Hello, this is an on point podcast special and I'm Megna Chakrabardi.

Hollywood is like the NBA before integration.

The industry hasn't yet figured out that it needs to look far and wide for the best talent.

That's Franklin Leonard's bold view of the entertainment industry he loves.

Leonard is founder of the Blacklist, a company and production studio that searches for the

best screenplays out there that aren't getting attention from Hollywood execs.

I got a chance to talk with Leonard for a special live event at KPCC in Pasadena, California.

It was part of KPCC's public radio Paloza series.

And we talked about everything.

From why Hollywood believes it's an industry that thrives on meritocracy, to why Franklin

Leonard thinks he had a better chance of becoming a NASA astronaut than a movie executive,

and what he told Leonardo DiCaprio when the star asked him to name his favorite movie.

There was much, much more.

I started the conversation with an observation.

Many of the screenplays identified by the Blacklist go on to be successful movies,

but just how successful.

Here's our conversation.

What we wanted to do for tonight for the Paloza is engage in a conversation, specifically

with someone who lives and speaks to this moment that we're all experiencing.

It's a multi-faceted moment to say the least, but someone who is also a key part of what

makes Southern California unique.

And here's the really important thing.

...