Pitching #1

We're writers, right? We like to sit by our computers typing away, not really doing the public speaking thing so much. But when it comes to getting someone to read our scripts, or better yet, buying our scripts, we have to talk it up to them. We have to pitch.

A lot of people get really intimidated by the idea of pitching. Telling someone your 110 page story that you've slaved over for months in only a few short minutes? How can you possibly get it all in there? Plus, what if they hate it? Won't you just be utterly humiliated?

Not if you follow these tips. I'm going to do a short series on pitching over the next few days or so, with some techniques and guidelines.

Let's start off with the three kinds of pitches. First, there's the elevator pitch, which is a 30 second pitch in case you randomly bump into someone, say in an elevator. This is generally impromptu, so it's good to have something always memorized in the back of your mind. This pitch should include the main character, the journey, and how the script ends. If your story works, this should be a breeze to figure out. I found that I had some trouble with my elevator pitch until I really figured out the heart of my story. What is the most important part of your character's journey? The inciting incident, the main obstacle, and the ultimate goal? Practice this pitch on your friends, in networking events -- this should be your answer to "Oh, you're a screenwriter? What's your latest project?" No one wants a long answer. The key is to leave the person wanting to read your script. Remember to smile. If you're excited about your pitch, they will be too. Just an aside -- it's a good idea to have elevator pitches prepared for 1. your current script 2. any previous scripts 3. yourself. Come up with a personal pitch for networking events. This should include your current job, the fact that you're a screenwriter, and the script you are working on. Unless your current job is more interesting.

The next pitch is the 3-5 minute pitch. It's for a script you've already written. This should have more details than the elevator pitch -- the act breaks, major story beats. Mention your protagonist and maybe some other main characters. Make sure you get to the end of the story. No one wants a hidden ending, an exec wants to know the twist ending before they read your script. Imagine if The Sixth Sense had a different ending -- would it be the same movie? The twist can make a movie, so don't leave it out. The way you tell the story should be indicative of the tone. The funniest comedies are funny to talk about, the best dramas are dramatic just in story. I'll be talking a bit more about this pitch in upcoming posts. It's the most common for new writers, and also is a follow-up to an elevator pitch that has established proper intrigue.

The third is the professional pitch. This is 15-20 minutes and it's usually to get a check to write the project. So it's not really going to happen until you're more established. This includes a lot of detail, everything in the 3-5 minute plus more supporting characters and other incidents. The general idea is to tell such a good story that someone pays you to write it.

Notice that none of these pitches include the marketing strategies for the script. You may be able to throw some of that in during a professional pitch, but for the other two, it's best to let your story speak for itself. There are marketing people to decide how to find a target audience. Your job as a writer is to tell a good story. And if your story is good enough...finish this sentence please...your audience will find you.

Check back for upcoming posts on the specific elements of the pitch, strategies for delivering the pitch, and what it takes to sell a pitch.