Screenwriting : Pitch LIVE or WRITTEN, what's the best? by Gregory McGee

I’ve done written pitches and live pitches, Gregory McGee. I'm more comfortable with written pitches, but I'm getting better at live pitches. I ramble sometimes when I do a live pitch, which is one reason I like written pitches. A live pitch has its pros though, like being able to answer questions the executive, producer, etc. might have about your script.

I switched over to written pitches because I stutter really badly live (also less anxiety involved in general). The downside of course is that with written pitches the exec can't ask you questions and get to know you all that well. Still, one day I hope to get brave enough to tackle live again hehe

So, if a person is gregarious and has no problem talking to people, I'm thinking the live pitch is the way to go. That personal buy in with the producer is golden. . .

I prefer the live pitches as the allow for more of your personality to shine through.

I just did my first pitch here and initially I was going to go with the live pitch but due to an internet crap out I had to make up my pitch so for this time I chose the written one. I find that I can collect my thoughts better for the written one, and I don't feel like the person is looking at/judging me like I would on a live call. Written is much less anxiety for me. Here's hoping it works.

I prefer live pitches Gregory McGee. I like to know the filmmaker and feel the energy. It helps me to know if it was a good match.

how do you do pitching? I don’t know anything but I’ve got ideas and stuff

Hey, Brock Opfer. Stage 32 has two written pitch examples (one for a show and the other for a movie). Stage 32 also has a verbal TV pitch beat sheet and a verbal feature pitch beat sheet. You can get them by emailing success@stage32.com.

Here's three Lounge posts with pitch advice:

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

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

www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Why-Pitching-Matters-And-How-to-Mak...

The Pitch Practice is the best pitching resource in my opinion. 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. You can sign up for your first month free here: www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip

The Pitch Tank in the Writers' Room is an incredible pitching resource too. The Pitch Tank is where you pitch your script to an executive and get feedback. The Pitch Tank is once a month.

Stage 32 has a free webinar called "How to Write a 2 Page Pitch for Your Television Series" (www.stage32.com/education/products/free-stage-32-webinar-how-to-write-at...).

Stage 32 has a free webinar called "How to Create a 2 Page Pitch For Your Feature Film" (www.stage32.com/education/products/how-to-create-a-2-page-pitch-for-your...).

Stage 32 also has a free pitch webinar: www.stage32.com/education/products/pitching-tips-from-the-pros-your-blue...

I’m a producer and I am of the opinion that you should absolutely be able to be comfortable with live pitches. Once you’re writing career takes off you’re going to be in more rooms - whether their actual rooms or zoom meetings - so you need to feel comfortable pitching live. But for the sake of understanding and honing your pitch, you can definitely cover more ground by sending out written pitches to get feedback and that will continue to help you hone your pitch. If you’re not a member of the writers room, I would recommend joining. We do pitch practice once a week where you can practice your live pitch in a very comfortable setting that is welcoming to everyone, including introverts. https://www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip