The 2018 “Twas the Night Before Black List…” Challenge
Annual writing contest with Black List & Screenwriting Master Class prizes.
Annual writing contest with Black List & Screenwriting Master Class prizes.
Screenwriter Chris McCoy has made the Black List three times (Get Back, Good Looking, Good Kids), so he knows of what he speaks when he composed these four tweets a few years back:
“‘Twas the Night Before Black List and all through the LA / Writers were nervous — could this help them get pay?”
“Their loglines were sharp and polished with care / In the hopes that St. Franklin soon would be there.”
“The writers were ambien’d all snug in their beds / While visions of having a sustainable future danced in their heads.”
“The agent in Prada and the hopeful in Gap / Had just settled their brains (with pot) for a long winter’s nap.”
That’s as far as Chris got, but thanks to him, an opportunity arose! And now for the sixth consecutive year, we are running a contest!
Who wants to finish the poem? An ode to Black List Eve! I will select three winners each of whom will receive:
- Black List: One free month script hosting on the website and one free script evaluation.
- Screenwriting Master Class: One free Craft class I will be teaching January through May 2019.
Pretty sweet deal, right?
To help you out, here is the original poem:
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
Previous ’Twas the Night Before Black List contests:
Note: At 9AM Pacific / 12PM Eastern on Monday, December 17, all eyes will be on Twitter as the screenwriters who made the 2018 Black List are announced. Why is this such a big deal? In fourteen years time, the Black List has become a prominent force in Hollywood by recognizing and promoting screenwriters and the best unproduced scripts as rated by studio execs.
As proof to the impact the Black List has in filmmaking circles, all you need to do is ask any screenwriter whose script has made the annual list, what that achievement had on those projects and their career. Here is a sampling of comments from interviews I have conducted:
David Guggenheim (Safe House): “The first time (Safe House), I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was just the coolest thing, because as an up‑and‑coming writer, you want to get on the Black List. You should aspire to write a script that people really love and that they remember. When I’d heard, I couldn’t believe it. Then with ‘Black Box,’ it was just really special as well because I really love spec writing, so it’s nice to get acknowledged for that.”
Kelly Marcel (Saving Mr. Banks): “Both (producer) Alison (Owen) and I will tell you that The Black List was a MASSIVE part of helping get this film made. It was being on that list that brought people’s attention to SMB. After the Black List, a whirlwind of attention arrived and very quickly built a hype around it. We all owe a great deal to Franklin and everyone involved in the Black List, and I cannot underestimate how important it was in the process of getting Banks noticed and into the hands of the people who would eventually give it life.
Arash Amel (Grace of Monaco): “Everybody was talking about the Black List, and the script being on the Black List — we landed number 12 if I remember right. I also had pre-booked studio meetings that went from generals to ‘We really want to be in business with you.’ That’s huge, for a writer who’s struggling and making it and working up the ladder. For them to go from leaning back, to sitting forward now … that’s what the Black List played into, a sign of quality. That’s what I view it as. I felt like I didn’t have to explain myself so much anymore.”
Thus a lot of nervous and excited screenwriters (and their reps) as we approach Black List Eve this Sunday. So let’s get the celebration started early with your conclusions to the beginning of Chris McCoy’s ode “Twas the Night Before Black List…”
Entry deadline: Monday, December 17 at 9AM Pacific. That’s precisely when the 2018 Black List begins its unveiling. Contest winner announced Wednesday, December 19th.
Follow the unveiling of the 2018 Black List: @theblcklst.
Hashtag: #BlackList2018.
And as usual, I will be live-blogging the Black List announcements on Monday, then follow up with analysis of the scripts which made the list later in the week.
In the spirit of the season, here is some virtual egg nog for everyone, flavored with a special spicing of creative juju!
Happy Holidays! Now let’s see those Black List Eve poems!