Onyx Collective and The Black List Launch Initiative to Identify Unpublished Manuscript for Book-to-Film/TV Option (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Angelique Jackson The Black List has partnered with Onyx Collective on an initiative that will put an unpublished manuscript on the pipeline to production with the offer of an 18-month film or TV option deal.

The Black List, known for its annual list of the most-liked unproduced screenplays and its screenplay submission service, will assist Onyx Collective, the content brand behind such projects as “How to Die Alone,” “Reasonable Doubt,” the Emmy-winning docuseries “The 1619 Project” and the Oscar-winning documentary “Summer of Soul,” in identifying a shortlist of outstanding fiction manuscripts that elevate themes and perspectives of the Black experience.

The initiative will offer an option film or TV deal for a period of no less than 18 months for the selected manuscript. “Tara Duncan is one of my favorite people on Earth, much less in Hollywood, so it’s an utter joy to partner with Onyx Collective under her leadership to help find a novel that they will option for film or television adaptation,” said Franklin Leonard, founder and CEO of The Black List. “Honestly, the only thing more exciting than doing so is knowing that the work we find will be in the best of hands once we do.” Added Onyx Collective president Tara Duncan: “Amplifying underrepresented artists is at the heart of our mission.

The Black List has been an important resource for identifying a new generation of storytelling, for Onyx to support The Black List expansion is a no brainer.