It's been talked about time and time again that streaming wars, AI, and many other factors have changed the way in which shows or movies are greenlit. In the past 3 years animations have been winning at the box offices and on streaming, but yet we hear of layoffs and the struggles to get projects greenlit.
What has been your experience trying to get your show greenlit? Where have you been pitching and what advice have you been receiving? Did the advice make any sense or did it work?
Hey, Kevin Jackson. I have some animated projects. I haven't pitched them with Stage 32’s Pitch Sessions and to producers & directors yet, but I have pitched them on social media (posting the loglines, script posters, and pages of the scripts). I've gotten interest in the projects. It's been a while since I've pitched them on social media though. I need to start pitching them again.
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Maurice Vaughan That's an interesting approach. What kind of interest did you get? In your opinion, were they promising? Any meetings or progress came out of them? I have been thinking about pitching on Youtube then sharing those videos on Social Media. What are your thoughts on that?
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It was comments about the concepts and people in the industry wanting to know more about the projects, Kevin Jackson. I've gotten script requests by pitching my live-action projects on social media, but not my animated projects yet. I think that's a great idea. I see other creatives doing the same thing and getting attention on their projects. And having a video will help with crowdfunding if you go that route.
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I have never pitched my stories. I write them as novels so I'm told I would not get a look-in for that reason. No idea how to write them as screenplays. But twice now I've been approached about making them into animated movies. A few years back I actually signed an option (for a very nominal amount of money) but it timed out because it was never going to be easy to raise the kind of money then required for a feature-length animated movie of a story by an unknown like me. But I've had another more recent approach from someone in another hemisphere (I'm in New Zealand) who read my story three times and liked it. This is just over the last few days so my first act was to rush off to find an agent to help me if it comes to anything. Am I right in thinking that animated movies are cheaper to make now because of AI? Maybe my time is coming. I know so little about the film industry - very glad to have an agent now who I trust.
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Congratulations on the option and getting an agent, Tui Allen! You could learn screenwriting and turn your novels into scripts or hire a writer(s) to turn them into scripts. You might be able to get your agent to pitch your novels to producers without scripts. I don't have any experience in that area, but authors in the Authoring & Playwriting Lounge might (www.stage32.com/lounge/playwriting). You could make a post asking for advice and insight.
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Congrats Tui Allen that's a big achievement.
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The option came in. I sent it straight to my new agent.
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Kevin Jackson - I appreciate you making this post. I'm currently in the pre-production phase for our first original animation and I would like to see what everyone's experience has been like with pitching their shows. Helps with guidance for the future.