Pitch Sam Sokolow (Sunday, October 17th 2021)

• About Sam Sokolow

Sam Sokolow is a highly respected television executive and 2-time Emmy nominated Executive Producer with deep experience in developing and producing television series.

Sam is currently Executive Producer of "GENIUS", a scripted series for National Geographic Network, which he developed from book to series.

The first season of "GENIUS" depicted the life of Albert Einstein with Geoffrey Rush starring as Einstein and Ron Howard directing the pilot. "GENIUS: EINSTEIN" garnered ten Emmy nominations including a Best Limited Series nomination for Sam.

The second season of "GENIUS" - "GENIUS: PICASSO" - depicted the life of Pablo Picasso with Antonio Banderas starring as Picasso and garnered seven 2018 Emmy nominations including a Best Limited Series nomination for Sam.

The third season of "GENIUS" – "GENIUS: ARETHA" - depicts the life of “The Queen Of Soul” Aretha Franklin, with Cynthia Erivo portraying Aretha and Suzan-Lori Parks showrunning, and will premiere in 2021. Season 4 of "GENIUS" – "GENIUS: MARTIN LUTHER KING" – has been ordered and will premiere in 2022 on Disney+.

Prior, Sam served as a founder of Nice Media Studios, an independent studio based in Los Angeles and Toronto and the President of EUE/Sokolow, an independent television studio based in Los Angeles and New York and before that Sam was a founding partner of SokoLobl Entertainment, an independent television production company based in Los Angeles. While leading these companies, Sam executive produced 18 original TV series and set up dozens of television and film projects at every major studio and distributor in Hollywood.

Sam served as Co-President of Homemade Entertainment, a venture capital-backed television and media content website. Sam co-wrote, produced and directed the award-winning independent feature film The Definite Maybe, starring Josh Lucas, Roy Scheider and Bob Balaban. Sam became the first filmmaker to self-distribute his own feature film via the Internet, a groundbreaking digital distribution initiative that landed him on Good Morning America and in Time Magazine. Previously, Sam created and produced world-class advertising and marketing campaigns for agencies such as Wells Rich Green, Moss/Dragoti and Partners & Shevack. Sam also spent a year as a Metro & crime reporter for the New York Daily News.

Sam looks for contemporary stories across all genres of Television. 

 

Please note: By using this service, you are not submitting your project to "GENIUS", Disney+, National Geographic nor are you submitting your project to Sam as a representative of Disney+ or National Geographic . You are submitting for feedback from Sam as an individual.

Contacting Sam via email or any social media with an unsolicited submission outside of Stage 32 is a violation of his privacy and our user policy and could result in suspension from the site. He will not reply to any friend requests, network requests, or emails they receive. He has been instructed to forward all unsolicited contact to Stage 32 administration for review.

Sam and "GENIUS", Disney+, and National Geographic do not accept or consider unsolicited submissions of any kind. Do not submit Unsolicited Materials to Sam via any means (including, without limitation, via Social Media, Mail, Fax or E-mail).

Sam will not treat Unsolicited Materials as confidential and will not review, keep, acknowledge or return the submission or any related materials. Any Unsolicited Materials will become sole property of "GENIUS", Disney+, or National Geographic. All Unsolicited Materials are deleted or discarded without being reviewed.

Tips on pitching to Sam Sokolow

Guidelines

• You may only pitch ONE project per reservation. Execs are looking for projects they can develop, NOT portfolios.
• You should have a completed script available upon request for the project you pitch.
• Do not reach out to the executives unless directed by Stage 32. They do NOT accept unsolicited material or appreciate being cold-called/emailed by strangers.
• Missed reservations are not refundable and will not be rescheduled.

Live Pitches

Within 15 minutes of your scheduled pitch, the exec will reach out by Skype or Phone. Your pitch session will last approximately 8 minutes.

Written Pitches

Written Pitches will be no more than 2 pages submitted as a PDF or WORD document. Any written pitch uploaded past the deadline will not be shown to the executive and will result in a non-refundable forfeiture of your pitch.

