The Black List 2010: Agency Count
The Black List 2010: Manager Count
A screenplay titled College Republicans by Wes Jones based on true events about then aspiring politician Karl Rove running a dirty campaign for national College Republican Chairman under the guidance of Lee Atwater, his campaign manager, tops 2010′s THE BLACK LIST.
Once again, Deadline Hollywood is first to post in its entirety THE BLACK LIST, which for the uninitiated is film executive Franklin Leonard’s hot unproduced screenplay pecking order which he began in 2004. Compiled every year from the suggestions of hundreds of film executives, each contributes the names of up to ten of their favorite scripts that were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2010 and will not be released in theaters during this calendar year. THE BLACK LIST does catapult dozens of scripts into production and screenwriters out of oblivion. Diablo Cody’s Juno, Nancy Oliver’s Lars And The Real Girl, Scott Neustader’s and Michael Weber’s 500 Days Of Summer, are just some of the screenplays which appeared on The Black List and then were made. I’ve noticed that it’s also a “big dick” measuring contest for the Hollywood agencies and their motion picture lit departments. Problem is, some screenwriters think this list isn’t on the up-and-up and accuse junior studio execs and assistants along with self-interested agents and managers of getting together to push their own clients on projects even if already abandoned. Also, if you spot inaccuracies, take it up with Franklin: I do not alter his list. Anyway, climb off the ledge if you’re not on THE BLACK LIST. And, if you did make the cut, then congratulations:
THE BLACK LIST was compiled from the suggestions of over 290 film executives, each of whom contributed the names of up to ten of their favorite scripts that were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2010 and will not be released in theaters during this calendar year. This year, scripts had to receive at least five mentions to be included on THE BLACK LIST. All reasonable effort has been made to confirm the information contained herein. THE BLACK LIST apologizes for all misspellings, misattributions, incorrect representation identification, and questionable 2010 affiliations. It has been said many times, but it’s worth repeating: THE BLACK LIST is not a “best of” list. It is, at best, a “most liked” list. Enjoy. All black everything.
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COLLEGE REPUBLICANS by Wes Jones
“Based on true events. Aspiring politician Karl Rove runs a dirty campaign for national College Republican Chairman under the guidance of Lee Atwater, his campaign manager.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Gregory McKnight, Jay Baker
MANAGER Circle of Confusion – Ken Freimann, Greg Shephard
Anonymous Content producing.47
JACKIE by Noah Oppenheim
“Jackie Kennedy fights to define her husband’s legacy in the seven days immediately following his assassination.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Rowena Arguelles, Billy Hawkins
MANAGER Management 360 – Guymon Casady, Darin Friedman
Fox Searchlight. Protozoa Pictures producing.45
ALL YOU NEED IS KILL by Dante Harper
“A new recruit in a war against aliens finds himself caught in a time loop where he wakes up one day in the past after having been killed on the battlefield.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Todd Feldman, Jay Baker
MANAGER Management 360 – Guymon Casady, Darin Friedman
Warner Brothers. 3 Arts Entertainment, VIZ Productions producing.43
SAFE HOUSE by David Guggenheim
“A young man at a CIA-run safe house in Rio De Janeiro must help a rogue ex-agent escape assassins who want intelligence that he won’t sell them.”
AGENT Agency for the Performing Arts – David Boxerbaum
MANAGER Madhouse Entertainment – Adam Kolbrenner
Universal. Stuber Pictures, Madhouse Entertainment producing.39
STOKER by Wentworth Miller
“After the death of her father, a teenager must deal with a mysterious uncle who returns to spend time with the family.”
AGENT International Creative Management – Nicole Clemens, Adam Weinstein
MANAGER Industry Entertainment – Eryn Brown
Fox Searchlight. Scott Free Productions producing.32
999 by Matt Cook
“A gang of crooked cops plan a major heist that will require them to shoot a fellow officer in order to get away with it.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Cliff Roberts, Danny Gabai
MANAGER Anonymous Content – Bard Dorros, Keith Redmon
Anonymous Content producing.31
MARGIN CALL by JC Chandor
“Based on true events, the final twenty-four hours of Lehman Brothers.” AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Rob Carlson, Simon Faber
Before the Door Pictures, Washington Square Arts & Films, Benaroya Pictures, and Taggart Productions producing.30
AMERICAN BULLSHIT by Eric Warren Singer
“The true story of Abscam, the FBI’s 1980 undercover sting operation of Congress to root out corruption which was the brainchild of the world’s greatest con man.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Robert Bookman, Billy Hawkins, Stuart Manashil
Sony. Atlas Entertainment producing.28
ARGO by Chris Terrio
“The true story of how the CIA, with help from Hollywood, used a fake movie project to smuggle hostages out of Tehran during the 1979 hostage crisis.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Rowena Arguelles
MANAGER Anonymous Content – Michael Sugar, Bard Dorros
Warner Brothers. Smoke House producing.24
THE LAST SON OF ISAAC LEMAY by Greg Johnson
“An aging outlaw convinced that there is evil in his genes goes on a journey to kill off his offspring. In the process, he discovers that his last remaining son is a terrifying manifestation of his worst fears.”
AGENT RWSG – Sylvie Rabineau
Blind Wink Productions producing.21
FAMILY GETAWAY by Jeremiah Friedman & Nick Palmer
“A man whose family doesn’t know he’s an assassin must protect them during a cross-country car chase when rival killers show up.”
