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Pitching a TV or Movie Idea
For many screenwriters, pitching a TV or movie ideas can be extremely stressful and nerve racking. No matter how much time you have put into your script or how well written it is, you must now sell it in a short 15 to 20 minute pitch. If you are close to completing your script, here are some tips that might land your script on the silver screen.
Usually a movie pitch is an hour long meeting with a movie executive, but for the pitch itself, you might want to cut it down to 15 to 30 minutes, mainly so that you can discuss the film, its characters, and the collaborative process with the studio as well as have the other party be able to ask you many questions.
Before you ever step into the office, make sure that you know who you will speak to and the state of the industry. Many movie companies follow trends. For instance, if a recent horror film became a blockbuster many studios might be looking for the next horror flick instead of a comedy. It is important to know your audience, so you can best tailor your presentation to them.
One of the most important things you can do before your pitch is to prepare as much as possible. Being prepared and knowing your screenplay inside and out is a must. Most movie executives will grill you about the story line, characters, different acts, the ending, etc.
Besides creating a well thought out presentation and knowing your material inside and out, it is important to temper your selling style. Remember, a movie is just not the script, it is a collaborative process that must be flexible and must allow all parties including the director, studio, actors and writers to bend and work together to create something of values that is good for everyone. Make sure you make your script extremely flexible. Most studios will not want a script if the writer is rigid and unwilling to compromise. Inflexibility can hurt the overall project.
When pitching your idea, be measured, set the entire story up, explain the characters, the locations just as if it were on the screen. Don’t rush through one act, only to spend the entire pitch on the second act. Some pitches get so caught up on setting up the characters, that their endings are quick and empty. Be measured and balanced throughout the entire pitch.
Most studio executives will ask you about the characters, if you can change an element, a plot line, almost anything. You will need to improvise and think through each suggestion. Many times you will pitch an idea for one movie and the studio might think you are a good candidate to work on another script or project idea. This is how the industry sometimes works. Whatever the end result, pitching your screenplay can be a long and tedious process. However, if you have put lots of passion and hard work into your script the end result might just be positive.
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