Historically to list a script on The Black List site has meant paying to have it hosted ($30 a month), potentially paying for reviews to get it attention etc, and some people didn't always have the best of experiences with the site (I didn't use it so can't comment).

But in a fairly radical departure for them they are now allowing people to list script details for free.

The way they have done it is a little bit like Inktip's Short Script listing service, so you enter your logline, some brief script details, tags etc BUT not the script itself.

That's it, your script is then visible for free.

Instructions from the email they just sent are below...

You can see my first listing here - https://blcklst.com/members/scripts/view/104963

I have no idea if the scripts listed this way will get any attention, but feels like there's no harm in trying, free after all.



INSTRUCTIONS FROM EMAIL

Create a writer profile and list script information for free.

Great news! Now, all writers can create a writer profile and list script information completely free. You no longer need to host a script to access these features. Simply log in or register for a free account and set up your profile and list scripts now!

CREATE A WRITER PROFILE
Writers can now create a writer profile for free, adding biographical information, past credits, guild affiliations, and more. Any hosted or listed scripts will be automatically linked to your profile, so industry members can view them all in one place.

How do I get started?

• If you already have a writer account, simply click Profile Settings under the upper navigation. Then fill out your information.
  
• If you don’t already have a writer account, register for one and you’ll be able to complete a profile during onboarding.
  

LIST SCRIPT INFORMATION
Listing script information is a great way to add details about your completed scripts for industry members to view. When you list your script information, your script is not hosted or available for download, but industry members can reach out to you or your representatives if they want to read it.

How do I get started?

• If you already have a writer account, click to add a new script and simply fill out the script information, but skip the upload PDF step.
  
• If you don’t have a writer account, register for one and during onboarding when prompted to add a script, simply fill out the script information, but skip the upload PDF step.
  

Wow. Well, this is a new development.

Thanks for the heads-up Ant.  :D

Never really been on my radar, but might give this a look see. Thanks, Anthony.

Thanks for the heads up, Anthony. let us know if you get any bites from the free listings!

Just another heads up for those (like I was) who are not aware, but The Black List applies discounts if you are a member of a recognised union. I joined the WGGB recently so I could get a publishing contract scrutinised (glad I did, but that's another story for another day) and found out this gives me discounts on Black List script hosting and evaluations.

Thanks Mark, useful to know.

I'm going to post my Features on Black List over the weekend, cannot imagine it will generate much traffic/interest given all the paid listings already on there but can't hurt either.

Will keep you posted.

I posted my TV pilot there a couple of years ago. It got a 6 rating, exactly what I thought it should rate at, and the feedback really helped me recognize what I needed to do to elevate it further.

I had to set that aside for other projects and work, but I've finally returned to the rewrite and I'm loving it. I'm hoping to post it there again this weekend, and hoping for an 8 rating this time.

GL Rene, be interesting to hear how you find it this time round.

Done and submitted with a read request.  ;D

I finally got my evaluation back. Another 6, yet the review was positively glowing. They said it could even serve as a writing sample now, which made me wonder why it's a 6 rating if that's the case, but it did give me some areas to strengthen up, and that's the reason I wanted the eval. They want 5-10 more pages! I thought I did well keeping it to 50.

The notes are really helpful again, and encouraging. It's so close, this next draft could be the one that does it.

I still think it's going to do well in the contests.

Quoted from ReneC I finally got my evaluation back. Another 6, yet the review was positively glowing. They said it could even serve as a writing sample now, which made me wonder why it's a 6 rating if that's the case, but it did give me some areas to strengthen up, and that's the reason I wanted the eval. They want 5-10 more pages! I thought I did well keeping it to 50. The notes are really helpful again, and encouraging. It's so close, this next draft could be the one that does it. I still think it's going to do well in the contests.

Best of luck to you!