AGENT United Talent Agency – David Kramer, Jason Burns, Geoff Morley,
Rebecca Ewing
MANAGER Mosaic – Emily Rose, Dawn Saltzman
Warner Brothers. Mosaic producing.18
DIE IN A GUNFIGHT by Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari
“A young New Yorker falls in love with the daughter of his father’s nemesis, setting in motion a Romeo and Juliet-like forbidden romance.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Danny Greenberg, David Karp, Mike Esola
MANAGER profilic – Stuart Wrede
Media Rights Capital. Mark Gordon Company, Ninjas Runnin’ Wild producing.17
BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY by David Posamentier & Geoff Moore
“A straight-laced pharmacist’s uneventful life spirals out of control when he starts an affair with a trophy wife customer who takes him on a joyride involving sex, drugs and possibly murder.”
AGENT International Creative Management – Adam Weinstein
MANAGER Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment – Aaron Kaplan, Sean Perrone
Occupant Films producing.GRAY MAN by Adam Cozad
“American operative Court Gentry, also known as the Gray Man, races against time and teams of government assassins in an effort to save his family.”
AGENT International Creative Management – Aaron Hart, Doug Maclaren
MANAGER Gotham Group – Jeremy Bell
New Regency. Shine Pictures producing.IMAGINE by Dan Fogelman
“A musician in his sixties tries to live his life differently after reading an old letter written to him by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Of greatest importance to him:tracking down and reconnecting with his biological son, whom he has never met.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Danny Greenberg
MANAGER Industry Entertainment – Eryn Brown
Warner Brothers. Di Novi Pictures, Carousel Productions, Jessie Nelson producing.16
CHRONICLE by Max Landis
“Three Portland teens become exposed to a mysterious substance in the woods, and, as a result, begin to develop incredible powers. They work together to hone their skills for fun until personal and family problems begin to turn them against one another.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – David Karp, Simon Faber, Danny Gabai
MANAGER Circle of Confusion – David Alpert, Britton Rizzio
Fox. Davis Entertainment producing.GOLD by Patrick Massett & John Zinman
“The true story of the biggest securities exchange fraud in United States history.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Matt Rosen
MANAGER Industry Entertainment – Michael Botti, Andrew Deane Paul Haggis producing.SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN by Evan Daugherty
“A re-imagining of the story of Snow White in which the huntsman sent to kill her becomes her mentor.”
AGENT United Talent Agency – Tobin Babst
MANAGER FilmEngine – Jake Wagner
Universal. Roth Films producing.15
ARE WE OFFICIALLY DATING? by Tom Gormican
“A dating movie told from the male perspective about the lengths men will go through to avoid being officially in a relationship.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Simon Faber, Elia Infascelli-Smith
MANAGER Underground Films & Management – Oly Obst
Scott Aversano, Andrew O’Connor producing.FREE COUNTRY by Josh Parkinson
“The owner of a tourist mining cave kills a rich boy who finds a huge ruby. Chaos ensues when he teams up with his two dysfunctional brothers to hide the body and fence the stone with the victim’s hot-headed twin on the hunt for his brother.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Dan Rabinow, Matt Rosen
MANAGER Gotham Group – Lindsay Williams
Mandate Pictures, Rough House Pictures producing.GANGSTER SQUAD by Will Beall
“Amidst the corruption and chaos of 1940s Los Angeles, the LAPD’s Gangster Squad works to keep the East Coast Mafia out of the city.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Jay Baker, Shari Smiley
MANAGER Management 360 – Darin Friedman
Warner Brothers. Lin Pictures, Langley Park Pictures producing.YOUR BRIDESMAID IS A BITCH by Brian Duffeld
“After agreeing to groomsman duties at his sister’s wedding, Noah Palmer realizes he may have made the mistake of his life after finding out that the woman who broke his heart is also part of the bridal party.”
AGENT HML – Bob Hohman, Bayard Maybank, Devra Lieb
MANAGER Circle of Confusion – Noah Rosen, Zach Cox
Skydance Productions producing.14
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER by Seth Grahame-Smith
“When the mother of future United States President Abraham Lincoln is murdered by a vampire, he begins a lifelong vendetta to rid the world of the heinous creatures.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Cliff Roberts, Jeff Gorin
Fox. Tim Burton Productions, Bazelevs Productions producing.13
HUNGER GAMES by Billy Ray
“Based on the book by Suzanne Collins. In an America of the future, young boys and girls are forced to participate in a televised battle to the death.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Todd Feldman, Brian Kend
MANAGER Management 360 – Guymon Casady
Lionsgate. Color Force producing12
WELCOME TO PEOPLE by Alex Kurtzman, Bob Orci, Jody Lambert
“A young man whose father has recently passed away is tasked with bringing $150,000 to an alcoholic sister he never knew about and her twelve-year-old son.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Risa Gertner, Todd Feldman (Kurtzman, Orci)
William Morris Endeavor – Cliff Roberts, David Karp (Lambert)
MANAGER Mosaic – Paul Nelson, Dawn Saltzman (Lambert)
Dreamworks. Kurtzman/Orci producing.WHAT HAPPENED TO MONDAY? by Max Botkin
“In a world where families are allowed only one child due to overpopulation, a resourceful set of identical septuplets must avoid governmental execution and dangerous infighting while investigating the disappearance of one of their own.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Stuart Manashil, Matt Rosen
MANAGER EML Entertainment – Eva Lontscharitsch
Vendome Pictures. Raffaella Productions producing.11
THE BUTLER by Danny Strong
“The story of African-American White House butler Eugene Allen, who served eight United States presidents from 1952 to 1986.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Risa Gertner, Maha Dakhil
MANAGER Gotham Group – Lindsay Williams
Sony. Laura Ziskin Productions producing.THE ESCORT by Justin Adler
“A ‘flight escort’ responsible for overseeing the safe transport of a spoiled, wise-ass child must find alternate means of getting the kid home to Boston after their plane is grounded.”
