Black List to Host Screenwriting Lab With ‘Hunger Games’ Writer as Mentor

Six writers will take part in an all-expenses paid workshop with four screenwriting mentors

The Black List will host an all-expenses paid screenwriting lab in Las Vegas this fall for six aspiring writers, providing them with advice from mentors such as Kiwi Smith ("Legally Blonde") and Billy Ray ("Hunger Games").

In announcing the news, founder Franklin Leonard said writers can qualify for the lab by submitting a script to the Black List's website by the end of July, at which point 15 will be selected to submit a personal statement. The mentors and the Black List will then choose six writers to participate in the lab.

Writers must confirm that they have not earned more than $25,000 for their writing to-date. Those writers and mentors that make the cut will stay at the Las Vegas Downtown Project, a new initative led by Zappos.com CEO Tony Hseih to revitalize downtown Vegas with new restaurants, bars, public spaces and other types of infrastructure. 

Also read: Sundance, Black List Partner to Aid Aspiring Filmmakers 

"Six writers are going to have the opportunity to workshop their script at an extremely high level and get an education on working as a professional screenwriter from our extraordinary mentors and guests we’ll invite throughout the week," Leonard said in a statement.

Scott Meyers, host and founder of Go Into Story, the Black List's screenwriting blog, will serve as a mentor in addition to Smith and Ray.

The lab continues the evolution of the Black List from a mere list of Hollywood executives' favorite unproduced screenplays to a company dedicated to advancing and aiding unknown screenwriters. It launched a new membership site last September, invited screenwrtiers to upload scripts for review last October and has since partnered with both the Writers Guild of America and the Sundance Institute.

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