So, a few weeks back I posted about some lessons I'd learned pitching on Happy Writers. At that point all I'd done was pitch, but I'd pitched like a ninja and had got a meeting with a UK based producer (I'm also based in the UK). Fast forward a few more weeks and I've now pitched a load more and the formula seems to be working. And it's this: 1. When the call comes in put a big grin on my face before answering 2. Pretend it's the only pitch I will ever do 3. Convince myself the project is the best thing they will ever hear 4. Convey all the enthusiasm I can muster for the project 5. Remember that it doesn't matter. At all. It's only a pitch. The biggest lesson I've learned from these pitch sessions is that you can be pitching an absolutely turkey but if you're interesting, if you're passionate, and if it feels like you really really care then they will too. Now, obviously if you are pitching a total turkey then that will all come out in the wash. My project is a one hour TV drama and we got shortlisted for Sundance Episodic Labs with it a few months back. Not a humble brag, more a confidence builder. It basically told us that our material had value. And that does one very important thing. It means you can ride out the passes without caring too much. And you really need that. It also gave me the confidence to pitch a lot. I mean, seriously a lot. Like wallet-shredding a lot. I've now pitched 18 times on Happy Writers. You do the maths. That's a lot of money. So why do the blanket thing? Well, the way I figure it, if it's worth doing then you have to commit, fully, 100%, balls out. And be prepared to invest in yourself and your material. Now that could be getting coverage notes, or it could be pitching to a ton of different people. The fact is you never know who's going to connect with your material. Nor why. There are tales of legendary passes nearly every month. Which is why I figured we just had to be in the game. If we felt the work was good enough then we had to back it. But that's hard on the financials and there has to be an end product. So, here's what happened to me. First off I won the weekly best pitcher perk and Joey got in touch personally to suggest a meeting with a manager from Benderspink. And there I was duly having a general on Skype for half an hour with someone who could potentially sign me. Result. I also won a few best of session perks which saved me a bit of money. But the really big thing that happened was that ICM requested a meeting. And then I heard nothing. For two weeks. And this is where I introduce the rollercoaster. Because this really is a rollercoaster. As a writer you're entirely helpless. You might be the puppet master of any work you can spin out of your imagination but in this world, the real world, you're nobody and you actually have no power. So, when ICM wants a meeting then you hear nothing you start to convince yourself that actually they've woken up from whatever drunken state they were in when they made that request and have now discovered you for the fraud that you undoubtedly are. Except of course you're not. And it's just that stuff takes time. And that's when Joey stepped in again. Hooked up a meeting straight away and there I was talking direct to ICM. Which went amazingly. I quote: "I can't say enough good things about the work..." Rollercoaster going up.... And that's awesome, because they requested secondary materials and they want to upstream the project to their TV department. And that's when you realise you're going to be waiting again and most likely it's going to run out of steam and probably won't go anywhere. But THAT DOESN"T MATTER! You're in the game and someone at a big agency likes you. That's absolutely amazing. It might not be work yet but you're getting read. And you're drawing heat. Which as I now know, is everything. So, after the ICM meeting it all went down again as manager after manager passed on the project. And again. That's okay. But you start second-guessing yourself and wondering whether actually the guys who like it are frankly deluded. But again, IT DOESN'T MATTER! You only need one person to like your work. Just one. And, guess what, they did. We were approached by a manager who loved the project. Myself and my co-writer had also just won a best film prize for our debut feature at a big spanish horror festival and it turned out he loved the film too. So, there I was, now having a very long meeting with a manager in the US who loved our work who was hugely enthusiastic about what we were doing and wanted to rep us. Two days later I hear a production company is interested in a meeting too. Now it's been a week since that initial contact and I haven't heard anything again and the rollercoaster plummets again! It's a crazy business this and you kind of have to become very sanguine about the whole thing. Stuff inevitably will happen when it's meant to. HOWEVER, nothing will happen if you're not out there hustling and being visible. But the really important piece of this puzzle is one you may or may not have guessed at already and that's Joey Tuccio. He has no financial interest in what we're doing but he's been the guy facilitating, acting as an intermediary and basically making it all happen. And in the best possible way acting as hype man and cheerleader. He emailed me and said "My goal is to get you signed ASAP." How cool is that? So, yes, I invested cold hard cash in this process. But it's not some mindless coverage scam where you get stung for words. There's a real guy at the other end who genuinely cares and who will repay hard work and a go-get-it attitude with genuine results. When you look at the calibre of people you can pitch to on here it's truly remarkable. I'm sold. I'm signed. I'm a Happy Writer. Good luck everyone.