AGENT United Talent Agency – Julien Thuan
MANAGER Kapital Entertainment – Aaron Kaplan
Dreamworks. Tom McNulty producing.FUN SIZE by Max Werner
“A high school senior is forced to take her weirdo brother trick-or-treating but loses track of him along the way. With the help of a few classmates, she tries to find him before her mother gets home. Meanwhile, the depraved little brother is having the time of his life.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Danny Greenberg, David Karp
MANAGER Anonymous Content – Bard Dorros
Paramount. Anonymous Content, Fake Empire producing.10
ARSONIST’S LOVE STORY by Katie Lovejoy
“A young arsonist falls for a woman in the art world that he desperately wants to be apart of.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – John Campisi, Craig BrodyLOOPER by Rian Johnson
“In the present day, a group of hitmen are sent their victims from the future.”
AGENT Featured Artists Agency – Brian Dreyfuss
Endgame Entertainment. Gordonstreet Pictures producing.MURDOCH by Jesse Armstrong
“As his family gathers for his birthday party, Rupert Murdoch tries to convince his elder children to alter the family trust so that his two youngest children by his newest wife will have voting rights in the company.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Gregory McKnightONE DAY by David Nicholls
“Dexter and Emma meet for the first time on college graduation day in 1988 and proceed to reunite one day a year for the next 20 years.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Robert Bookman, JP Evans
Focus Features, Film4. Color Force, Random House Films producing.PERFECT MATCH by Morgan Schechter & Eric Pearson
“Twenty-eight year old male and female roommates who are longtime best friends and unlucky in love decide to try an internet dating service which promises to introduce them to their ‘perfect match.’ In the process, they discover that they’re each other’s perfect match.”
AGENT United Talent Agency – Rebecca Ewing (Schechter)
International Creative Management – Doug Maclaren (Pearson)
MANAGER Circle of Confusion – Ken Freimann, Britton Rizzio (Schechter)
Michael De Luca Productions producing.9
THE 13TH MAN by Enio Rigolin
“An unlikely codebreaker is thrust into the role of a hero when he discovers a secret code being sent through comic books during WWII.”
AGENT The Kaplan Stahler Agency – Shan Ray
MANAGER Heroes and Villains Entertaiment – Mikhail Nayfeld, Markus Georg
Dick HillenbrandDARK MOON by Olatunde Osunsanmi
“Using found footage, story explores the possibility that manned moon missions did not stop with Apollo 17.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Billy Hawkins, Ben Kramer
MANAGER Caliber Media – Dallas Sonnier
Dark Castle Entertainment. Weed Road Pictures producing.HOT MESS by Jenni Ross
“Four girlfriends make, and then break, a list of rules devised to get the guys of their dreams and discover their inner hot messes in the process.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Simon Faber, Elia Infascelli-Smith
MANAGER Tom Sawyer Entertainment – Rachel Miller, Jesse Hara
Endgame Entertainment. Goldsmith-Thomas Productions producing.8
EVERLY by Yale Hannon
“The story of one woman’s struggle for redemption as she fights to stay alive and unite with her mother and young daughter, all while staving off vicious attacks by a ruthless army of Yakuzas who have trapped her in her apartment.”
AGENT Verve – Adam Levine, Bryan Besser
Anonymous Content producing.HOOF HARRINGTON’S GREATEST HITS by Dutch Southern
“An aging, semi-retired hitman recalls his murderous career while trying to kill the billionaire who has put out a contract on his life.”
AGENT United Talent Agency – Tobin Babst
MANAGER Energy Entertainment – Brooklyn Weaver, Adam Marshall, Angelina Chen
THE IMPOSSIBLE by Sergio Sanchez
“After a major tsunami hits a beach resort in Yokohama, Japan, a Spanish family on vacation with young children gets separated and must find each other amidst the wreckage.”
AGENT United Talent Agency – David Flynn, Rich Klubeck
Summit Entertainment. Apaches Entertainment producing.MURDER OF A CAT by Christian Magalhars & Robert Snow
“A darkly comic noir about a guy trying to unravel the mystery around the murder of his pet cat.”
AGENT The Gersh Agency – Carolyn Sivitz
MANAGER Madhouse Entertainment – Adam Kolbrenner, Chris CookOZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL by Mitchell Kapner
“Based on the books of L. Frank Baum. The story of how a con artist from Kansas became the Wizard behind the curtain.”
AGENT HML – Bob Hohman, Bayard Maybank, Debra Lieb
MANAGER Fineman Entertainment – Ross Fineman
Disney. Roth Films producing.ROAD TO NARDO by Mike Gagerman & Andrew Waller
“Two guys drive to Mexico to rescue their best friend who is broke and without an ID.”
