You've written a screenplay. Now you need industry professionals to read it. Here's what each major platform offers, what it costs, and what users say about whether it's worth the money.

The Black List: Prestigious Name, Mixed Results #

How it works: Upload your script and pay for evaluations from professional readers. Scores range from 1-10. Scripts scoring 8+ get free hosting and appear prominently to industry professionals browsing the site.

The costs:

• Monthly hosting: $30
• Professional evaluation: $100
• Typical first-year spend: $250-400

What users say: Reviews reveal wildly inconsistent scoring. Writers report getting three 8s initially, then scores dropping to 6s and 4s after incorporating that feedback. Another scored around 8 in multiple competitions but received a 4 from The Black List for the same script.

The 2025 Nicholl Fellowship partnership sparked outrage. Entry now costs $130 through The Black List versus $55 previously. As one writer put it: "This is just [Blacklist owner] Franklin Leonard making even more money for himself off the backs of writers." 

General consensus: Professional screenwriters view it as "a thermometer for trends, not a tool for improving writing."  Success stories exist but are rare. One industry analyst wrote: "Creative executives with the power to greenlight screenplays and careers are not hanging out online browsing the internet for new material and writers." 

Worth it? Only if you have a genuinely strong script and can afford multiple evaluations without emotional investment in the scores.

InkTip: Real Producers, Low-Budget Only #

How it works: Post loglines and synopses. Producers searching for material can request full scripts. Weekly newsletters list producer requests by genre.

The costs:

• InkTip Pro membership: $32.50/month
• Additional scripts: $12.50/month each
• Six-month typical commitment: $195+

What users say: Multiple writers confirm legitimate sales and options. One sold four shorts in 12 months. Another optioned a feature that made "some money" though never produced.

The catch? Producers are exclusively hunting low-budget material. Films made through InkTip typically cost under $7 million. Writers report getting 13 logline views with no script requests. Film students flood requests seeking free scripts for class projects.

General consensus: InkTip is full of producers looking for low-budget scripts they can make. Big blockbuster projects shouldn't be posted here.

Worth it? Yes for contained horror, micro-budget thrillers, or simple character pieces. No for anything requiring studio backing.

Stage 32: Networking Platform with Verification Problems #

How it works: Free basic membership provides forums and educational content. Paid services include pitch sessions with executives ($35+), script consultations ($300+), and coverage.

The costs:

• Basic membership: Free
• Pitch sessions: $35+
• Script coverage: $100-300+

What users say: Stage 32 generates the most polarized reviews. Supporters credit it with management deals and financing. Critics call it a "complete scam" after spending $800 with zero results. 

The central problem: verification. Multiple users discovered "executives" with no industry credits. One checked IMDb and found someone who "worked in the service industry as a bartender. Fantastic background to make filmmaking decisions." 

Customer service complaints are common, for example continued billing after cancellation and unresponsive support. 

General consensus: Works best as a free social network and educational platform. Paid services require extreme caution. One veteran advised verifying credentials via IMDb before paying anything - if they won't provide verifiable credits, it's a red flag.

Worth it? The free features are useful. The educational content has value. Never pay for pitch sessions without thoroughly researching the specific person.

FilmFreeway: Just the Submission Tool #

How it works: Browse over 12,000 festivals and contests. Submit directly through the platform. FilmFreeway doesn't judge your work—it just processes entries.

The costs:

• FilmFreeway account: Free
• Contest entry fees: Set by individual contests ($30-130)

What users say: No real complaints about FilmFreeway itself. The problems are the contests it hosts.

One writer won "Platinum Award," "Best TV Pilot European Winner," and "Special Jury Prize" from three contests. None included cash, industry meetings, or IMDb recognition.  Just expensive certificates.

General consensus: FilmFreeway works perfectly. The value depends entirely on which contests you enter. Stick to top-tier: Nicholl, Austin Film Festival, Final Draft Big Break, ScreenCraft, Script Pipeline. 

Worth it? Yes for the tool itself. Just enter only legitimate contests with proven track records.

The Uncomfortable Numbers #

Only 5-20% of screenwriters make long-term careers. Of the Writers Guild's 12,000 members, just 4,760 earned money writing in 2023.

Most new writers make $5,000-10,000 for their first screenplay sale.

What Industry Professionals Actually Recommend #

Write constantly. Your tenth script should be significantly better than your first.

Build real relationships. Work on film sets. Attend industry events in person.

Move to where the work is. Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, or Vancouver.

Enter only prestigious contests. A Nicholl quarterfinalist credit opens doors. Random festival awards mean nothing.

The Bottom Line #

A typical year using these platforms costs $400-1,200. You're buying access and feedback, not guaranteed reads or sales.

If you have a polished script and money to spare, pick one platform matching your script type. Give it six months. If nothing happens, redirect that money toward building real industry relationships.

The truth most writers avoid: executives aren't browsing these platforms for material. They're reading scripts their trusted contacts recommend. Your money might be better spent on a plane ticket to Los Angeles than another evaluation.