December 1
5 comments
December 1
5 comments
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All of this information is extremely useful to us as screenwriters but the visual chart tells the story on a visceral level. So, I have saved this chart for my viewing eyes.
Thanks, this helps us focus on what to present as we query and what we need to polish up. There is a lot of imagination in our group. Although some scripts need work, we are a treasure trove of potential for up and coming Black managers. I wonder if this new year, we could find a way to direct them to our site so they have access to us.
Ah, how soon we forget. You may recall that between late 2020 and 2023, we absolutely provided access and accounts to some of the agencies, producers, managers, entertainment lawyers, and others that both visited us (Zoom interviews/panels), and a few even judged our last (and very controversial) screenwriting comp. So, reps from 3 Arts, Color Creative, Bellevue, and Macro agreed to review the highest-scoring work on the platform. We even had independent producers, directors, and collaborations reach out for screenplays (one of which hired you btw). Interests from those companies waned because: a) we didn’t post enough completed projects they considered production-ready; b) they universally felt the highest-scoring scripts on the platform needed significant work. One person, advised me to reduce the number of events and strengthen the focus on tradecraft and understanding of the actual business. Their point remained that many festivals, organizations, etc were doing screenings, panels, networking events and could serve that need better than we could. However, there weren’t many(any) truly holding black writers accountable for improving or demanding excellence. Another advised me to force all members to pay a monthly fee (they argued people don’t value what they get for free). We still allow members to earn their membership through engagement, but haven’t seen the amount of actual screenwriting exchanged on the platform we’d like. Posting patterns for coverage and notes still indicate we don’t produce at a high-enough level to intrigue agents, producers, etc in mass to be active on the platform. However, several still have industry accounts and can log on as they please. Ultimately, the focus on writing craft instead of events has lead to a) less members; b) tougher coverage. We’re hoping to see industry-defining work in 2026 and beyond.
Sounds like good news for spec writers with original IP. Thanks for this timely information, David. I’m saving the graphic as a handy reference tool.
It truly matters that we as writers study the market, understand where the industry is heading, and position ourselves wisely when pitching our spec scripts. There is originality out there, and it’s encouraging to see that people of color are still carving out space.. breaking through, even in small ways… inside an entertainment world long dominated by white male voices. We still have a voice, and it still matters.
As many of us write to shift the narrative, we also need to pay attention to where genres are moving: thrillers, comedies, and high-concept sci-fi are leading the pack. And even within those lanes, we have to remain intentional about telling Black-centered stories that resonate. America has always claimed to be “interested” in the Black experience, often wanting to explore just how deeply this country has taken from, stolen from, or harmed us Black Americans. But our storytelling doesn’t have to live only in trauma or slavery narratives. We can, and should, create work that reflects the full scope of our imagination.
Black writers belong in thrillers, in comedies, in sci-fi — in “every” genre. We can build our own studios, our own production engines, and our own creative houses instead of waiting for crumbs from systems that were never designed for us. We are the cooks in the kitchen… it’s time to show the world what we create when we control the menu!!! So let’s get it!
This isn’t just about money. It’s about power, ownership, and legacy. And the only way we rise is by coming together, backing each other, and building the kinds of empires our ancestors once envisioned. (As my granpappy would do, “pumping the negro fist in the air”).