Pitching - What the hell do I do?

[magnum]

Hi

I am going to pitch a TV show idea to a network on May 22... there are a few problems:

1. I have never had anything sold before
2. I have therefore never pitched before
3. I therefore have no idea what they would be looking for.

If anyone has any advice to give me, I would really appreciate it. Basically I need to know what I've got to tell them to make them want to buy my show.

Grant.:flag:

[xhouseboy]

Just make sure you've got a good fall back idea if your first proposal falls flat.

I know it sound like a big deal, but it really isn't.

They'll want to control the meeting, anyway. You're there to basically agree with their proposals (which will probably be your original proposals, only dressed up differently), while at the same time sell yourself to them as someone who can carry out anything they lay on the table.

I've been there. First one's a killer. It soon becomes second nature.

[odocoileus]

Chris Lockhart's article, check out the other articles on the site as well:

http://www.twoadverbs.com/pitcharticle.htm (http://www.twoadverbs.com/pitcharticle.htm)


(since you've got a month or so, you may want to try out some pitches or look at other people's approaches on the twoadverbs.com forum - gotta register for it)


Phil Morton on phone pitches:

http://screenwriterbones.blogspot.com/2006/01/phone-pitch.html (http://screenwriterbones.blogspot.com/2006/01/phone-pitch.html)


Alex Epstein on pitches, and check out his TV faq:

http://complicationsensue.blogspot.com/2004/11/pitches-pitch-bibles-and-bibles.html (http://complicationsensue.blogspot.com/2004/11/pitches-pitch-bibles-and-bibles.html)


http://www.craftyscreenwriting.com/TVFAQ.html#different (http://www.craftyscreenwriting.com/TVFAQ.html#different)


John August's pitch columns:

http://johnaugust.com/archives/category/qanda/pitches/ (http://johnaugust.com/archives/category/qanda/pitches/)


There may be some pitch type docs on simpyscripts.com:

http://www.simplyscripts.com/treatments.html

[Chesher Cat]

Write your pitch out. Memorize it. Try it out on friends and peers. Make your changes. Memorize it again. Try it out again. Get really comfortable with it. Then when you are in the room, gauge the reactions on the listeners faces and adjust the pitch accordingly. If you're losing them (nod, nod) skip and pick up the pace etc. Oh yeah, and don't forget to breathe.

Good luck!

[Mac H.]

What everyone else said, as well as:

(1) Keep it simple, and limit the number of names you use.

For example - imagine the story is about "Tom", his parents "Fred" & "Mary", his girlfriend "Jane" and his dog "Toby".

I've found it best to just refer to the main character by name ("Tom") and then just talk about "his father", "his mother", "his girlfriend" and "his dog".

I've heard awfully complicated pitches that involved remembering 5 or 6 names - so when "Toby" saves the day, I'd forgotten if it is the father, brother or dog.

(2) Get feedback from friends with your many practise runs, and make it clear that you want HONEST feedback. Force them to understand that they need to tell you at least 3 things that need changing, or that they didn't understand.

(3) There will be some cool stuff that derails the pitch that you'll have to leave out. (eg: How your hero gets the security codes to break into the vault)

If you need to leave it out, that's fine - you'll have a great ready made topic of discussion later.

(4) This one may only apply to me, but ...
Deodorant/Antiperspirant. If I get nervous I sweat. Need I say more ???

Good luck,

Mac

[xhouseboy]

Here's a little quote from ask the screenwriter that sort of reinforces all the other advice you've been getting.









Believe me, I recognize the fallacy of expecting a writer -- whose principal talent is sitting alone in a room for hours on end -- to suddenly be talkative and entertaining when pitching a project. Most writers, self included, would much rather toil away in happy isolation. But producers and studio execs want to hear from the writers themselves. So we put on our least-wrinkled clothes, practice what we're going to say, and try not to make asses of ourselves in pitch meetings. My standard advice for any pitch: Pretend you just saw the best movie ever, and you want to convince your friend (the producer) why she should see it. Try it with a few real movies and you'll see that you naturally hop from high point to high point, and don't dwell a lot on the underlying logic or subplots. That's a pitch.

[magnum]

Thanks guys! Those are some great websites. Also, I just received Alex Epstein's book, Crafty Screenwriting, in the mail that a friend send me for my birthday. I'm gonna read this thing like it's the Bible! heh

Man, I'm getting nervous already! :e2cry:

[clockwork]

Remember to make an impression. Primary objective is to sell them your idea but a secondary one is to sell them yourself. You want to make sure they remember you so that if they don't follow through on your idea, it will be easier to submit there again in future. You want to go from being, "Here's a script sent in by Mr. Scriptwriter", to "Oh, here's a script from that Magnum guy that came in to see us a few weeks ago? Remember him?"

And by make an impression I don't mean play the fool or wear a hat, I mean the obvious stuff, be friendly, polite, charming. They have to know that you're an easy-going, respectable person that they can work with through the development process.

Regards clothing; you'll find the biz is very laid-back and casual. Unless you're going in to see some shyster at William Morris, you'll find most people in smart but casual attire so you should dress accordingly. I can't remember who said it but I once read, "You should dress like you are comfortable with money," meaning (I think) that although you're smart but casual, you enjoy looking good, you don't mind spending money on shoes or a watch and you won't freak out or skip town when they give you thousands for development.

Some people will say it's not that important, the pitch is what counts and to a degree that's true but during a pitch, producers are not just listening to your idea (what?!) they're also sizing you up, trying to work out what kind of person you are and all they can judge you on is by what you say and how you look. Take care of the how you look part so all you've got to worry about is what you say. What I'm getting at is; don't go in there looking like you put your clothes on with a shovel.

I think a good litmus test for any part of your pitch whether your appearance, your demeanour or the pitch itself, is the word 'professional.' Bring everything up to that standard and you'll be in a good position.

[magnum]

That is some excellent advice! Thanks Clock Work. I generally dress that way for work, so I'll just pretend like I'm going in to the office. :-P

[Chesher Cat]

Do not dress up. Execs get nervous if a writer walks in the room dressed like them.