Screenwriting : The Itch to Pitch by Chelsea Regenold

Pitching is not telling the story...you do that with your script. Pitching is delivering some punch-lines, fast'n'neat...

Nick Assunto - Stage32 Script Services Coordinator Good point. I think I knew the answer going into this but was curious. I watched a pitch session the other day and a few times the producers asked the pitchers if their scripts were written. I thought "Wait... people pitch before finishing the script?" Thanks!

At one time I just sat down and started writing once I had an idea. Later on I created a beat sheet to work off of and if I am doing an adaptation I just go by what the book did and hope for the best. We are all different so do whatever it takes for you to get o FADE OUT.

Nick Assunto - Stage32 Script Services Coordinator If you pay for someone's time to listen, then yes...

Rohit Kumar Thanks for your thorough response! The script I have in mind is over halfway done with lots of rewrites ahead. I'm just so eager to share it, I'm getting a little carried away.

I'm sorry that happened to you. It's unfortunate we can't copyright our ideas. All the more reason to get them down on paper before someone else does, though. :)

That's why sometimes I like to write the manuscript first and publish it. Then work on adapting the script.

that is the way many professional writers with track records work - they pitch ideas to Employers who sometimes pay in advance before a single screenplay page is written.

Interesting discussion. So how about contests? Even pitch idea contests - they do require loglines and treatments, not to mention screenplay competitions.

Well, I find writing contests and submissions to be more productive, more feasible. And, when accepted, that’s a great way to build a portfolio.

On the other hand, I keep an open eye on selected screenplay competitions, because for someone who’s located outside the US and Canada, it could be one of the chances to get noticed. A very very tiny chance, I know, but still.

Your first instinct is probably right...an elaborate attempt to procrastinate. A pitch for the most part is a marketing exercise. It is by necessity very limited and mostly story focused, and ultimately has no bearing on how your script is executed or how well written it is. However, to the degree that writing your pitch prior to writing your script forces you to really think long and hard about what you truly want to write about, then in that way it could certainly be helpful.

I usually write a logline before I write the screenplay to keep myself on course.

BTW, what's up with the Spielberg haters on this site? A lot of shade being thrown his way. Amusing to say the least.

From my experience, the fact of pitching stimulates my creativity to produce something good that can go up to treatment level. Getting feedback from the pitch help me polish the pitch further with more market focus. Reading others’ logline helps me improve the one I have.

Chelsea Regenold one of the things we learned during our recent TV Dev class with Raquelle and Jay - which echoes what Dan MaxXx said - is write the pitch first. It will help detail what story it is you're trying to write in the screenplay.

Whatever you do just be acutely aware that pitch, story idea and plot are not the same thing as knowing and understanding the underlying story you are really trying to tell. What are you really trying to write about? There are any number of ways to execute a pitch, an idea or a plot. There should be only one way to execute your story though. That's what all good scripts have in common. A keen sense that every element of the script is working in tandem at all times to convey a compelling underlying story with a singular vision. Spend your time figuring out and embracing what that story and vision is first. Everything else in the writing process after that will fall much more readily into place.

Chelsea, I see where Neal's coming from...and I feel more comfortable finishing the screenplay before pitching.

Great post you came up with...and all the VERY BEST to you!

Absolutely and you will usually need to rewrite your pitch again after you finish your story.

I write in advance the scenes and words in my script's movie trailer that will be pitching the movie to my target viewing audience. It helps ensure that I stay on track.