Success Stories: JUN'13 Happy Writers got me signed
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Thanks Robin. It truly is a roller coaster. It's like baseball where if you hit the ball 30% of the time you can be a Hall of Famer. There's a great quote from Babe Ruth - "Don't let fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." If you don't play, you can't win. We get to put our ourselves out there, be vulnerable and face rejection. But like you said, all we need is just one person to like our material. Howard Schultz who built Starbucks into what it is today was turned down by 217 of the 242 investors he initially talked to. You have to have a tremendous belief in what you’re doing and just persevere. As for Joey, there is no greater supporter, teacher, mentor, therapist and cheerleader! The help and inspiration he and his amazing staff provide just fuels my fire that much more. Let's face it, if you've been pitching, you've been rejected. We all need encouragement to get back up and try again. If Joey believes in me, then others will too. If it wasn't for Joey taking me under his wing, I'd still be struggling to get someone to read my scripts (or at least it would have taken a lot longer to get my first REQUEST). And he provides his feedback for free! The other thing I love about Joey and Happy Writers, at a time where companies are offering less and charging more, Joey continues to look for innovative ways to do more for us yet doesn't charge us more. Supplying our log lines to all the companies at pitchfests, interviews, pitching suggestions. Joey's really helped me to up my game. The biggest take away from what you wrote Robin - stay persistent. Thanks again Robin!
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Sanguine, my friend. Sanguine. Congrats!
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Wait! There's martinis involved? No one said anything about martinis. Now I really need to get signed.
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Joey, I'm there, soon as we get our asses over to Hollywood!
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Hey Elizabeth, I'm not sure it really matters how and when we got signed. Joey was a great sounding board for us in terms of understanding who we were talking to and what they could bring to the table and then it was about making the right decision really. Also, we're nowhere near CA!
okay, then I'll delete it if it doesn't make sense.
Congrats Robin!!!!!!
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Wow, that certainly is a roller coaster ride, so happy that everything is on the up and up for you! Of course, it sounds like a rollercoaster ride fueld by persistent and relentless hard work and talent! Likwise, thanks for sharing the energy and congrats!
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Congratulations, Robin, I'm so happy for you. You're testimony to not only hard work and perseverance, but what Joey and the Happy Writers do for all of us! Good luck with the next stage!
Great advice. Congratulations!
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You proved persistence is key and so is making the investment in your work. I think I pitched more than you did but I have ;learned a lot since my last pitch in January. Congrats and keep up the momentum!
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Many congrats Love ur attitude
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Inspiring story. Congrats!
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Sounds like you deserve all that's coming your way. You've put the time (and money!) in and earned it with the quality of your work. Just want to add a quick note about 'rollercoaster'. When I was lucky enough (after 4 years!) to find an 'in' at the Columbo Production Office, and I was able to get my spec script to them, the 'in' would keep me updated; 'Peter loves the script' 'thinks it has integrity' etc. Well, one day I'm told that Peter mentioned the script was 23 pages too long. So I took it upon myself that night to edit it down, then I fedexed it to Mr. Falk overnight. Apparently, the next day, he opens the package, sees an edited script he never requested and, stating that I was 'moving too fast' , threw the script across the room where it bounced off the wall. When the producer of the show you are trying to write for throws your script against the wall, it does not build confidence ;-) I thought the rollercoaster ride was not only getting bumpy at that point, but it was over. But the funny thing is, it was that edited script he purchased 8 months later. So be patient, everyone. And if you get knocked down, get back up and take more swings.
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Thanks for sharing that story, too Frank.
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I love #5. I used that same philosophy at the pitch fest I attended a couple years ago. It's only a pitch, a conversation about a story. And it really doesn't matter since it's so early in the process. This is a way to remove all the stress from it, and just go in relaxed and confident that you know your stuff. Glad to see it worked out for you.
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And now that I've read the whole article -- great story. Perseverance pays off. This has every element in it of what we're all hoping for, but also what we need to expect as the reality. Thanks for sharing.
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THIS IS AMAZINGG! Congrats Robin and I'm so thrilled you shared your story with the community. All the best as you continue along your journey!!
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Yikes, a ton of comments, thanks so much everyone for the congrats and the support. Just the start of a journey and also a belated thanks to Frank Ponce https://www.stage32.com/profile/199078/frank-ponce as it was his blog about what happened to him that actually got me off my ass to do this in the first place. Thank you!
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Amen! What a great post- thanks for posting it- you rock!
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I'd totally take that if I actually did rock... but I don't.... not really. I'm a classical muso born and raised and it just doesn't seem to be in me to actually properly genuinely rock. Shame.
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How about your wisdom thunders the heavens in Wagnerian splendor?
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Ouch....!
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I meant it in a good way!
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I know, I was reeling from the sheer unearned bombast of it!
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Bombast is among my specialties
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You'd never know we were writers. Genuinely like no clue....
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What a fantastic story Robin - congratulations! Welcome to the Stage 32 family :)
Thank you Robin... for taking me up on your roller coaster ride... it reminded me of roller coaster rides when I was a kid... the first time was frightening... the anticipation of it... especially the first time up that uphill... chug chug chug... knowing what was coming once you're heading to the top... then... over the top and then that crazy ride down hill... no chug chug anymore... it's full throttle ... before you know it... the ride is over... and the crazy thing is you want to do it all over again. The THRILL... with more confidence that you can do it... again... now that you've seen the path it takes... Great blog... thank you... I needed to read something like this right about now. xoxo
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Joey is making dreams come true! "My goal is to get you signed ASAP." More thoughtful words are seldom spoken. Bravo, you two!!
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Awesome, Robin. I joined STage32 the same week you'd made your original post about the pitchfest bonanza. A lot has happened in a relatively short time! It's inspiring. Please keep letting us know about your rollercoaster ride! Yippeee!