AGENT Agency for the Performing Arts – Debbie Deuble, Sheryl Petersen
MANAGER Circle of Confusion – Britton Rizzio Sony. Original Film, American Work Inc. producing.7
ABDUCTION by Shawn Christensen
“When a teenager who has always felt distanced from his parents discovers that he was,in fact, kidnapped as a child, he is thrust into a vast conspiracy and must go on the run in order to survive.”
AGENT Verve – Bryan Besser
MANAGER Caliber Media – Dallas Sonnier
Lionsgate. Vertigo Entertainment, the Gotham Group, Tailor Made Entertainment producing.CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? by Megan Martin
“After a woman spills her secrets to a stranger during a turbulent plane ride, she shows up at work to discover that he is the recently returned CEO of her company.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Simon Faber, Craig Kestel
MANAGER Principato/Young Management – Susan Solomon
Seed Productions, Laurence Mark Productions producing.CINEMA VERITE by David Seltzer
“Based on the PBS series ‘An American Family,’ cameras follow a family as they go about their daily life.”
AGENT International Creative Management – Nicole Clemens
HBO Films. Pariah producing.THE CLAIM by Damien Chazelle
“A father with a criminal past must save his kidnapped daughter, even as he fights the claim of another couple who insist the girl is theirs.”
AGENT The Gersh Agency – Sandra Lucchesi, Frank Wuliger
MANAGER Exile Entertainment – Gary Ungar
Route One Films producing.CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE. by Dan Fogelman
“Straight-laced, forty-something Cal Weaver is living the dream – good job, nice house,great kids, and marriage to his high school sweetheart – but when Cal learns that his wife, Emily, has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his ‘perfect’ life quickly unravels.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Danny Greenberg
MANAGER Industry Entertainment – Eryn Brown
Warner Brothers. Di Novi Pictures, Carousel Productions producing.GET A JOB by Kyle Pennekamp & Scott Turpel
“A comedy about a father and son struggling to find a job in the current job market.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Gregory McKnight, JP Evans
CBS Films. Double Feature Films producing.THE GIRL WITH SOMETHING EXTRA by Terrence Michael
“A young man who has been raised his entire life to believe that he is a girl comes of age as he enters high school and learns his true gender.”
AGENT Original Artists – Chris Sablan
MANAGER Media Talent Group – Chris DaveyHOW IT ENDS by Brooks Mclaren
“When an apocalypse strikes, a man halfway across the country from his pregnant wife goes on a dangerous and desperate journey to get back to her.”
AGENT International Creative Management – Adam Weinstein, Emil Gladstone, Aaron Hart
The Schiff Company producing.HYDE by Cole Haddon
“An allegedly rehabilitated Dr. Jekyll is pulled out of prison to help hunt a new monster who seems to be using an improved version of the Hyde serum.”
AGENT International Creative Management – Lars Theriot, Ava Jamshidi
MANAGER Anonymous Content – Alex Goldstone
Dark Horse Entertainment, Mark Gordon Productions, Skydance Productions producing.KEEP COMING BACK by Michael Gilio
“When an adrenaline-junkie interventionist attempts to save a troubled woman, he nearly loses everything in the process.”
AGENT United Talent Agency – Julien Thuan
MANAGER Industry Entertainment – Eryn Brown
Fox Searchlight. Ad Hominem Enterprises producing.THE LAST WITCH HUNTER by Cory Goodman
“With the population of witches and warlocks on the brink of a major explosion, one witch hunter must stop them before it’s too late.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola
MANAGER Aperture – Adam Goldworm
Summit Entertainment. Aperture producing.RICKY STANICKY by Jeff Bushell
“For years, three lifelong friends have used an invented character named Ricky Stanicky to get out of sticky situations. When their wives demand a meeting with Ricky, the friends hire an actor to portray him.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola
MANAGER Smart Entertainment – John Jacobs
Summit Entertainment. Michael De Luca Productions, Smart Entertainment producing.EASY MONEY by Noah Oppenheim
“Based on the film Snabba Cash, a business school student with substantial ambition works in strategy for a New York City criminal enterprise.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Rowena Arguelles, Billy Hawkins
MANAGER Management 360 – Guymon Casady, Darin Friedman
Warner Brothers. Atlas Entertainment, Ninjas Runnin’ Wild Productions producing.ZOMBIE BABY by Andy Jones
“After the zombie apocalypse, a young couple unsure about whether to start a family has the decision made for them when they take in an orphaned zombie baby they don’t have the heart to kill.”
MANAGER Alan Gasmer & Friends – Alan Gasmer, Daniel Vang
Unnamed Yorn Company, Alan Gasmer & Friends producing.6
ATM by Chris Sparling
“Three co-workers end up in a desperate fight for survival when they stop to use an ATM.”
AGENT United Talent Agency – Charlie Ferraro, Doug Johnson
MANAGER Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment – Aaron Kaplan, Sean Perrone
Gold Circle Films, The Safran Company producing.BOY SCOUTS VS. ZOMBIES by Carrie Evans & Emi Mochizuko
“A troop of Boy Scouts on their weekend camping trip must protect an island town from a zombie outbreak and save the local girl scout troop.”
