Screenwriters would rather see their words turned into movies, but some had consolation yesterday when they made The Black List, an annual compendium of the best scripts yet to be filmed.
Topping the list, based on a survey of studio moguls and production execs, is “The Imitation Game,” first-time screenwriter Graham Moore’s story of British World War II cryptographer Alan Turing, who poisoned himself after being criminally prosecuted for being gay.
Leonardo DiCaprio is attached to star in Moore’s buzzed-about thriller, which sold to Warner Bros. for a reported seven-figures. Tom Hanks might direct.
Overbrook Entertainment exec Franklin Leonard started the list in 2005, when he was a creative exec at DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way.
“I wanted to read some good scripts for the holidays. I basically did a survey of 75 people I knew who read scripts for a living and asked them to send me their favorite scripts this year that won’t be in theaters,” Leonard told Flash.
“Since then, 120 movies have been made from scripts on The Black List, and they’ve grossed over $11 billion in the worldwide box office.” Leonard said.
“Those movies have gotten 20 Academy Awards, from over 80 nominations, and the last two Best Pictures — ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘The King’s Speech’ — and four out of the last eight screenwriting awards were from the list.”
Not all turned out so well. Jodie Foster decided to direct “The Beaver” starring Mel Gibson after the screenplay was No. 1 on The Black List in 2008.
“Parks and Recreation” actor Ben Schwartz wrote one of the other 73 scripts on this year’s list, “El Fuego Caliente,” a remake of “Soapdish,” centered around the biggest telenovela star in the world who wants to be a Hollywood star. When her real life collapses, it’s even more dramatic than her telenovela.
Schwartz sounded like an Oscar acceptor as he told Flash, “When I came to L.A., that list was such a big thing, for me to be even a tiny part of it, that means so much.”
Though the list sometimes gets criticized for including established writers — this year, Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming “Django Unchained” made the cut — there are still a number of Cinderella stories.
“It’s a great launching pad for a new writer,” said Jeff Silver, a Hollywood manager who represents two break-out scripters who made the cut: Michael Mitnick, a Harvard and Yale grad who wrote “The Current War” about the race between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to develop electrical systems, and Andrew Dodge, who wrote “Bad Words,” a revenge story about spelling bees.
“Scripts on The Black List become required writing for execs, managers and agents during the holiday break,” Silver said. “If you haven’t read it yet, it’s homework.”
THE FAB FIVE
The best of the The Black List 2011
1. “The Imitation Game”
by Graham Moore
Story of British World War II cryptographer Alan Turing, who cracked the German Enigma code before he was criminally prosecuted for being gay.
2. “When the Street Lights Go On”
by Chris Hutton and Eddie O’Keefe
In the early ’80s, a town suffers through the aftermath of a brutal murder of a high school girl and a teacher.
3. “Chewie”
by Evan Susser and Van Robichaux
A satirical behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Star Wars” through the eyes of Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca.
4. “The Outsider”
by Andrew Baldwin
In post World War II Japan, a former American prisoner of war rises in the Yakuza.
5. “Father Daughter Time: A Tale of Armed Robbery and Eskimo Kisses”
by Matthew Aldrich
A man goes on a three-state crime spree with his 11-year-old daughter.
Topping the list, based on a survey of studio moguls and production execs, is “The Imitation Game,” first-time screenwriter Graham Moore’s story of British World War II cryptographer Alan Turing, who poisoned himself after being criminally prosecuted for being gay.
Leonardo DiCaprio is attached to star in Moore’s buzzed-about thriller, which sold to Warner Bros. for a reported seven-figures. Tom Hanks might direct.
Overbrook Entertainment exec Franklin Leonard started the list in 2005, when he was a creative exec at DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way.
“I wanted to read some good scripts for the holidays. I basically did a survey of 75 people I knew who read scripts for a living and asked them to send me their favorite scripts this year that won’t be in theaters,” Leonard told Flash.
“Since then, 120 movies have been made from scripts on The Black List, and they’ve grossed over $11 billion in the worldwide box office.” Leonard said.
“Those movies have gotten 20 Academy Awards, from over 80 nominations, and the last two Best Pictures — ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘The King’s Speech’ — and four out of the last eight screenwriting awards were from the list.”
Not all turned out so well. Jodie Foster decided to direct “The Beaver” starring Mel Gibson after the screenplay was No. 1 on The Black List in 2008.
“Parks and Recreation” actor Ben Schwartz wrote one of the other 73 scripts on this year’s list, “El Fuego Caliente,” a remake of “Soapdish,” centered around the biggest telenovela star in the world who wants to be a Hollywood star. When her real life collapses, it’s even more dramatic than her telenovela.
Schwartz sounded like an Oscar acceptor as he told Flash, “When I came to L.A., that list was such a big thing, for me to be even a tiny part of it, that means so much.”
Though the list sometimes gets criticized for including established writers — this year, Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming “Django Unchained” made the cut — there are still a number of Cinderella stories.
“It’s a great launching pad for a new writer,” said Jeff Silver, a Hollywood manager who represents two break-out scripters who made the cut: Michael Mitnick, a Harvard and Yale grad who wrote “The Current War” about the race between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to develop electrical systems, and Andrew Dodge, who wrote “Bad Words,” a revenge story about spelling bees.
“Scripts on The Black List become required writing for execs, managers and agents during the holiday break,” Silver said. “If you haven’t read it yet, it’s homework.”
THE FAB FIVE
The best of the The Black List 2011
1. “The Imitation Game”
by Graham Moore
Story of British World War II cryptographer Alan Turing, who cracked the German Enigma code before he was criminally prosecuted for being gay.
2. “When the Street Lights Go On”
by Chris Hutton and Eddie O’Keefe
In the early ’80s, a town suffers through the aftermath of a brutal murder of a high school girl and a teacher.
3. “Chewie”
by Evan Susser and Van Robichaux
A satirical behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Star Wars” through the eyes of Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca.
4. “The Outsider”
by Andrew Baldwin
In post World War II Japan, a former American prisoner of war rises in the Yakuza.
5. “Father Daughter Time: A Tale of Armed Robbery and Eskimo Kisses”
by Matthew Aldrich
A man goes on a three-state crime spree with his 11-year-old daughter.