Scorecards

Within 3-4 weeks of your pitch session, you will receive a Pitch Scorecard on which the exec you pitched will provide pitch feedback and note if they are PASSing, or would like to REQUEST your material.

If you are requested, you will be notified via email with further instructions. The execs will have 2-3 months to review your material and note if they are PASSing, or would like a MEETING. If a meeting is requested, we will introduce you via email.

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Please understand that these are working executives, and their schedules are subject to change at a moment's notice. We always strive to give you at least 24 hours of notice if a session has been cancelled, and we will recommend another executive for you to pitch your material to.

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Need help with your pitch?
Download the Stage 32 Pitching Guidebook

Questions or Concerns?
WriterHelp@Stage32.com

What Are Stage 32 Pitch Sessions?

You've written your feature screenplay or TV pilot and you believe it is ready for the market. But, how do you know if your script or pitch are in the best shape to take your project - or your career - to the next level?

Whether you're preparing to find (or switch) representation, or go out with a script to production companies, studios or buyers, Stage 32 Pitch Sessions are a great first step to make sure you are on the right track.

For nearly a decade Stage 32 has maintained professional relationships with over 1,000 industry professionals including development executives, managers and producers across the industry. These executives work with us to listen to your pitch and provide feedback for you, all while finding undiscovered scripts they wouldn't normally have access to. With executives helping you understand what works and doesn't work with your material you can continue to hone your script and pitch as you prepare to go to market.

Through feedback given during Stage 32 Pitch Sessions, hundreds of writers have had success in their careers. Stage 32 writers have moved on to be signed, optioned, produced (including the 2020 film CHICK FIGHT), or put into development with industry professionals. In fact, in the last year alone, there were over 2,000 script requests and 500 meetings set up with industry professionals for writers through Stage 32.

How Does a Pitch via Skype or Phone Work?

Part of having a great script means that you have to be prepared to pitch it in a room or through a video pitch. It's important that you know the nuts and bolts of your pitch in order to give yourself the best chance for success when pitching it. We're here to help you.

In our Skype or Phone pitches, you have the option to pitch face-to-face directly with the executive through Skype or via telephone. Your pitch will be 8 minutes in total. It is up to you on how you want to use your time, but we recommend you spend 5-6 minutes to pitch your project, followed by 2-3 minutes of questions or feedback from the person to whom you are pitching.

This is a great way to work out pitching your material while establishing a new connection in the industry! You will be able to interact with the executive of your choice who specializes in the genre and format of your project. Would you like tips on how to pitch live? Download our pitching guidebook here.

How Does a Written Pitch Work?

Don't feel comfortable pitching live yet? Not a problem! Alternatively, you can submit a written pitch of up to 2-pages in length. This option is perfect for those writers who feel more comfortable expressing their ideas on the page rather than in person. It also allows for flexibility if you are unable to pitch live during a scheduled session.

Would you like an example of a written pitch? Simply email writerhelp@stage32.com for a sample written pitch.

5 Tips To Make Your Pitch Successful

Remember that executives who are hearing your pitch are supportive and want to give you the tools to succeed! There are ways in which you can help make that happen. Here are some tips to help you during your pitch.

1. Talk briefly about yourself and your connection to the material.
2. Give the title, logeline, genre(s), and comparable film or television tiles.
3. Set up the world in which your story takes place in and then the protagonist. Then dive into the story pitch.
4. Less is more! Make sure that your pitch is clear, concise, focused, and engaging. Do not try to pack too much into your initial 5-6 minutes and be sure to leave time for questions and answers.
5. Be polite and receptive - remember the person on the other end does this for a living and their feedback is invaluable for you to understand where you fare in the marketplace.

Do not ask the executive if they want to read your script during the pitch. Do not reach out to an executive outside of the Stage 32 platform. Doing so will have the opposite of the intended effect. Stage 32 is a professional organization and if there is interest in your script, we will facilitate the request.

These are set up as industry-standard professional pitching sessions so we expect you to be fully prepared. If you have questions or need help, don't hesitate to contact the Stage 32 Script Services team at any time writerhelp@stage32.com. We're happy to help.