Guest Visit From A Hollywood Film Executive

We were so grateful to welcome Film Executive Franklin Leonard to our Advanced Programs Leadership Workshop. Franklin shared how his creative concept for showcasing overlooked screenplays spawned the development of “The Black List”. 

What started off as a draft spreadsheet shared among 75 film development executives, The Black List quickly grew into a network hosting a collection of Hollywood's most popular unproduced screenplays.  Over 300 screenplays from this site have been made into feature films earning over $26 billion worldwide and others have earned Academy Awards in the categories of Screenwriting and Best Picture.

While speaking with our students, Franklin shared the importance of hustle and perseverance in light of adversity. Each student learned that they can use these concepts as tools to navigate career opportunities after graduation.  

Thank you Franklin for sharing your story with our students!