How do you pitch a film production concept to funders?

A few years ago, I worked on the short horror film "Soon." We had a solid script and a talented team and were ready to seek funding. We identified potential funders, including a production company. One production company seemed promising due to their history with horror films. We pitched our project, emphasizing its chilling atmosphere and unique storyline. However, we failed to research thoroughly. They preferred horror-comedy and established horror actors, not our psychological thriller. The pitch fell flat, teaching us the importance of tailored research and understanding the funder's preferences. It reinforced the need to align your pitch with the funder's expectations when seeking funding for a film project.

A film investment will never look like a real estate deal. Nobody does it because they weigh the potential return against the risk...or they'd never do it. People invest in films because they believe in the person or the message. Family and friends are the most likely source of funds for first or second projects. Beyond that, your track record hopefully can help support your pitch to folks who believe in the topic.

I agree, but when it comes to securing project financing pitching your film concept, to funders is crucial. Here's a summary of the steps; 1. Develop an Engaging Concept. 2. Create a Pitch Deck. 3. Understand Your Audience. 4. Practice Makes Perfect. 5. Foster Relationships. 6. Arrange Pitch Meetings. 7. Be Prepared for Questions. 8. Follow Up Gracefully. 9. Discuss Terms. 10. Legal Matters and Documentation. Remember that an effective pitch not conveys the essence of your film concept but also showcases your passion, expertise and ability to bring forth an profitable project. Each pitch should be tailored according to the preferences of funders.

Research your potential funder. Know their interests,past projects they’ve funded. Know your project inside out. Prepare to answer questions and discuss every aspect of film project. Be open to feedback.

Creating a film that resonates with your audience is much like cooking the perfect meal. Imagine serving a blazing hot spicy curry to someone who cant handle the heat or offering a tofu salad to a meat lover. You've got to know your ingredients, and in this case, your audience's preferences. Sometimes, to craft a true masterpiece, you've got to cook up those ingredients in a whole new way, something that's never been tasted before, to make your film utterly irresistible. If you dine on the same dish every day, even your favorite meal can become as exciting as a broken DVD player. So, in the world of filmmaking, remember to spice things up, serve the unexpected, and keep your audience coming back for more. Bon appétit! ???????

What's the ask? Are you pitching talent to attach to the project? Are you asking for money? A distribution deal contingent upon the completed work? A co-producer? For me, I don't reveal (or pitch) anything until such time as I have a very tight script. I mean, ready to shoot tight. In the case of an animated series, I complete the pilot script AND a pitch bible. I invest a lot in my projects before I "put it out there." This way, there's no ambiguity and folks can recognize that I'm invested.

An example, I've witnessed firsthand the impact of a captivating logline, in Bollywood "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" (DDLJ). The logline could be something like; "In the midst of a getaway two young individuals find love but face the challenge of gaining approval from the girls father." Creating loglines like this allows us to delve into the characters journeys and the obstacles they encounter. A powerful logline, like this captures the attention of investors, producers and audiences alike.

To secure funding as a determined filmmaker, utilize these materials effectively. Craft a captivating logline and synopsis to entice potential investors. Your treatment should reveal the film's emotional depth while the script underscores your storytelling commitment. Impress investors with a compelling mood board and lookbook, showcasing the film's unique visual style. A meticulously detailed budget and schedule will demonstrate your professionalism and planning skills, instilling confidence in investors. Introduce your experienced crew through a team bio, and outline a strategic marketing plan to reach the target audience effectively. With a well-prepared pitch, you can secure funding and enable the successful of your film.

Do not leave any details out. Be prepared for all the possible questions. Have your creative, logistical, and production materials sorted. Be clear with your communication. They will know and understand the film through you, and you need to know it a hundred times in and out.

From a commercial perspective, so many agency pitch decks are ugly. They look like they're made in Microsoft Word and they're just dull and lazy. Because big agencies can afford to be dull and lazy. So when you're putting together a pitch for a client or a prospect show some style and vibe in how you put together your pitch deck and mood boards.

