Several sources have said that you should attend a major pitch-fest, such as Screenwriters World...but that one is enough to learn everything you need to know. I tend to agree, especially for seasoned writers who have experience but may be new to pitching. Here is a sampling of a few of the lessons I took away from my recent visit. FIRST: Keep is conversational! Don't memorize a speech...memorize several key elements that you can pop into your conversation as they come up. Know your story well enough that you can talk about it freely and easily. Begin with the setting and main characters but keep it freeform. SECOND: Conventional feature film production is struggling, while TV is experiencing a golden age. TV is hungry for new content. New stories and new formats are welcome, and almost nothing is taboo any more. If you want to work, think about writing for TV...find out about the conventions, and knock out some samples. THIRD: know your gatekeepers. Although we all have dreams of pitching to a high-powered executive, the reality of pitch-fests is that you will often be pitching to someone's assistant, or the assistant's assistant. This reality holds true for nearly all different media, from novels to magazine submissions to film. You will encounter a few grizzled veterans willing to endure 70-80 pitches from newbies in a single day, but in many cases you will be pitching to a young assistant who has very little real-world experience. This is especially important for anyone looking to pitch sci-fi scripts, such as myself. You might be in love with your in-depth understanding of the science that motivated your writing, but the person on the receiving end of your pitch may have zero understanding of science and technology. Keep your focus on the characters and relationships, not the tech. FOURTH: if you get knocked down, get back up and dust yourself off. Pitching requires you to meet a lot of different people, and your approach will not appeal to everyone. Don't let one negative reaction get you down! Get up. Dust yourself off. Move on to the next one with a clear heart. It's business, not asking for a date. Don't be your own worst enemy and take things personally. That being said, I was very glad I spent the time and money going out to Screenwriters World. I learned a lot and am eager to try the Happy Writers pitching opportunities offered via Stage 32. Perhaps the most important lesson I learned was that many executives and famous writers are very down-to-earth people. The keynote speaker Palak Patel (a producer with Roth Films) was very humble and real. Television and movie writer Rob Edwards was humble, helpful, and very personable. I did encounter an exec or two who fit my expectation of arrogant/pushy Hollywood types, but these were the exception rather than the rule...so be at ease. People are people...looking for real connections with others.
Screenwriting : Lessons learned at the pitchfest of Screenwriters World Conference by Mike Romoth
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You never said hi.... but glad you enjoyed the event!! did you attend our pitching panel?
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Well said Mike and very good points you have raised. As a writer you spend so much time involved and invested in each project it really helps to get out there and get some good old face time with real Producers. Yeah sure you can't hit a home run every time but they are not Ogres and they want to find that next hot ticket which might just be you. And as you rightly stated it might not be for all of them but just maybe it will be for some of them.
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Sorry Danny, but you were nearly always surrounded. I bought your book and mentioned that you were a "real believer" for selling a book that cost you $10 to print for $15. Anyone who works that hard and invests their own money to help others for such a small profit is a good person in my book. I have a feeling we'll run into each other in the future.
Thanks for sharing, Mike -- from an east-coaster who couldn't make it out there this summer, I appreciate your thoughts and insights.
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Can I take credit for this takeaway? Or is someone stealing my material? ;) Don't let one negative reaction get you down! Get up. Dust yourself off. Move on to the next one with a clear heart. It's business, not asking for a date. Don't be your own worst enemy and take things personally.
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So sorry for any parallels RB. I missed your session, so these were my own observations. The lessons are common ones, but I did not intend any uncredited borrowing. If I had heard these things from you directly, I would have mentioned you by name. I would say that "great minds think alike" but don't think I qualify for the self-administered pat on the back. My best pitch at the pitch-fest was to someone who had almost the exact same idea as me, he just hadn't written it yet.
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Mike, I will say that pitching via Stage 32 is so much easier, and a lot more fun. So if you walked away feeling accomplished from SWC14, you will love pitching via the happy writers. Best of luck.
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Damn :)
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Thanks for the good will, RB. You are a gentleman. I'm looking forward to pitching lots of new work via the opportunities on Stage 32. Gotta get a web-cam and figure out Skype (I'm a semi-geezer). Also want to get some TV spec scripts in the works. Always glad for the great community on this site!
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We're all in this together, Mike. If we can't spread good will and support one another, we might as well get a "real" job. Positive energy (even in negative times) breeds creativity, in my humble opinion. Your ambition and spirit shines through. I have no doubt you'll be off and flying in no time. And remember, age is mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!
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Truly illuminating. Thanks a lot .
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Thanks for sharing this.
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Couldn't agree more, Lyse. All the tools. Attitude, personality and forward momentum wins you half the battle.
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Thank you for sharing! Sounds like it would be worth going next year.
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Dang! Thanks for the kind words, all. Even if I don't get any success, it sure is nice to feel so much support from my fellows. I think I might need to cry a few tears of joy...in a very manly manner, of course.