AGENT HML – Bob Hohman, Bayard Maybank, Devra Lieb
MANAGER Brucks Entertainment – Bryan Brucks
Paramount. Broken Road Productions producing.THE EVER AFTER MURDERS by Ian Fried
“In a dark metropolis populated with characters from classical folklore, detectives Tom Thumb and Rachel Riding investigate a murder that brings them into contact with the city’s most dangerous inhabitants.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola
MANAGER prolific – Will RowbothamHOVERCAR 3D by Blaise Hemingway
“Set in the future, an ex-con street racer has to transport a whistle blower across country in a high speed hovercar with an army of authorities trying to stop them.”
AGENT International Creative Management – Harley Copen, Ava Jamshidi Disney. Beacon Pictures, Millar/Gough Ink producing.LOLA VERSUS by Daryl Wein & Zoe Lister-Jones
“A twenty-nine year old woman has to reevaluate her life after her long time boyfriend calls off their wedding at the last minute.”
AGENT The Gersh Agency – Carolyn Sivitz
MANAGER Management 360 – Daniel Rappaport
Fox Searchlight. Groundswell Productions producing.PROM by Katie Wech
“High school students prepare for their prom.”
AGENT International Creative Management – Nicole Clemens, Todd Hoffman
Ava Jamshidi Disney. Idealogy, Inc. producing.REPLAY by Jason Smilovic
“Based on the Ken Grimwood novel. A man dies, wakes up in his 18-year old body, and gets to relive his life over and over. With his original memory intact, he takes the opportunity to travel down roads he passed up the first time around.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Risa Gertner, Jay Baker
MANAGER Madhouse Entertainment – Adam Kolbrenner
Warner Brothers. Goldsmith-Thomas Productions producing.SIDNEY GRIMES by Brian Helgeland
“A man just out of prison seeks revenge on his former partner who got him locked up.”
MANAGER Brillstein Entertainment Partners – Missy Malkin
Todd Black, Billy Gerber producing.5
ALIVE ALONE by Khurram Longi
“A London-based suicide bomber is having a crisis of conscience as he and his cell are planning an attack in the city. His female next door neighbor, a drug addict and prostitute, has men who want to kill her after witnessing the murder of her john. These two find solace in each other as they try to survive their respective situations.”
AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Robert Bookman, Martin Spencer
Sarah Radclyffe producing.F*CKING JANE AUSTEN by Blake Bruns
“Two friends angry at Jane Austen for creating unrealistic romantic expectations among women today get sent back in time to the nineteenth century. The only way for them to return home is for one of them to get Jane Austen to fall in love and sleep with him.”
MANAGER Brucks Entertainment – Bryan Brucks
Brucks Entertainment producing.THE FLIGHT OF THE NEZ PERCE by E. Nicholas Mariani
“The true story of Chief Joseph and his resistance to his tribe’s relocation to a military settlement in Idaho during the 1800s.”
AGENT United Talent Agency – Charlie Ferraro, Jenny Maryasis
MANAGER Circle of Confusion – David Alpert, Britton RizzioHIT AND RUN by Owen Yarde
“A young man discovers that the undertaker who recently hired him as his driver is actually a hit man for the mafia.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Cliff Roberts, David KarpKITCHEN SINK by Oren Uziel
“A human teenager, a vampire, and a zombie must save their town from an alien invasion.”
AGENT International Creative Management – Harley Copen
MANAGER Circle of Confusion – Britton RizzioNESS/CAPONE by Grant Myers
“The true story of young Elliot Ness taking down Al Capone.”
AGENT Paradigm – Mark Ross
MANAGER Gotham Group – Jeremy BellO.K.C. by Clay Wold
“An ambitious legal aide working for the Timothy McVeigh defense team tries to get tot he bottom of what really happened during the Oklahoma City bombing.”
AGENT United Talent Agency – Charlie Ferraro, Barbara Dreyfus
MANAGER Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment – Aaron Kaplan, Sean Perrone
The Safran Company producing.PAINT by Brit McAdams
“A Bob Ross-esque PBS painting show host must fight for his career when his station brings in a rival painting host.”
AGENT United Talent Agency – Blair Kohan, Geoff Morley
MANAGER The Collective – Sam Maydew
Rip Cord Productions producing.PAPER AIRPLANE by Sid Karger
“After sabotaging another family vacation, a travel agent who’s afraid to fly battles his irrational phobias in order to win back his wife and daughter.”
AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola
MANAGER Madhouse Entertainment – Adam KolbrennerPOINT A by Chris Rubeo
“An unconventional romantic comedy between a thirty year old magazine writer and thesubject of his newest piece, a witty, wise beyond her years teenage video blogger.”
AGENT International Creative Management – Aaron Hart, Adam Weinstein
MANAGER Tantillo Entertainment – John TantilloSERENA by Chris Kyle
“In 1930s North Carolina, George Pemberton, with the help of his father’s money, ownsand runs a logging operation in the Smoky Mountains. George meets and marries Serena,a strong-willed, scheming, ambitious woman.”
AGENT International Creative Management – Robert Lazar
Nick Wechsler Productions, Exclusive Media Group producing.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.



What do we learn from this list that we discovered last year?
1- Circle of Confusion has a way to stack the list, hence so many titles on the list
2- Circle of Confusion is incredibly unable to get their films made. None of their titles from last year has gotten made and it looks the same for this lot.
Circle of Confusion- perhaps the worst managers available?
Just figured it out?
Agreed. I hate this blacklist nonsense, but I do like all the comments and arguments that it creates. Find out so many things about all these people.
