Deadline: 1 June 2025
The Black List is looking for the strongest screenplays for the Labs–material with strong characters and a strong concept–as well as writers who are looking to build long-term careers in the entertainment industry.
The Annual Labs offer training to six promising, non-professional writers in each of two cohorts: the Writers Lab cohort, focused on feature scripts to be sold within the studio system, and the Projects Lab cohort, focused on feature scripts that the writer intends to direct. The Labs will remain exclusively writing-focused programs in which each participating writer workshops the script that gets them into the Lab.
The goal of the Labs is for all twelve writers to emerge with the strongest possible script and with greater knowledge of how to move forward in their careers.
The Labs are in-person, weeklong intensive writers workshops. Writers in both cohorts will workshop their feature screenplay through one-on-one sessions with professional screenwriting mentors and through peer workshops. The Labs will also include several story- and industry-related training sessions with executives, producers, lit agents, and managers.
Categories
- The Writers Lab
- Those in the Writers Lab will further develop feature scripts that they intend to sell and/or use as voice samples. Writers in this cohort will have strong interest in working within the studio system.
- The Projects Lab
- Those in the Project Lab will further develop feature projects which they intend to direct. Directing samples are required for this cohort and you must include a working link to such samples at the time of your submission.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Writers Lab
- Up to 40 writers will be invited, based on the strength of their scripts, as determined by the Black List, to submit a one-page personal statement and a professional resume. From those submissions, up to 20 writers will be shortlisted and asked to submit additional materials. From the short list, select writers will be chosen to interview, via Zoom, and six writers will be selected by the Black List to participate in the Writers Lab.
- The Projects Lab
- Up to 40 writers will be invited, based on the strength of their scripts, as determined by the Black List, to submit a one-page personal statement, a professional resume, and a link to a previous directing sample. From those submissions, up to 20 writers will be shortlisted and asked to submit additional materials. From the short list, select writers will be chosen to interview, via Zoom, and six writers will be selected by the Black List to participate in the Projects Lab.
Application Requirements
- The Labs are in-person, weeklong intensive writers workshops. Writers in both cohorts will workshop their feature screenplay through one-on-one sessions with professional screenwriting mentors and through peer workshops. The Labs will also include several story- and industry-related training sessions with executives, producers, lit agents, and managers.
- When submitting your script, you must select only one Lab cohort for which you would like to be considered. If selected, you will be workshopping the script you submitted and no other. You may submit multiple scripts, but you must choose which cohort you would like to be considered for, per script.
For more information, visit The Black List.
