The Black List, an organization that conducts an annual survey of Hollywood executives’ favorite unproduced screenplays, has partnered with the GM Incubator Fund to launch the Writer-Driven Shorts Program. The initiative will offer two emerging diverse filmmakers a $100,000 grant towards production funds to shoot a short film based on their feature scripts. The short films will be submitted to major festivals and aim to compete for awards consideration in 2024. In addition, General Motors will provide the selected filmmakers with vehicles for use in their shorts.
Filmmakers, writers, directors, and writer/director teams who have directed at least one narrative short film and have a completed feature-length screenplay are eligible for the program. Applicants can submit their works via the Black List’s website through August 15, 2023. All genres are encouraged, including romantic comedy, action adventure, grounded dramas, and fantastical sci-fi. The program will highly consider films showcasing sustainability, electrification, and diversity, as part of GM’s sustainable, all-electric future and aspiration to be the most inclusive company in the world. Scripts with scenes of excessive violence, illegal drug or substance abuse, car crashes, unsafe driving, and/or explicit sexual acts will not be considered.
The Black List founder Franklin Leonard said, “We’re incredibly excited to collaborate with General Motors to provide resources for two screenwriters from underrepresented communities to direct short films based on their scripts with the long-term goal of getting their features financed with them at the helm.” As part of the partnership’s commitment to a more equitable Hollywood, the Black List and the GM Incubator Fund will also grant fee waivers for one free month of hosting and two free evaluations on blcklst.com to the first 200 writers from traditionally underrepresented communities.
The Black List, founded in 2005, has hosted nearly 80,000 screenplays and teleplays and provided more than 130,000 script evaluations through its online community. Several films have been produced from scripts showcased on the website. Currently, the Black List hosts over 5,000 scripts by approximately 3,700 writer members, available for download by industry professionals.
About Post Author