Many people in this town consider David Alpert to be the smartest manager in town. I don’t know what they mean by “smart”, but his COC’s scripts never get made. Their directors do find work though.
A writer buddy of mine had COC and Anonymous Content to choose from and he went with COC. He regrets it big time.
Shocking. The only storylines involving women involve violence or men.
I was going to say the same thing. Few of these screenplays are about women or written by women. When did The Blacklist become a pissing contest of men? Or was it always?
Film execs should take a cue from the theater industry where the industry got a wake-up call a few years ago when a study was published about the same issue (which Nikki posted here) and are now producing a lot more plays written by women — plays garnering great reviews and box office. I especially don’t understand why female execs don’t step up out here. It’s kind of sick.
Um, are you not aware that there was a prestigious contest only for female playwrights in New York,
AND THEY DECIDED NOT TO EVEN AWARD ANYONE BECAUSE THE PLAYS WERE ALL CRAP?
Women don’t write scripts, and when they do, they’re just as crappy as they mens’ scripts.
Women do write scripts, but I do get your point. One great female script writer is Leslie Dixon. She wrote some pretty good movies:
2011 Limitless (screenplay)
2007 The Heartbreak Kid (screenplay)
2007 Hairspray (screenplay)
2005 Just Like Heaven (screenplay)
2003 Freaky Friday (screenplay)
2000 Pay It Forward (screenplay)
1999 The Thomas Crown Affair (screenplay)
1997 That Old Feeling (written by)
1993 Mrs. Doubtfire (screenplay)
1993 Look Who’s Talking Now (written by)
1989 Loverboy (screenplay)
1987 Overboard (written by)
Tower Heist (screenplay) (post-production)
This list has given the world gems like Seven Pounds; not sure how relevant it is anymore. The Hunger Games already has tremendous hype and built in fanbase, no surprise that it’s a hot property.
Maybe the list should focus on “hot/hyped projects” instead of a supposed format to boost amazing original screenplays that have been overlooked. What’s the point?
I counted maybe seven women writers here. Truly pathetic. And the storylines for most of these scripts aren’t much better. Lots of zombies and political conspiracy thrillers… yawwwn. Most will languish in development hell and never be made. But hey, at least they made this meaningless list!
I’m a woman, I’m a writer, and I adore zombies and political thrillers. I also like movies with spaceships and lots of running.
Right on bkl! I’, female and a screenplay writer and I have some amazing scripts. Most of the sceenplays written by males do tend to have abused women in it but I don’t think they are trying to make it as though all women set themselves up for abuse in any way, shape, or form. @really…wow! It’s sad that you may think that all women writers can’t write a script to save their lives. I’m sorry that you feel that way. J.K. Rowling is now a multi-millionaire having written the very famous “Harry Potter” series. And…and, she was on welfare when she started writing them. Yeah females!
Most of this crap is already in production and coming to a theater near you. I thought the original purpose of the list was to champion scripts that hadn’t been made.
Abduction wrapped this summer. Snow White is casting and in pre. So how does this list help Abduction get made when it’s already in the can? Does Abduction really need the press of being on the Black List?
I’m a woman, and I have a script on this list, with a great female lead who is neither a zombie and/or a serial killer. And NO, I don’t feel that the achievement* is undercut by my having a male writing partner, sexist jerks.
*although judging from the comments, looks like maybe I should consider the distinction more of a mark of shame than an achievement. Somehow I’ve kept myself from shitting all over previous year’s lists that didn’t contain my name, but silly me…
And also, haters? Having a producer attached doesn’t make your script “produced.” While there are obviously a fair amount of recognizable names on the list, there are still plenty of writers here who are struggling just as hard as YOU think YOU are. Give us a second to enjoy people knowing our names for a hot minute, will ya?
I am happy you are on the list. None of these comments should take away from your joy. But as a well developed human being you should be honest enough to see what is front of you.
This is a misogynistic business. The proof is in this list and the storylines on this list.
Female execs, managers, agents push male written and driven projects.
Sexism and racism needs to be called out for what it is. By men and women. Everyone will be better for it.
Celebrate your victory but don’t be in the dark. You are breathing very rare air. Congrats.
Well said. People be jealous! Congrats. I can only dream of making this list and one day I just might. Like you, I don’t get bitter. Negativity brings negative results. Good luck on your stuff and hope to see it on the big screen.
Good for you – and a big congrats for getting on the list. Thanks for stepping up and taking the time to share your thoughts. Wishing you the success you deserve – keep writing – you’re a winner all around!!
None of these sound remotely interesting nor original.
To those reading these posts, go no further: from here on down, it’s nothing but relentless bitching.
This is par for the course, unfortunately. Anonymous message boards are a swamp of bitterness. When something fails, the comments are all schadenfreude. When someone succeeds, it’s all jealousy. Today, it’s jealousy. Big surprise.
aw come on … not even “Zombies vs. Boy Scouts”?
and this is why the movie industry is hurting.
A lot of these sound incredibly stupid, redundant, and idiotic.
and how is Hunger games a success, really? Is that what you want your kids reading or seeing?
Is that a hater comment?
The first Hunger Games was a great read. The second one was weak IMO.
but still, Hunger Games was very well written. and I could see it as a film.
Yeah, and at least credit Collins with writing the original screenplay.
Hunger Games took everything that was cool about Battle Royale and made it suck. Suzanne Collins should be ashamed of herself.
