You have a brilliant script that you want to turn into a film. But how do you get the attention of producers or agents who can make it happen? Pitching your script is a crucial skill that can open doors and opportunities for your career. In this article, you will learn some tips and techniques to craft a compelling pitch that showcases your vision, your voice, and your value.
Before you pitch your script, you need to research who you are pitching to. Different producers and agents have different preferences, genres, styles, and budgets. You want to tailor your pitch to match their interests and needs. Find out what kind of projects they have worked on, what they are looking for, and what they are not looking for. This will help you avoid wasting their time and yours.
A pitch is more than just a verbal presentation. You also need to have some written materials that support your script and demonstrate your professionalism. These may include a logline, a synopsis, a treatment, a one-sheet, or a pitch deck. A logline is a one-sentence summary of your script that captures the main concept, conflict, and characters. A synopsis is a one-paragraph summary of your script that covers the main plot points and the ending. A treatment is a longer document that describes your script scene by scene in prose. A one-sheet is a single page that contains your logline, synopsis, bio, and contact information. A pitch deck is a visual presentation that showcases your script's genre, tone, style, themes, characters, and potential market.
Pitching is an act, you have to be in love with your ideas so when you open your mouth to speak, your body language shows it all. As simple as a pitch deck sounds your style of delivery matters a lot.
100% agree!! It’s important to have your pitch deck in place and know your material but the way you pitch matters a lot. Your body language, tone, medium and the enthusiasm in your voice are equally as important to your audience - they’ll feel your authenticity and passion - let them see it and let the feel it!
Once you have your materials ready, you need to practice your delivery. A pitch is not just about what you say, but how you say it. You want to sound confident, enthusiastic, and passionate about your script. You also want to be clear, concise, and engaging. Avoid using jargon, clichés, or vague terms. Use specific examples, anecdotes, or comparisons to illustrate your points. Keep your pitch short and sweet, ideally between 5 to 10 minutes. Anticipate possible questions or objections and prepare your answers.
I agree. Practice makes perfect! Keep your delivery short. I prefer to the elevator delivery. Within 5 minutes. Highlight key points of your pitch. Be excited about what you are sharing and then listen, listen and listen!
A pitch is not a one-way communication. It is a conversation between you and your listener. You want to establish rapport, trust, and interest with them. Start with a friendly greeting and introduce yourself and your script. Use eye contact, body language, and vocal variety to convey your emotions and personality. Listen to their feedback, comments, or questions and respond respectfully and positively. Thank them for their time and attention and follow up with them later.
Depending on the situation, you may have to pitch your script in different formats. For example, you may have to pitch over the phone, via email, or online. You may also have to pitch in different settings, such as a formal meeting, a casual networking event, or a pitch contest. You need to adapt your pitch to suit the format and the setting. For example, if you pitch over the phone, you may have to use more vocal cues and pauses to keep the listener engaged. If you pitch via email, you may have to use more visual aids and attachments to showcase your script. If you pitch online, you may have to use more interactive tools and platforms to create a dynamic presentation.
Pitching your script is an art and a science. It requires preparation, practice, and persuasion. By following these tips and techniques, you can increase your chances of impressing producers or agents and getting your script made into a film.
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Drafts are not a bad thing. Many people believe that making a draft is either too much work or that more than one draft means failure. Embrace a draft as a living piece of literature…sometimes it needs to grow or shrink even change directions and back again. I look at it like it’s a little child exploring a new area for the first time. You never know what you are going to find around each corner. Yet it keeps getting better and better with each iteration:) Good luck and happy printing!
What a great concise article. Pitching is an art and skill many writers simply are not very good at, however preparing and proper research is what they are good at so this can be learned and gets easier with practice. The tailored materials and matched for particular commissioners or channels or funders is key…as well as making sure the script is properly formatted and spell checked. it amazes me how many scripts we get that aren’t as doing this simply shows respect for the craft & reader…there are exceptions but often a great idea can get lost because the writer may feel they don’t need to conform in formatting correctly or a minority are simply arrogant thinking it doesn’t matter,it will and is a way to let that idea shine more easily.