Quoted from ReneC I finally got my evaluation back. Another 6, yet the review was positively glowing. They said it could even serve as a writing sample now, which made me wonder why it's a 6 rating if that's the case, but it did give me some areas to strengthen up, and that's the reason I wanted the eval. They want 5-10 more pages! I thought I did well keeping it to 50. The notes are really helpful again, and encouraging. It's so close, this next draft could be the one that does it. I still think it's going to do well in the contests.

I recently had a TV pilot evaluated there which also scored a 6. The comments were glowing, they loved the script, apparently. The lowering of the score was they thought the TV show would be expensive to produce! I had no idea cost was a factor in Blacklist evaluations.

This is pure spec though, so I'm using it as a showpiece and hoping it fares well in competitions as well. It's a bit nuts though isn't it when the notes are full of praise, no criticism and only a 6??

Quoted from MarkRenshaw I recently had a TV pilot evaluated there which also scored a 6. The comments were glowing, they loved the script, apparently. The lowering of the score was they thought the TV show would be expensive to produce! I had no idea cost was a factor in Blacklist evaluations. This is pure spec though, so I'm using it as a showpiece and hoping it fares well in competitions as well. It's a bit nuts though isn't it when the notes are full of praise, no criticism and only a 6??

Their scoring system is harsh, but they are only interested in promoting exceptional scripts. The scores reflect how our scripts compare to every other script, including all the great movie scripts of every great movie from all of time. They're looking for scripts that anyone would be able to look at and say "How is this not produced yet?" That's their roots, so that's what we're buying into.

For me, it's the notes that I find most useful. I'd still like to get at least a 7 on it though, so I'll probably go for one more evaluation after this next draft, and only because that will open some other doors for me.

How much does it cost? Seems like I looked into it awhile back, but it was a subscription thing?

Hey Pia, this new offering free... it's limited of course but at least you get to list your logline without cost.

Quoted from Grandma Bear How much does it cost? Seems like I looked into it awhile back, but it was a subscription thing?

It costs $25 a month to host your script, and $75 for one of their evaluations.

Because it took longer than three weeks to get my evaluation, I got a free month of hosting per their policy.

Quoted from ReneC It costs $25 a month to host your script, and $75 for one of their evaluations.

Who does the eval? Just any reader or someone sort of pro'ish?

Quoted from Grandma Bear Who does the eval? Just any reader or someone sort of pro'ish?

No one knows - they are anonymous - I also assume, fairly or unfairly that anonymous = unqualified.

Their in-house readers do the evaluations. A requirement of being a reader is that they must have a minimum of one year, full-time experience (i.e. not interns) reading as, at least, employed first filters for major Hollywood financiers, studios, networks, production companies, agencies, or management companies.

Quoted from ReneC It costs $25 a month to host your script, and $75 for one of their evaluations. Because it took longer than three weeks to get my evaluation, I got a free month of hosting per their policy.

Rene - just out of curiosity - do you pay the monthly fee the keep your script visible/hosted?

I really wanna submit my short, "Feedback Addiction", to a competition just for the notes. (which will be addended to the script) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uVuxMjNGCifOAwGbMRpA4DK1cNk4vjO1/view

Quoted from eldave1 Rene - just out of curiosity - do you pay the monthly fee the keep your script visible/hosted?

Yes, I do. But you can also suspend your hosting at any time. I took my pilot down three years ago to rewrite it and only just put it back up a couple of months ago and I still had half a month of hosting before I had to pay again. After THREE YEARS. And then, because their evaluation took longer than three weeks, I automatically got a free month of hosting.

Quoted from Robert Timsah I really wanna submit my short, "Feedback Addiction", to a competition just for the notes. (which will be addended to the script) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uVuxMjNGCifOAwGbMRpA4DK1cNk4vjO1/view

There are plenty of shorts competitions that offer evaluations or give notes as part of it. You should do that.

Quoted from ReneC Yes, I do. But you can also suspend your hosting at any time. I took my pilot down three years ago to rewrite it and only just put it back up a couple of months ago and I still had half a month of hosting before I had to pay again. After THREE YEARS. And then, because their evaluation took longer than three weeks, I automatically got a free month of hosting.

Cool. Hope something hits for you