Pillars Fund
The Muslim List: Frequently Asked Questions
/ December 1, 2021
What Is The Muslim List?
For the second year in a row, The Black List has partnered with the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and Pillars Fund to create The Muslim List, highlighting the very best unproduced scripts written by at least one Muslim writer.
Filmmakers and content creators are invited to submit a script for consideration by uploading it to The Black List website during winter 2021/2022. Submissions will be accepted until February 28, 2022. Feature film, one-hour, and half-hour original pilot submissions will be considered for this opportunity (no webseries, please.) Scripts from any genre are eligible for this partnership.
Writers selected for the Muslim List will be notified of their placement in summer 2022 with a public announcement to follow.
Who reads my application/screenplays/pilots?
Readers from Pillars Fund and the Muslim Public Affairs Council’s (MPAC) Hollywood Bureau will read all applications. Applicants who pay the additional $100 evaluation fee will also be guaranteed to be read by Black List readers and be scored on the site.
Who from The Black List community is reading?
If you choose to pay for an evaluation, you will be read by one of The Black List’s corps of script readers. Industry members will also be able to download and read your script on the site and provide ratings, but industry members do not provide evaluations, just numerical scores, and there is no requirement for industry members to provide a score once they have read a script, it is up to their personal discretion.
How will I know that my application was received?
You will receive an email confirming your Muslim List submission, please wait up to 48 hours and check your spam folder to make sure you’ve received the email. If not, you can always confirm your submission with The Black List support team: support@blcklst.com
How often will I hear from The Black List about where they are in the process?
Your submission will be noted via a response email to you, and The Black List will notify you when the shortlist has been selected to let you know if your script has moved on.
Will I get feedback about my submission from Pillars Fund or MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau?
No, due to the number of submissions we will not be able to provide feedback on scripts.
Are we allowed to submit a new draft from the time we first submit to the time the selections are being made?
No, we will not accept new drafts after the submission deadline.
What criteria do Pillars Fund and MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau have when choosing the scripts?
Our readers are looking for scripts that tell nuanced stories by Muslim creators. We are looking for scripts that are technically well-written and communicate a fresh perspective.
How much does it cost to have my script on the site?
To host a script on The Black List website is $30/month and to ensure a Black List reader reads the script is $100/evaluation. The $30 is a monthly hosting fee and will be renewed monthly if not cancelled. You are only required to host your script on the website until the deadline for submission closes (date) to be considered for The Muslim List.
What support is available if I cannot afford the submission fee?
Pillars Fund and MPAC are able to provide waivers for applicants who cannot afford the submission fee. If you are in need of a waiver, please contact Pillars Fund and MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau at culturechange@pillarsfund.org or Hollywooddirector@mpac.org, respectively.
What is the timeline for submissions?
The submission window is open from December 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022. Writers selected for The Muslim List will be notified of their placement in July 2022, with a public announcement to follow.
What submissions are accepted?
Feature film, one-hour, and half-hour original pilot submissions will be considered for this opportunity (no webseries, please.) Scripts from any genre are eligible for this partnership.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Writers should identify as Muslim. While writers can be from any country of origin, they must currently reside in the U.S.
- Writing teams are eligible as long as one member of the team identifies as Muslim.
- Scripts can be multilingual as long as they are written primarily in English.
- Feature films and original television pilots will be accepted, no webseries.