Hollywood producers are always looking to find the next blockbuster hit, but with the great influx of scripts that studios receive, it’s likely that something outstanding can get lost in the shuffle. In an effort to make things easier for everyone, former production executive Franklin Leonard started the Black List in 2004. The list takes 10 nominations from 290 film executives, and if a script gets 6 nominations it makes the list.
The website makes it clear that this isn’t a “best of” list, it’s simply a “most liked” list, but being the most liked definitely is an indicator of something good, so the list is worth paying attention to.
Many extremely successful films have come from the list in past years. For example, the 2010 list featured scripts like Safe House, Argo, Chronicle, Snow White And The Huntsman and Looper.
Check out the five scripts with the most nominations this year below, along with a synopsis of each.
DRAFT DAY – 65
Rajiv Joseph, Scott Rothman
On the day of the NFL Draft, Bills General Manager Sonny Weaver has the opportunity to save football in Buffalo when he trades for the number one pick. He must quickly decide what he’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of perfection as the lines between his personal and professional life become blurredA COUNTRY OF STRANGERS – 43
Sean Armstrong
Based on true events. Inspector Geoff Harper conducts a forty year search for the Beaumont Children, three siblings taken from an Australian beach in January of 1966.SEUSS – 43
Eyal Podell, Jonathan Stewart
As a young man, Ted Geisel meets his future wife Helen, who encourages his fanciful drawings, and in the 1950s when Ted is struggling professionally, Helen helps inspire the children’s book that will become his first big hit, “The Cat in the Hat.”RODHAM – 39
Young Il Kim
During the height of the Watergate scandal, rising star Hillary Rodham is the youngest lawyer chosen for the House Judiciary Committee to Impeach Nixon, but she soon finds herself forced to choose between a destined path to the White House and her unresolved feelings for Bill Clinton, her former boyfriend who now teaches law in Arkansas.STORY OF YOUR LIFE – 35
Eric Heisserer
Based on the short story by Ted Chiang. When alien crafts land around the world, a linguistics expert is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat. As she learns to communicate with the aliens, she begins experiencing vivid flashbacks that become the key to unlocking the greater mystery about the true purpose of their visit.
The full list can be viewed on the website for the Black List.
What do you think of the films above? Do any of them sound interesting to you? What about the rest of The Black List? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
