The answer is both yes and no. Simple but convoluted. Easy, yet tricky. The fact is, there is no one correct answer to this question because every film project is different, every filmmaker is distinct, and every investor is unique.
What we all know with certainty is that the need to distinguish your pitch from the pack creatively is crucial in today's highly competitive climate. Everyone has a film project, and the hard truth is that most of those projects will never get far enough off the ground to do anything other than clutter the pitching lane. There are more film ideas than there is money. That is the reality. So, is a POC the right way to distinguish yourself?
Considering my slate of IP, I've made films where the inclusion of a proof-of-concept reel has helped secure critical financing, and I've also secured funding for movies based solely on an in-person pitch, a well-written proposal, and a solid business plan. In each of those instances, I had to think about where that POC would fit into the pitch. How and when would I show it? Would it slow down momentum or serve as a cherry on top of the pitching pie? Would it serve the emotional momentum of the story and highlight my technical and creative skills, or fall flat when a simple conversation would do the trick? All of these are great questions to ask yourself when considering the creation of a POC.
I should also note that I've seen plenty of people shoot themselves in the foot by creating and sharing a POC, as it only serves to expose weaknesses in the concept or in the person's ability to expertly produce something worth sharing. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.
In the end, if you have the time, energy, and resources at your disposal, it never hurts to produce a POC. You can decide once you have one in hand if it fits to pitch, and sometimes the act of doing so can even help refine your overall story. However, if you're not able to do so, use your energy to make your existing pitch materials a solid foundation for securing project financing. The most important thing you can do is keep creating.
Leave some comments below! I'd love to hear your experiences with producing a proof-of-concept reel for one of your projects.
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I would love to hear the take on series with is so different from features
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Thanks for the info, Michael Fitzer, MFA. I haven't made a proof-of-concept reel, but I might make some to help pitch my scripts. This info is going to really come in handy!
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Alex Bright, there are a few approaches to creating a proof of concept for a series. Some filmmakers create a mood reel lasting just a few minutes. Others will film an entire scene for their pilot, and, budget/concept-dependent, I have known others to take the leap and film an entire pilot episode with the understanding that it will be thrown out once the series is picked up. This last option isn't one that many choose to take on, but I have seen it done.