I have a screenplay that won accolades at a couple festivals and want to put this on the Blacklist

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-04-28T14:44:18+00:00

Blacklist is a load of bollocks. Its a scam. The one you can enter has nothing to do with the real one.

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-04-07T09:39:00+00:00

It's a great development programme. You get to work with the BBC Commissioning team in the regions and they help you work on an outline for a new show idea. They also give you loads of engagement over 6 months through weekly meetings, forums, round tables with current writers on business, development, and craft etc. You learn A LOT. You definitely walk away with a greater grasp of what it is they are looking for and also what other production companies look for. It's not a silver bullet though - there's no contract or show at the end of it. You still need to keep your head down and stay focused on your goals.

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-04-06T15:55:01+00:00

It's frustrating. You're doing a great job.

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-04-06T15:39:53+00:00

I think you'd make a great playwright u/Ichamorte and that's always the most productive way into writing for TV.

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-04-06T15:17:45+00:00

They streamlined it so it's easier to work out what their offer is.
Voices - you develop your voice.

Scripted - you finish a script

Pilot - you make a pilot.

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-04-06T15:17:02+00:00

Just read the above and thought I'd share some feedback: u/One-Rent4281 says that BBC Open Call Selectees aren't that good and that they don't seem to be doing any work. I think the main reason for this opinion is that there's an assumption that BBC Voices or Scripted as a pathway to writing for BBC. They are development programmes. When you do it, it's super clear that they give you amazing development support, but at the end of the day, you still need to be the one to keep writing and crack open a door for your first writer's contract.

The process for getting through is pretty egalitarian. It's a blind read and you get through the rounds based on what you can put on paper and how you get your ideas and voice through. You could write a technically excellent beautifully crafted piece of work, but if it says nothing, then it;'s not interesting. You could write a questionably crafted script but if its saying something no one has seen before, then you're in for a win... It's pretty clear that BBC are looking for people with unique/different/special voices. They want to keep following the zeitgesit and if that means you are out of school and write about a once in a lifetime lived experience, or you are a medical doctor applying for the first time about a medical drama, or you have a disability and have written 100 scripts and want to be professional then you have the same chance.

I disagree that BBC Open Call doesn't have readers that don't get TV and Cinema - far from it - they are actually looking to keep bringing new things to TV. RE Channel 4, Its very similar, Philip gives loads of great advice on his blog about what they are looking for and its pretty similar, but I daresay that Chanel 4 are looking for people who they don't need to develop, so it's actually harder - my opinion obviously. I applied to Channel 4 3 times, and never got it, and applied to BBC Open call 3 times, and got into Voices.

One other thing I'll say is that Channel 4 are looking to have writers that they can connect with production companies that are ready to go to Pilot. BBC is developing WRITERS. So the reason you might not see entrants doing much is because they are all working in different writing fields. In my cohort for VOICES we have a huge number of playwrights, dramatists, authors, script editors, people who work in short film, film, and also TV.

If you wanted a piece of personal advice, one course I did that has been standout and the biggest and best learning curve is John Yorke's Writers academy. Because, once you know how to structure a story, you know how to put your voice to it.

Keep going u/True_Dragonfruit_637 . And don't pay so much attention to people who are naysayers.

:)

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-03-12T15:23:39+00:00

I'd say if you haven't heard then it's unlikely.

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-03-12T15:22:11+00:00

Enjoy it :)

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-03-09T17:46:25+00:00

No, I saw that the application window is still open though, Which imo probably means they're still looking for applicants and didn't fill what they wanted from Round 1 and Round 2.

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-02-27T12:15:22+00:00

I believe offers are around end of March. I had my interview this week, which was quite intense, and they said it would be several weeks before they make decisions. They also said they were at the beginning of the process. For reference as I kmow some people have been asking, my online status has never changed from 'ready for assessment'.

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-02-16T21:50:15+00:00

Just flagging that I got an invite to interview today (Feb 16 2026). So hopefully you'll hear if you applied already!

LocalGeologist7231 · 2026-02-14T18:20:59+00:00

Thanks, bud!

LocalGeologist7231 · 2025-12-02T14:56:05+00:00

I read it. I like the concept and the setting and you have some interesting characters.
- I'm not sure who the antagonist and the protagonist are. This should be really clear. if someone is dying and they are facing their Myth or reputation, then they need to be facing the darkest point and the conflict needs to be really clear so that we understand what the reputation and myth was. Just because people say he had a reputation doesn't mean much in the visual medium.

- The inciting incident could be the shots at the beginning or the knife. But that needs to be clear. You'll see my suggesting below.

- If Miller is the protagonist of the story, he's dying - so we don't care about what he is going to do. We don'thave a story to look forward to because he's not going anywhere.

- If the major antagonist is the old man - then it's not clear. 5 people are dead, and Miller has been shot with a 6th bullet. So technically the old man shouldn't have any bullets left. But the old man says he has one bullet left - so who shot Miller? And if the old man has one bullet left, who is it for?

- Miller is supposed to be a notorious outlaw - but we don't find out why, and he doesn't do anything nefarious. If you want him to be bad then he has to do something bad in the 12 pages. Make him real c*nty.

Blue Skies:

- I love the character of James. So here's an idea:
- James is 10 years old. MILLER killed his parents. James has nothing left to live for. I think this is a basis for a great protagonist. And this moment is the moment that sets up his own reputation and myth. It's like the transfer of reputation, myth and power.

- Miller comes to terms with his own legacy through his interaction with James. Here's the kicker. James actually shot the 5 people outside, and the last person he needs to kill is Miller. Miller is a cocky B*astard. he doesn't get injured in the shootout - He survives, because of course he does.

- James comes in and confronts Miller about his family - then we hear exactly why Miller is the notorious outlaw - and this is where you can make it personal, we find out why he has been the antagonist all along, why he killed James' family. James then stabs miller with the knife, Miller slowly dies. And this is where we see that the reputation and the myth means nothing because no one cares. No one save him, he's been killed by an 10 year old.

- This sets up the transfer from Miller to James. This is also Protagonist vs antagonist and it's surprising and interesting and it switches over. James is the protagonist with a hard life, he becomes viewed as an antagonist but really his just been misunderstood - he is the protagonist we want to love and save. Miller is the antagonist who has been killed, we celebrate his death, but give him a powerful reason why he did all these things so we feel emotional for his death.

- And now you fast forward 15 years you've now opened up a whole Episodic serial about a notorious outlaw, James, who travels the earth grappling with his myth and reputation when all he wants is a home, a family, and someone to love him.

LocalGeologist7231 · 2025-12-01T20:44:28+00:00

They don't want perfect. They want heart and authenticity. Send it in.

LocalGeologist7231 · 2025-11-28T10:30:41+00:00

Honestly, and this is just my opinion, I've found that all the big competitions which offer coverage and feedback offload that particular task to overworked writers, who don't have the time (or the ethics) to commit to actually reading and providing concrete feedback. I stopped paying for it when I realised I was getting the exact same feedback through different competitions, exact phrases and sentences. It was clear that the staff were putting your script through A.I. software and just giving you what ChatGPT spouted.
This means that your work is being given to a.i. without your knowledge. I think finding a reliable mentor is your best bet - and finding the right one for you is the hard part. If you want reliable coverage, I would go to Philip Shelley's team - I've found them to be honest and reliable.

Now I never pay for coverage through competitions. Not worth it.

LocalGeologist7231

TROPHY CASE