So, if I wrote a script about a hitman running from zombies across country, that’d be number 1, right?
It would help if it were based on true events as detailed in a top-selling book.
I don’t want to be one of those haters that bashes everything, but this list has become a joke.
There are some really good scripts on here and some seriously awful scripts on here.
I mean, PROM. Are you kidding me?
I haven’t read PROM so I can’t comment on whether the script is drek, but the concept struck me as one of the few that might involve realistic characters dealing with recognizable human emotions. And that might actually have decent roles for actresses. Of course, I’m optimistically thinking of something like a John Hughes film. By the time it gets made, it’ll probably be about cheerleaders getting stalked by zombie ex-boyfriends.
Amazing to me that in a year when a film about a pair of middle-aged lesbians is getting Oscar buzz–and the female audience back into the theaters–to judge by this list, the industry seems to have defaulted back to its old bad habits.
The list is B.S. because it should NOT include screenplays that are getting produced. The whole point of the list is undermined by these selections, which dominate the list. Quite sad to see what it has become.
Ditto! All these scripts are REPPED and being PRODUCED. Give me break. I thought these were the hottest specs around?
SERIOUSLY??? Where is the creativity? I can’t believe that the major agencies have taken on projects like this. On second thought, it doesn’t surprise me! Hollywood has completely created their own little bubble and forgotten who the LARGE MOVIE AUDIENCE is. The rest of the US and world.
It appears that true political stories, CIA/spy stories and other not so good movie ideas are the”stories du jour”. How do we get off this hampster wheel? Better yet, how do we get investors to get off this hampster wheel and start investing in good movies?
Define what, in your opinion, constitutes a “good movie”. Complaining about the CIA/spy genre, which has been a reliable movie staple for nearly five decades makes me wonder about your level of artistic insight.
It would be great for Leonard to solicit a more refined list of most liked scripts that truly are unproduced – no producers attached.
I would like Franklin Leonard to make a statement about why women are so underrepresented on this list as writers and subject matter.
Was it that they wouldn’t sleep with him?
He invented the Blacklist to meet D girls according to my gorgeous D girl pal who votes for this stuff.
And what is the exact criteria of who is eligible for voting and who tallies the votes?
The whole thing feels like a power grab by one guy.
“Hmm I’ll make up a contest and punish all the women that rejected me and get famous at the same time. That will show them!”
Where the hell is Capital?
I feel like quitting the business today. Anyone with me? C’mon! It’ll be fun! We’ll just march on out the door without looking back.
Roughly 75 male writers and 7 females with half of those females sharing co writing credit.
Whoa. Misogyny rules the Blacklist. It’s 2010 circa 1960.
Hollywood is truly a Boys Club on every level including management/agents/development.
Look, women don’t write nearly as many scripts. They are desperate for scripts written by women. Men want to impress girls. They join bands, they turn down solid careers to live on a couch until they’re 35. Women don’t, for the most part. It’s that simple.
No one gives a damn about who or what wrote the script. They just want to make a buck off of it.
sorry, so not true. “they” are NOT desperate for scripts written by women. they actively don’t want stories by women, for women, or with women characters. try pitching one.
and the old saw that “women just aren’t writing enough” is such b.s. Please. they used to use that to explain why there weren’t any women doctors or lawyers. it had *nothing* to do with the fact that they couldn’t get accepted to the schools, or get hired by the top firms if they somehow managed to graduate. hollywood is a total boys’ club, looking for boy blockbusters. you are right about men wanting to impress girls, but it is the executives. women most certainly do not get a fair shake.
and it’s not really fair to say the women exex should step up. their bosses, the ones who control the purse strings, are all men. pitch too many women’s or children’s movies and they’ll be fired. remember jeff robinov after one failure of one women’s movie?
also, “they” don’t just want “to make a buck,” they want a writer they feel “comfortable” with for all the many rewrites, etc, not to mention a topic they can tell all their buddies about, and a movie they can sell to their corporate bosses. then they scratch their heads wondering where the rest of the audience has gone. besides, this Blacklist, isn’t it compiled by one guy in his late twenties? so he’s looking for what HE likes.
please has made valid points.
I submit my experience with a male development exec from Dreamworks at a pitchfest several years ago. The screenplay featured a female protagonist (I am a male screenwriter) and had a storyline which pointed to the way in which religion has always been unhealthy for women (witch burnings, convents, etc) I felt the screenplay was both exciting and important, something not easy to do simultaneously. The executive said “I don’t know who the audience is for this film…” “Women,” I answered. He laughed in my face. “Women are fickle.” When facing attitudes like that, what do you do?
I’m sure that THEY are just looking for GREAT scripts, no matter who or what wrote them! This is no longer a MAN’S world! This is, and will always be…HUMANS world! Nobody owns the darn world. Were all just visitors!!!
Not buying your arguments.
Fabricio, you really haven’t met any mediocre male writers who get feature writing jobs solely because they go to parties and hang with the dudes in the boys club? Then you can’t truly be a Hollywood insider; you’re faking it.
Look, you need to stop using media generated perceptions to inform your understanding of society.
Women join bands, turn down solid careers to live on a couch (or go raise children) until they’re 35. It depends on the person.
The reason there may or may not be that many women writing scripts (this again might be your erroneous perception) is because Hollywood is a Boys Club. It is that simple.
