Screenwriting : How to Prepare for a Skype Pitch? Seeking Advice! by Yair Avivi

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The best thing is to have your pitch script ready. Read through it several times, practice it, time it, and get used to the way it flows. Once they introduce themselves and are ready, start pitcining as best you can.

Thanks bill, can i show a presntation?

I'm not sure if you can. I've just read mine from my script. Some times it's gone nice and smooth. Simetimes I've been gasping for breath by the time it finished.

How was the process, did you ask questions, did yuo get asked questions?

Hi, Yair Avivi. I mainly do written pitches, but I've gotten better at live pitching by being on Stage 32. Here are two Lounge posts with pitch advice:

www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitch-Advice

www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitching-44

Here's a free webinar on pitching: www.stage32.com/education/products/pitching-tips-from-the-pros-your-blue...

And the best pitching tool in my opinion is the Writers' Room Pitch Practice. Pitch Practice is every Thursday night at 5:30 P.M. PST/8:30 P.M. EST. You can sit in and listen to members practice their projects and give them feedback. You can pitch your project too, but you have to sign up. The hosts, Noel Thompson and John Mezes, take names during Pitch Practice for people to pitch the following week. You have to sit in and listen at the practice one or two times before you can pitch.

The Pitch Practices are only open to Writers' Room members. If you’re not a Writers’ Room member yet, you can sign up for your first month free here: www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip

I usually finish by telling them I'd be happy to answer any questions. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. The goal is to fill up most of the time by giving them all the information and hints you can. The old Hollywood phrase of "Always leave them wanting more" is what you should keep in mind.

I did 3 and all of them said they wanted to read but nothing. Now they are not getting back with submissions

Make sure you can clearly and concisely pitch your story in about 90 seconds and be passionate but also conversational. As for questions, ask about what they’re currently looking for, how they see your project fitting into the market, and what next steps they’d recommend if they’re interested.

Yair Avivi - shoot our Success Team an email at success@stage32.com and they will give you our pitch guidelines that will help you out with how to structure your pitch and some sample questions of what to ask, as well as what questions you might get asked. Pat is our Writer Liaison - let him know what you are writing when you email in and he'll be able to help you guide your way!

Hey Yair Avivi would love to speak with you further about the pitch process. Like Amanda mentioned, I'm the Writer Liaison here at Stage 32 and would be delighted to help you get prepped for your pitch. Please email me at success@stage32.com and I can send you 2 templates on how best to structure your verbal pitch that will help demystify the process. In my experience, pitches typically start with a brief introduction where you tell them your name and where you're from, then you want to jump right into introducing your project you're pitching - Script Title, Format (TV or movie), Genre, Time Period (if your project is not modern), then Rating (raunchy R-rated or For Kids?). From there, you want to give the logline and briefly cover comps (if there are good, clear comps). And at this point, you're off to the races. Set up your characters and world, then get into the story and communicate it like you're telling friends about it at a party. Go slowly and be clear, direct, and concise. Make eye contact and remember to breathe, while taking natural pauses. You won't need to hit every beat in your story, but you want to cover the key story arcs and the engine driving the story forward, while staying grounded in your protagonist's experience and noting how secondary characters/the antagonist work alongside the main character to provide tension, relief and excitement. And either at the beginning or the end, you should add a little bit about why now? Why is your story relevant today and include a personal connection to the material if you can.

When you've pitched for 5 minutes or so, there will be a Q&A portion at the end. Here you might get a. chance to clarify or expand on different things in your story. Take them! Some questions you might get asked include:

Have you given thought into who would play your lead?

Do you know what type of budget this could be?

Do you have other scripts you've written in this genre?

Best of luck with your pitch, Yair! Always remember to stay light and have fun! Your wrote your story because you loved it, so share the story as though it's your favorite thing ever!

You know a pitch worked if the pitchee asks questions. It means they are interested enough to get more insight into your project/script.