Your pitch shouldn’t feel like a pitch it should feel like a conversation around a concept that you know better than anyone else and that is as natural an idea as breathing.

When I was at Cannes film festival, I snuck into a hot shot party. imposter syndrome hit the back of my legs like a bat. I met a producer who’d worked with everyone. He said ‘I’m not interested in scripts right now, but what have you got?’ I gave my log line, And asked him what he would do if he was the Protagonist? He said ‘interesting..’. We chatted for another 10 minutes. Then he left. I got back home and the phone rang. It was the producer, he said’ ‘two things, I haven’t stopped thinking about your film, and how the hell did you get into that party!’ I signed a shopping agreement a month later! My advice is practice delivering the log line and main character and dilemma in less than two minutes.

I think its always better to talk on point. What is the "Purpose" of your pitch? If you are clear about it, say it clear and confidently. Rest everything comes after that. People should relate to the purpose of your pitch. If more people relates to the purpose of your pitch, more will be the chances of success. Secondly, just focus on being more clear in your pitch rather than trying to convincing or over confident. Be open to cross questioning and prepare your clear answers in advance. Never try to be over explanatory.

In our pursuit of funding for "If You Go Away," we readied all essential materials. Our pitch preparation was meticulous, recognizing that it's more than conveying information; it's about forging an emotional bond with potential investors. We honed our presentation to exude confidence, clarity, and conciseness, avoiding jargon and superfluous language. As we rehearsed, we foresaw potential questions, feedback, and objections from investors. This readiness empowered us to respond professionally and courteously, effectively turning objections into opportunities to underscore our project's merits.

We're all filmmakers and video producers, so grab a camera and record yourself delivering your pitch. Learn a thing or two about acting and presenting. I'm an introvert, but sometimes being an introvert doesn't pay the mortgage. So have some energy and enthusiasm. Prep some notes and run them on a teleprompter, but make sure you don't rely on it because it sucks to be up in front of people trying to recite a spiel and trip over yourself trying to get it right word-for-word.

One thing I've found helpful: Adapting your presentation is incredibly important. Research indicates that customizing pitches whether in an informal setting can boost success rates by 30%. In the realm of filmmaking it is essential to modify your approach, for situations such, as meetings, emails or video calls. By tailoring both the tone and content to suit the audience and medium you significantly increase your likelihood of achieving success.

You're attending a film festival, and you step into an elevator. As the doors close, you find yourself standing next to the one person who could turn your film project into a reality. Now, you have roughly 30 seconds to make a lasting impression. This is where your elevator pitch becomes your secret weapon. A good elevator pitch is much like a trailer. The best of your film idea compressed into a few short sentences. It's your chance to capture someone's attention and leave them eager to learn more.

We adapted our pitch for various situations. We delivered concise 5-minute pitches in formal meetings, focusing on the emotional core. Informal conversations had a relaxed tone, highlighting relatable themes. In pitch contests, our 15-minute presentation showcased uniqueness. Video calls conveyed our passion effectively. Emails were well-structured. Panel pitches delved into technical aspects in 30 minutes. For crowds, we created an emotional shared experience. Adaptability, focusing on relevance, successfully secured support for "If You Go Away."

Live and breath your project. If you can't talk all day about it then you're not committed to it. But, the flip side of that is that nobody wants you to just talk at them endlessly about a project they likely don't care about. Learn to market yourself and your work, talk eloquently. Share your passion without coming across as a psycho.

Think of how your pitch could be a tv show, but also think of how it could be a movie. Prepare both bibles and understand that your bibles will probably keep evolving.

Don't be afraid to knock again. Sometimes when asking for funding it is tough to walk the line of persistence vs annoyance. Be respectful, follow-up and if you don't hear back after the first few emails /calls don't hesitate to give people breathing room and follow-up in a few weeks or month. Maybe you caught them in a bad week or a bad month, give them a while to breathe and reach back out so that you approach them when they are in a different mindset. Also keep in mind what may be going on with them when you email, if they are in finance end of quarters are tough, start of quarters generally are not, time your follow-ups accordingly.