The number of men who couch surf and live shit jobs, who did graduate from top schools (or didn’t), compared to the number of women who struggle, while writing, is about 1,000 to 1.
“They are desperate for scripts written by women. ”
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously I’m in TEARS. Idiot.
People complaining about women writers, and the lack of opportunities.
Yes, you’re half the population. But guess what? Women tune in more to shows with a male lead than a female. And obviously men do the same.
Women follow male bands more than female bands.
But have any of you ever thought about how much it must suck to be an actual minority writer? If you write a sharp black film, people don’t respond. They only want Tyler Perry or Norbit fare. If you’re Asian, trying writing a movie about the Asian experience, or just have an Asian character that isn’t being made fun of. Try it with a Pakistani character.
If you want to be a writer, you have to write about white males. If that’s not your experience, tough sh*t. Try being an ethnic minority in this town, and see how much is open to you.
I liked The Butler. It sounded interesting and sounded likeit could be of great historic value if told.
I don’t know if Hollywood has the courage to tell the story of a black domestic who waits hand and foot on the kindly (and not even a little bit racist at at time of rampant overt racism) white folks who’ll doubtless become the centerpiece of the film. /sarcasm.
You mean Hollywood wouldn’t want to show that Ronald and Nancy Reagan asked the butler Eugene Allen and his wife to attend a state dinner, or that Lynden Johnson spewed foul racist diatribes while he was President.
I have to say my initial idea of The Black List was it was made in order to bring to light great scripts that no one was stepping forward to produce. A noble and functional mission.
HOWEVER, If you’ve got a producing partner already attached as so many of these listed do, it feels like a pro competing at the Olympics. If nothing else it’s outside the initial spirit of the list. In fact, if you have a producer attached and it isn’t getting made it reflects quite negatively upon the producer. It’s cheaper than ever to produce a movie, so just get it made guys. And get your project off the black list, it just highlights your incompetence.
‘Zombie Baby’ maybe.
+1
of course this list is bull shit. I’m not saying there arent good scripts on this list, but let’s face it if you don’t have an agent you don’t make a list. end of story
my husband made it on without an agent. Yes, he’s in the minority, but it happens.
Last year, “Doc and Howie Whack a Granny” was somewhere around the top of the list, and then there was a Richard LaGravenese script pushed way down into obscurity around the bottom of the list, so take the Blacklist with a grain of salt. This ranking system is kind of a joke, and for really aggressive and motivated agents with a good sense of timing, it’s easy to manipulate. That being said, I’m not dissing the 2010 list — there are some really good scripts on here.
Most of these are fact based BIO picks and retreads of other movies:
HOW IT ENDS by Brooks Mclaren “When an apocalypse strikes, a man halfway across the country from his pregnant wife goes on a dangerous and desperate journey to get back to her.” — I saw it this when it was called APOCALYPTO
The BUTLER looks interesting… could be a Forrest Gump type movie.
Read the screenplay, its great and has nothing to do with Apocalypto.
or “Due Date” / “Plains Trains & Automobiles” haha
Oh Nikki, please tell me you’re not drinking the Black List Kool Aid! “The Black List catapults scripts into production and screenwriters out of oblivion?” I don’t agree that there’s any evidence of a cause and affect there.
Yes, these are well-liked scripts which are widely-read and discussed by the studio development community — as such a lot of these scripts are going to get produced regardless of anyone coming up with any kind of list. Come on.
The fact that “Juno” did $140,000,000 domestic is what launched Diablo Cody into the stratosphere of screenwriters, not the fact that it made someone’s list. Go look at past years’ black lists and you’ll see lots of unproduced scripts and lots of forgotten and still-unproduced writers.
I mean, yes, lists are fun, let’s read them and talk about them. But let’s not get carried away that some list is what is driving production in this town.
Diablo Cody was hot in this town years before Juno came out. Nice theory though kid…
Uh, I never said “hot in town,” I said stratosphere.
Lots of writers are “hot in town” and never get anywhere near the stage of the Kodak Theater or writing a spec that grosses $140,000,000. An Oscar and $140,000,000 b.o. is what “stratosphere” means, kid, not being a writer of unproduced scripts that a bunch of executives like.
But thanks for playing. Try focusing less on putting words in peoples’ mouths and just try to keep up…
Surprised that PUZZLE PALACE and TISSUE didn’t make the cut.
Last year Social Network was on the list.LOL Guess who’s definitely out of a job there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mangers, agents & execs send out emails to ask people to vote for their clients scripts. I say any list in which ppl campaign to get their scripts on it isnt really that valid of a list to judge what are the best scripts of the year.
NEZ PERCE by Nick Mariani is the best script I read all year. Should be in the Top 5.
This is my fave part of Black List Monday — when agents and writers log on to Nikki’s site to promote their own failed scripts and careers in the comment section by staking a claim.
This is my favorite part of internet comments – when you trash something it’s gospel but if you praise something then clearly it’s a plant and to be ridiculed.
SAFEHOUSE and GANGSTER SQUAD are top notch. I’m surprised CONTRABAND and SAND DOG didn’t make it – they were definitely among my favorite scripts of the year.
The Blacklist is corrupt, lame and bullshit. Man, I wish my script was on the Blacklist.
There are next to no screenplays by or about women.
Shows how misogynistic the agencies and managers and this dude who runs it really are.
Women are only invited to the TV table. If that. Pretty pathetic.