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Screenwriter Lands Production Deal After Stage 32 Pitch Session

RB's Ask Me Anything- April
Posted by Eric Carlson

If your screenplay lands in the forest, will anyone find it?

Yes, I’ve mangled an old trope, but the point I’m making is this: as screenwriters we need to proactively ensure our scripts reach producers once we complete our polished creations. After all, the whole point of writing a script is to get it filmed!

Fortunately, I discovered the Stage 32 Pitch Sessions. I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical at first, but I decided they would be a great way to connect with executives and others in the industry. For my inaugural pitch session, I selected two executives I thought would enjoy reading about my projects, dashed off two written pitches, and waited.

I quickly learned crafting a written pitch requires significant effort. It is far more than providing a quick synopsis of your story.

And the reason I learned this was the quality of the feedback I received. It was superb. Both executives took the time to read my pitches and provide clear and concise notes on both the strengths and weaknesses of my writing. It was evident to me they wanted to help me improve. It was both humbling – and inspirational.

I got to work.

I rewrote my pitches - and continued to submit to executives I believed would enjoy - and possibly connect - with my stories. When I would receive my feedback, I would do rewrites as I would a script. I always looked for patterns in the notes. If I found the same weaknesses addressed in a pitch from different executives, I made sure I addressed those weaknesses and corrected them.

Screenwriter Lands Production Deal After Stage 32 Pitch Session

Some of the key things I’ve learned:

  • State why a particular story is important to you and how it personally connects with you.
  • Address the themes presented in the story.
  • Show the arc of the hero.
  • Present the major obstacles the hero faces.
  • Give away the ending.
  • State why it is important for this story to be told to others - pound the table with this one!

There is rarely instant success in this business, but tenacity and passion for your projects are the key ingredients necessary to achieve success - whenever it may arrive. If you have both, they will show through in your scripts and your pitches.

One of my scripts, REACH FOR THE SKY, is a true story project I’ve been working on for several years. I’ve completed numerous drafts, and I’ve honed my pitch to reflect my passion for this simple but compelling and inspirational story.

It really tugs at the heartstrings, and I've worked to make sure my pitch reflected that point. For this pitch, I even included a small photograph on the first page that helped illustrate the story. I was reluctant at first, but I had received positive feedback about the photo. So I kept it to make the pitch stand out.

I recently sent this two-page pitch via Stage 32 to Brodrick Haygood at Moon Howler Productions. It seemed to fit the tone of the stories he enjoyed. I received great feedback on my pitch, and he requested my script. Maybe a week or two later he set up a call – and now we’re off and running to make a film.

Because of Stage 32, I made a connection that would not have been otherwise possible. The wonderful feedback I have received for this pitch over the past couple of years enabled me to make it as passionate and tight as my script. It connected with Brodrick - and now I’m delighted this inspirational story will be told.

Keep writing, keep pitching to the executives that produce the genres of stories you write, and you will find success!

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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