked scripts into Oscar-winning films 2.

    I was sure that I was going to get fired and run out of town. Fundamentally, this wasn't a genius idea. There must have been some unwritten rule of the road that prevented other people from doing it.

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    The Black List's success stemmed from recognizing and sharing hidden value in a crowded field.

       

    First Successes

    The initial success of The Black List was marked by the recognition of scripts like "Juno" and "Lars and the Real Girl," which might never have been made without it 3. realized the list's value when agents began pitching scripts based on their potential ranking on The Black List. This early credibility led to the creation of a two-sided marketplace, allowing anyone to upload and evaluate scripts 4.

    The first writer to get signed by a major agency was a 23-year-old kid living with his parents in Staten Island, New York.

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    This platform democratized access to Hollywood, breaking down traditional barriers.

       

    Website Launch

    The launch of The Black List's online platform expanded its reach, allowing writers from anywhere to submit their scripts. emphasized the importance of identifying and celebrating great writing, which built trust within the industry 5. Harvard Business School's study highlighted that movies from Black List scripts made 90% more revenue than others, underscoring its economic impact 6.

    Movies made from scripts on the blacklist made 90% more in revenue than movies made from scripts not on the blacklist.

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    This success led The Black List to start producing films, further proving its value as a metal detector for hidden talent.

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