Hi All,
I'm an exec with a lot of experience across TV and Film development. I have been pitched to and pitched, myself countless times. I have an upcoming Executive Pitch Session in August so in the spirit of that, I thought I'd give some basic notes that I find myself giving often.
Many pitches fail not because the ideas are weak, but because they cannot be fully evaluated. With the tips below, I hope to give everyone the framework to make your story and pitch clear and concise.
1-- Use the Full Two Pages
You have two pages available on the Stage 32 platform. Use them. And only those 2 pages.
One of the most common mistakes I see is writers submitting a half-page concept, a logline, some images, and a cast wish list. Or being a 7 page deck. A pitch should focus on the story itself.
The reader should finish the document understanding:
Who the protagonist is
What they want
What stands in their way
How the story escalates
What makes the project unique
2 -- Clean and Professional Formatting
Use clear section headers. Organize your document so it is easy to follow.
Suggested structure: Title, Format, Genre, Logline, Synopsis, Brief Character description.
Spelling errors tell me you have not proofread your document and are an immediate pass.
3 -- Focus on the Story, and Use your Structure
If you are pitching a feature, the 3 Act Structure is your guide in writing. Use this structure in your document as well. Showing how the story is set up in act 1, progresses in act 2 and resolves in act 3 is what I want to see in every pitch.
4 -- For Television, Sell the Pilot
The pilot is the most important part of the pitch. Don't spend a page explaining the series and then give the pilot two sentences.
5 -- Be Specific
Avoid broad statements like:
"The character must confront their past" or "hidden truths are revealed"
Tell me what actually happens. Specificity creates excitement.
Vagueness does not create mystery.
6 -- Tonal Comparisons are your friends, but you have to distinguish yourself
"Succession meets Backrooms" - Color me intrigued, and also sets a high bar for your project.
The best comps are relevant to both your project and the landscape today.
7 -- Skip the Images/Links
Unless absolutely necessary, don't use valuable pitch space on:
AI-generated artwork, Actor suggestions, Posters, Logos
In particular, AI-generated images/videos often make projects feel less original and creative.
For both fairness to other writers and security reasons, I will never click on a link you have in a document.
8 -- Don't Oversell
Avoid spending large sections of the document on awards, coverage scores, or contest placements.
To be blunt - I have never cared about how a script did at an online competition or a double recommend. Do not waste half a page talking about this. The space is too valuable.
9 -- When Possible, Be On Camera
The best possible way to sell yourself as a professional and creative voice is to pitch live.
This also means being aware of your background and surroundings. Please avoid being on cellphone video. If you must be, find a good place to put it down so you are not giving me motion sickness with shaky hands.
10 -- When you are pitching live, Practice, Practice, Practice
Pitching is hard. Pitching live is even harder. You have ~5-6 minutes to sell your project and then be ready for questions.
The best way to be ready for this is to write a pitch script and have it memorized. Don't read your pitch, tell your story.
So there they are - my 10 basic tips for pitching. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but by improving the little things you can help your project shine.
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Thank you for this. It helps immensely, and hopefully I'll see you in that pitch session next month!!
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Thank you so much for this post, Patrick Callan. I'm still not ready for live pitching, but I'll really study what you said so I'll get better at it.
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This is some good advice. Never done live pitching, but a few 2-page pitches here. This is good to know.
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FANTASTIC, Patrick! Thank You!
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Patrick, thank you for taking the time to share this. As someone who's new to screenwriting but has successfully navigated the publishing world, I've been struck by how similar—and yet completely different—the two industries are. Querying and rejection feel familiar, but far more doors seem closed in film than in publishing.
I've gravitated toward lower-cost avenues like Virtual Pitch Fest and Stage 32 while doing a lot of my own research, much as I did using resources like AgentQuery when seeking a literary agent. I don't mind putting in the hours—I actually enjoy the research.
My question is this: beyond the obvious managers, agents, and producers, who do you see as today's true gatekeepers for an emerging screenwriter with a completed feature? And where would you invest your time if you were starting from scratch today?
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Interesting especially about pitch decks. It seems as though 6-7 pages would be the most accurate. Even with a series-bible, you need to have the Logline, synopsis page, Concept page, character, description, samples ,of the first few episodes, and a contact page. For a pitch deck perhaps the only other addition would be the, “Why my series page”.
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Patrick, thank you so DOGGONE much for sharing these guidelines! (And I'm someone who feels more comfortable using written pitches than verbal ones!)
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Take his advice, people! Patrick Callan knows what he's talking about
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SUCH valuable information. Thank you! Have there been any pitches in recent memory that really stood out to you? If so, what was it about them?
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It's a privilege to have you here Patrick Callan! Writers, take down notes and learn from Patrick!
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Hi All,
To respond to some of the follow up questions:
Scott Martin - The biggest gate keeper right now is how studios have been structured and re-structured to reduce entry points for new writers. They also are not investing in growing/developing writers through a strong writing pipeline. In TV you used to be able to trace a writer's career from one show to the next, where they grew on every show. Now writing rooms are so small because studios are trying to cut costs and the expense of developing talent.
@mone't - I'm talking here of the stage 32 pitches specifically, which allows a 2 page pitch submission. A pitch deck can be a strong tool, but is not good for this format.
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Thank you for sharing that--great to hear from the "other end". :)
Great notes, Patrick Callan! Thanks!