Hello, Everyone! At the moment, I am sharpening my pitches and getting ready for my first sessions, and I would love to hear from those who've been through it before:
What’s one thing you wish you knew before your first pitch session?
Any advice, whether it's about preparation, mindset or follow-up, would be incredibly helpful!
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Hey, Vlad Zamfir. One thing I wish I knew before my first Pitch Session (written pitch) is don't put so much about the characters in the pitch. Just focus on the key things about the characters in your pitch.
Stage 32 has two written pitch examples (one for a movie and the other for a show). Stage 32 also has a verbal TV pitch beat sheet and a verbal feature film pitch beat sheet. You can email success@stage32.com to get them.
Here's two Lounge posts with pitch advice:
www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitch-Advice
www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitching-44
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 of the Writers' Room free here: www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip
The Pitch Tank is an incredible pitching resource too. The Pitch Tank is where you pitch your script to an executive and get feedback. I think the Pitch Tank is every week in the Writers’ Room.
And here’s a free pitch webinar I suggest checking out: www.stage32.com/education/products/pitching-tips-from-the-pros-your-blue...
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Thank you very much for the advice and resources, Maurice Vaughan! I’ll definitely check out the written pitch examples and the pitch beat sheets and I'll also look into joining the Writers' Room for the trial. I really appreciate you taking the time and pointing me in the right direction!
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Hi, Asmaa Jamil! Thank you for sharing that! I can clearly see how practicing with friends and family could make a difference. I'll look into the pitch practice program. Really appreciate your insight!
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You're welcome, Vlad Zamfir. Hope the pitch goes great!
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Asmaa Jamil That's a great suggestion, thank you! Haven't really put much thought into it until now, but I will surely look into it!
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The truth? I didn’t realize how daunting it is to have a group of people just looking right at you and giving you nothing.
A couple minutes in I had to start over because I lost the narrative thread on my own pitch. started getting too in my own head.
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Christopher Shank Thanks for sharing that! It is acstually reassuring to hear even experienced screenwriters go through that. When you had to start over, did you find any trick to help you regain your flow?
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Vlad Zamfir it helps to have people who aren’t going to dismiss you at that point but I put a lot of stock in writing and memorizing and performing my pitch word perfect and that’s what threw me off. when I restarted I took the pressure off by just making it more conversational and natural.
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Hi Vlad,
Just keep in mind: you are the one with the power.
Most of the people in the room won’t even have their jobs anymore if your project actually moves forward. They don’t care about inspiration. They don’t care about the art. They care about making money.
It’s a well-known story, part of Hollywood legend — but it’s true. 20th Century Fox wasn’t sure it was a good idea to make a sequel to the original ALIEN film. When James Cameron walked into the pitch meeting, he went straight to the chalkboard with his back turned to everyone and wrote:
A - L - I - E - N
Then he added: $
The pitch was over before it ever started.
Don’t come across as wishy-washy. Don’t let them steer your creative vision. Your ideas will get watered down eventually, so stick to your guns from the beginning.
It’s you, your project, your confidence, and your vision.
But most importantly — WILL YOUR PROJECT MAKE THEM MONEY?
That’s what you’re really selling.
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Christopher Shank That actually makes so much sense. I guess keeping the conversation natural helps in most formal situations we face in life, not just pitches. Thank you so much for the advice!
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Thank you, Gary Naccarato! This is one of the most straight-forward advice I've received so far. You're right, it is easy to get caught up in the creative passion and forget that, at the end of the day, the pitch room is a business environment.
I really appreciate the reminder that I hold more power than I realize. The ALIEN story perfectly shows how confidence, clarity, and an understanding of the business side can make a pitch so much more effective.
This is not only guidance, it's a whole mindset shift! Thank you for sharing this with me!
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Vlad, great question. Gary - thanks for your awesome response, Bud. That's a difference maker!
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Thanks, Joel Cousins, that means a lot! Glad the question sparked such a great discussion.
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Practice your pitch and learn your material. If you can practice in a mirror, record it or practice with someone it will make your delivery more engaging. It also means if you get thrown off track you will know your pitch well enough to recover. If you also time your practice sessions you will be able to make sure you can deliver your pitch in the short time allowed.
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Thank you, Ewan Dunbar! I’ve been focusing a lot on refining my pitch structure, but you’re absolutely right, delivery makes a huge difference. I'll start practicing my timing and recording myself.