Hello fellow scribes!
Well, I submitted my pitch to two managers, and both passed. It is a pitch of my novel, City Of Toys, to be hopefully sent to producers for possible film/television development.
I'm afraid I need some help polishing my novel-to-screen pitch. Can you guys recommend someone who performs this service? Any and all advice is appreciated. Thank you all.
Oh, I'm new here, so I hope I'm posting this in the correct place.
Hi Lindy Hudis
I recently posted about my own pitching journey here: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitching-Journey
There are webinars and format templates in the Education section of the website
https://www.stage32.com/education Just type in pitching in the search column on the top left of that page
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The Writer's Room, maybe a great place to start. I could also take a look at it, for some feedback.
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Thank you both. Much appreciated.
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Were you able to get some feedback from the managers about why they passed?
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Hey Lindy! Welcome! Check out Ewan's comment above. Ewan is one of the executives who works with Stage 32 as an executive. He also put together a fantastic webinar on building pitch decks for your projects. You can speak with Ewan and get his thoughts on your project and pitch document by clicking here: https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/coverage/buy?id=60&genre=netflix&exec=1263&affid=mjm
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Hi Lindy! I do this :-) I'm happy to chat and/or take a look at your pitch!
Yes, the both said my pitch was average and not fun. I really need to work on that.
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If the novel is fun but this isn't coming through in your pitch, maybe approach your pitch as an extension of your creative writing and storytelling, making the text and feel of the pitch reflect that of the book. Some pitches can read as an info pack but if you can entertain the reader of your pitch in the same way you'd entertain a reader of your book, this will help demonstrate how the project will be entertaining to an audience.
Ewan, thank you for this info. I am new to all of this. All advice is welcome and helpful. I do plan to get some help before submitting again. I write novels but I would like to see if my books have any chance of being produced into film/tv.
Dan, yes I figured as much. I have written several novels and short stories and wanted to see if they have any film/tv development potential, Pitching seems to be a crap shoot -they either like you or they don't. I did submit the written pitches, I didn't do the live ones. Perhaps that makes a difference? Should I try that next time?
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Lindy, why not try and adapt your novels into scripts yourself. And see how the script does?
Dan, I would be very interested in speaking with you about that. May I send you a private message, please?
Tristan, I will have plenty of time starting tomorrow, when school starts!
One more question regarding pitching - can I pitch again to the same managers with a different script, or have I just ruined any chance with them? Newbie question, I know, but I am just wondering. I think I will pitch my "Crashers" instead of "City of Toys" because that is the one people seem to like better.
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I have been on a bunch of pitch panels, and wrote an article for Script Magazine about it (now a chapter in my Loglines Blue Book)...
The #1 reason why the panels at these pitch competitions don't pick someone's pitch to win? Not a compelling or original or commercial story. Had nothing to do with how people worded it - the concept wasn't interesting.
So make sure that you have a couple of RECENT FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL films that are similar to your script. And that they were original screenplays rather than based on a best selling novel or comic book or something else that made it "presold".
William, thank you for your advice, I certainly appreciate your help.