Reflections of 2025 Black List Feature Writer’s Lab Participants

Writers who participated in this year’s Black List Feature Writer’s Lab reflect on their experience.

Every year since 2013, the Black List has held an annual feature writer’s lab. The 2025 event took place in Ojai, California from October 13–17. Once again, I was pleased to participate as a mentor and workshop facilitator.

Here are reflections from some of the 2025 Black List Feature Writers lab writers.

Cristina Kinon

Writing a good script is a lot of work and usually, it’s only the first step on the long, arduous road to becoming a movie — if it ever does at all. Some say that creation itself is the reward but wouldn’t it be nice if someone read your good script and said, “Damn diva, you locked in on this shit — here’s a free trip to Ojai, an open bar, and a bunch of nerds who love to talk about movies and writing as much as you do”? That’s basically what The Black List Writers Lab is.

Is there writing? Kind of. Is there a lab? If you’re thinking of the science kind, there is not. But is The Black List there? YES! And what a team. Impeccable taste. Unwavering champions of the craft. Exquisite dinner conversationalists. They won’t reveal their secrets (witchcraft?) but they seamlessly assembled a perfect combo platter of personalities among the cohort, mentors, and Scott Myers — screenwriter, professor, and possessor of immaculate vibes.

The week never felt like work. Genuinely, I’ve never had so much fun being told what wasn’t working with my story structure. Everyone just wanted to help make our hard work better. What a gift.

My script DUMB LUCK is about three idiots who win the jackpot but maybe The Black List Writers Lab is the real lottery we won along the way…

Kaley Mamo

There is a magical, wonderful, invigorating place for screenwriters hidden in the mountains of California, and it’s called the Black List Writers Lab. Tucked within the mist and fog of Ojai is a little haven of people who get it, it being that no movie is good without a killer script. The Black List Team and the incredible Scott Myers are kind story-weavers who not only know how to help you and your script, but how to have a fun time, too.

My week in Ojai was one of the best and most defining weeks of my life. It was the first time I felt validated as an emerging screenwriter (I mean, this isn’t really an industry with a lot of positive reinforcement) and taken seriously as a writer in the business. Every piece of feedback and advice from the mentors was invaluable; every conversation with Megan and Shelby a masterclass; every Yuzu Spritz a taste of heaven. At the Lab, people see us writers — us fantastic, beyond talented, lovely cohort of writers — and believe in us. That’s a pretty rare thing.

I will be forever grateful for my week in Ojai and the guidance of the Black List Team, the mentors, Scott, and my fellow writers (miss you guys!). This is the first step in our creative journeys; I can’t wait to go on this quest alongside them.

Rob Norman

I had heard rumours online that the Black List Writer’s Lab “changes lives.”
 
 Of course I wanted to believe that, but really — how much can happen in a single week? 
 
 Five days on a calendar. Three once you subtract the travel. And if you factor in sleep, meals, and the occasional anxiety attack, you’re left with maybe 16 waking hours to unlock the mysteries of American screenwriting. I’ve spent the same amount of time watching the Blue Jays lose the World Series this year … and that was just one game.

And yet, after a week in Ojai, you got me! I do feel different. So what happened?

It wasn’t the mentorship or the notes. Not the friendships, or the advice from Black List alumni. Not even the majesty of the Topatopa Mountains — all of which was incredible.

The real gift from the Writer’s Lab doesn’t look like a screenwriting book (although I did receive one as a gift, thank you!) It’s a sudden shift in intention. When your largely theoretical career path manifests into something real, even for a couple days, that changes you.

I’ve been home for less than a month — and I’ve written a new feature and finished a procedural TV spec. I’ve met with industry folks — managers, agents, producers. Sure, I’ve been inside some of those rooms before The Lab, but I feel different sitting in those spaces now. The Black List Writer’s Lab change lives…Or at least your perspective.

Now, if the Black List could turn their attention to the Blue Jays next year, I’d be eternally grateful.

Joe Veix

When I first learned I was accepted into The Black List Writers Lab, I was super excited, although I didn’t fully know what to expect. What exactly would we do all week? Who was in my cohort? Was this a cult?

Fortunately, my cult-related anxieties were soon eased. On the first day, an unmarked vehicle transported us to a remote mountain compound, where we were each supplied with matching tunics.