Once we pitched "If You Go Away," the next step was all about follow-up. We thanked them for their time and interest, reminding them of the film's main selling points and benefits. We were quick to provide whenever they asked for more info, like the script, budget details, or a trailer. We kept the lines of communication open, staying in touch until we got a response, always being respectful and professional. We were ready to listen to feedback, negotiate, and collaborate, making necessary changes or compromises. And of course, we knew that rejection was part of the game, but we used it as a chance to learn from our mistakes and failures.

Be respectful in your communication and don't ever hassle people. But be persistent. There have, no doubt, been clients I've annoyed to the point they'll never work with me from excessive emailing. But then again there are relationships that have formed because of regular "just touching base?" emails. Be respectful. Don't be demanding

After several trips to Cannes, I have always struck up polite and prompt communication. Some people I have dealt with have been in the industry for decades and they have direct feedback and advice. For me this is a gift and I use it and redraft my script or create a new poster or pitch deck that they are also happy with. Film making is a collaborative effort, no one person does everything, but also don’t be afraid to dig deeper into character or story to say why you believe something needs to stay in the script. Patience is also a virtue, if you are dealing with studio execs, they have a lot on their plate and your email, pitch deck or revision maybe one of 100s they are plate spinning. React fast, have patience and listen.

Founders only look for subjects that can make a huge impact in the industry. If your story has what it takes you no need to worry about getting it approved and turn it into a global phenomena. If you yourself are not sure about story then just imagine what would be the outcome. Think for a moment, I come to you with a story and ask for 20 million dollars in funding. Would you dare to put your money into my story? And say am not sure my story is good then would you consider producing it? Think big! Its not just one film you are building, you also risk the form factor of franchisee, fanbase, royalty and rights. You need lot of research and experience. Try, learn, fail and repeat. You'll get there.

If you need to pitch in English, and it's not your first language, then focus on communicating a. the main points of your pitch clearly and concisely. b. your enthusiasm and passion for your film project Don't worry about making small mistakes with your English. It's a pitch, not a Cambridge English exam! The most important thing is to make sure that the decision-maker can see why your concept is such a good idea. Some plots can be difficult to explain, especially if they involve out of the ordinary events, so check how to express your ideas in English, and then practise with a friend or colleague so that you feel more comfortable talking about the main ideas clearly and confidently. Ask for honest feedback afterwards.

One element of the pitch that is often forgotten, but has great influence, is impact. Be prepared to explain how your project can create impact, influence an audience, improve the world, or get people talking. Think of your project as a living thing that interacts with people - who will it touch? Who will it help? Think of your project as having a lifespan. In what spaces will it continue to create impact, long after it’s release date? You can practice writing an impact statement using successful templates: how do you think Sesame Street pitches impact in regards to early childhood education? Or the Barbie movie in regards to women? Every pitch needs an impact statement - even if the goal is to simply unite viewers through fear or laughter.

Remember that you are pitching yourself/your core team just as much as the project and script in hand. Do you come across as Professional? Likeable? Easy to work with? Who will lead the pitch? Have you practiced it with a neutral third party who can give you style notes on your technique? Passion is great - vital - but if you give off the vibe that every suggestion, proposal or input is going to develop into a battle, then it will be difficult to establish a partnership.

I would also add: Write down a good note of intention (or Director statement). Try to answer to: Why you want to do the movie? Why is it important? Why is it relevant in the actual world context? Why is it relevant for the audience? What’s is its origin? Director statement many times is more important than all the rest, not for fiction and in particular for documentary projects.

All this is very important when pitching a film, TV concept, book, play, or biz idea. However, it's critical to tell a story and create a world. Whatever you're pitching has to create an emotional or cognitive experience for the recipient of your ideas. How can you draw them like a moth to a flame and keep them captive like a bug in a spider web? Suck them in with drama, conflict, and humor? How can you get them to say to themselves "I have to have this"? What imagery, details, descriptions, and senses do you have to punch to get them to say "I'm in!"?