Okay, but seriously: my experience with the lab was a highlight of my life. It gave me and my fellow writers the rare time and space to truly grow as artists.

My cohort — now a proper writers group — is such a lovely, talented mix of people. While we each have divergent genre specialties and styles, everyone is equally driven by a pure love of writing. I learned so much from talking to them and reading their PDFs. I can’t wait to see what they make next.

The week’s schedule was dense. The lab could probably double as a digital detox camp. You won’t be on your phone much, and you’ll be having too much fun to notice.

Over the next few days, I met with my three mentors, brilliant screenwriters with impressive bodies of work. They offered generous, constructive feedback on my script, and thoughtful responses to my thornier questions, like “how do me write more gooder?” Their perspectives were invaluable.

Meanwhile, the wonderful Scott Myers held everything together with helpful lectures and casual, brilliant advice. He closed out the week by running a productive day of script workshopping, further strengthening all of our projects.

All of this was expertly helmed by the Black List team, who maintained the chill summer camp vibes. It isn’t easy to manage a large group — of writers no less — and keep everyone happy and comfortable and well-fed. This, along with their continued advocacy and support post-lab, really makes me appreciate this very special thing they’ve built.

I’m now starting a new revision of the script I workshopped, The Hole Story, with a map and confidence and enthusiasm. The warm feeling from the lab lingers. Now, to drink this nice, refreshing glass of Kool-Aid…

Karna Warrior

When I first stepped out of the car at the Ojai Rancho Inn on a Monday afternoon back in October, I couldn’t help but wonder what I was in store for. I would be spending basically every minute of the next four days surrounded by other talented writers and our incredibly accomplished mentors, not to mention the Black List team who had deemed me worthy of the honor of being a part of this group at all. As an introverted, awkward, socially anxious writer (a rarity, I’m sure), it was all a bit overwhelming. I remember sitting at the picnic tables, waiting nervously for the others to turn up, feeling the imposter syndrome starting to take hold. But as folks arrived, and the grounds of the Inn became filled with chatter and laughter, I felt my nerves melt away. I quickly realized that these were “my people.” From the Lab coordinators to the intimidating mentors, we were all people who shared a deep love of stories, of writing, and of film. I think what really opened my eyes to that fact was a moment after dinner on the second night — after a long day of notes sessions, we were sitting around the campfire idly when someone (Kaley!) suggested playing one of the most nerdy, film twitter-y, wordplay-based games one could imagine (change one letter in an existing movie title to make it totally different, then pitch that new movie to the group to make them guess the original title). Immediately a silence fell over the campfire as everyone, writer, mentor, and coordinator alike turned their full brain power towards digging through every movie title in their mind, trying to come up with puns to make us all laugh as we guessed movie after movie. We played that game for almost two hours, the only lulls being the brief moments of thought before someone inevitably put a hand up and said, “Ok, I’ve got one.” In that instant, it fully hit me — this was a special place not only because of the lovely Ojai weather, but because everyone there had a shared passion, and that’s what really makes The Black List a community I’ll forever feel blessed to be a part of. The Lab was an incredible experience that’s helped me build confidence in my work and myself, but now, a month later, it’s that moment I keep coming back to, the moment when I realized not only had I made friends for life, I’d also found somewhere I truly belonged.

This was my 26th Black List feature writer lab or mini-lab. When I was as a musician, I lived in Ventura from 1981–1985, and even performed in Ojai several times. It was great to revisit that part of my past. More important, the retreat experience really helped create a special experience for these writers. I trust they will be friends for life.

Reflections: 2024 Black List Project Lab

Reflections: 2024 Black List Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2023 Black List Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2022 Black List Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2021 Black List Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2020 Black List Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2019 Black List Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2018 Black List Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2017 Black List Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2016 Black List Feature Writers Lab

Update: 2015 Chicago, New York, and Toronto Black List Screenwriting Labs

Update: 2015 Los Angeles and San Francisco Screenwriting Labs

Update: 2014 Black List Feature Writers Lab

Update: 2013 Black List Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2021 Black List New Zealand Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2022 Black List/Women In Film Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2021 Black List/Women In Film Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2020 Black List/Women In Film Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2019 Black List/Women In Film Feature Writers Lab

Reflections: 2018 Black List/Women In Film Feature Writers Lab

For more information on the Black List educational programs, go here.

[Photos by Petie Sjogren]