Hi, it's me again! This weekend was another amazing pitchfest brought to us by Joey and the Stage 32 Happy Writers. It was a blast! If you have a script ready to go, and you haven't done one - I have to ask...why?? For me, it is far less intimidating then pitching to a room full of bored executives. Perhaps it's because, if you want to wear PJ's, that's ok! (at least from the waist down). So about this weekend's pitches for me – I'm not going to lie, I was pretty certain I totally bombed my first pitch. The executive asked me a question that I wasn't prepared for and I felt myself backslide (I also felt the warm burn of hives spreading up my neck). BUT I know my story backwards and forward; inside and out, so I recovered fairly quickly and was able to move forward. In the end, he requested my script! Oh, and he is from WME, did I forget to mention that?! I was so beyond elated. Even if it takes months to get read (or even if it never does), just the fact that someone in the WME building has my script, my baby, sitting in their office, is pretty epic! The second pitch was with Electric City Entertainment. When you look up the definition of “ideal pitch”- I'm fairly certain those 8 minutes, 40 seconds will be there. You know when you have those moments where you just click with a total stranger? They “get” you and more importantly they “get” your story - well this was it. Within the first minute she had the entire arch of my story in her head and actually outlined it back to me! Again, even if nothing happens, just that experience of what it's like for a pitch to go really well boosts confidence, not only in my story but in myself! Anyway, I'm still floating on cloud 9, so I thought I'd share. Shout outs to Erica – who is such an awesome moderator!! I'm fairly certain she is a large part of why WME requested my script! :) And, of course, the always wonderful, Joey!! :) One thing I've noticed about all the moderators thus far is, besides being very upbeat and positive, they seem to truly want all our pitches to succeed. It's nice to know that from the word “go”, you have someone rooting for you!
Success Stories: MAY'11 Pitch story from this weekend! :)
Other topics in Stage 32 Success Stories:
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
Congrats on a great experience! I submitted two written pitches this weekend just to change it up. It's nice to get written comments back. We'll see how it goes!
sweet! Good for you, Blake.
1 person likes this
Congrats!
Congrats! I'll try it next time!
Hi Leah, Nice words. I am new and have completed scripts so I'll look into this. My Main Coon, Renfield say Hi.
That's a kitty, by the way...
Congratulations, Leah. That is "Awesome"
1 person likes this
Thank you, Stephanie for your comment and your book! I just downloaded it a few days ago, wonderful tool for pitching! I love your blog too.
Lyle, from one cat lover to another, thank you! (P.S. Main Coon's are beautiful! All 4 of my cats are mix breed strays but one of them has a Main Coon look.)
Thank you all for your lovely words!! Best of luck to you, Leon and Michelle!! As Tom Petty said - the waiting is the hardest part! :)
That's GREAT Leah, hope they buy both. It is an amazing thing, and beats the heck out of query letters, emails and begging to get someone to hear your pitch. Best of luck!!
Renfield now is Dire Straights. Life#4. He liked the other side, but now back.
Leah, you're becoming my guru/hero! My second pitch is this afternoon. Always a bit intimidating, but reading about your experience helps a lot! Thanks so much!
You must be elated. Its like taking a trophy home on your first start at the gate. Good show!!
How wonderful! And I'm certain the hives vanished within seconds of getting the "green light" for submission! Great work!
Well done, Leah. That's super news! Here's a toast to the next step for you.
Admire your bravery. Congratulations, I'm sure you'll be sharing more great news in the future.
Congrats Leah! I am curious what will transpire from this point on? Hopefully, its a sell or even better, a hire!
1 person likes this
You make it sound so easy out of the gate. How did you approach telling them the story line. Did you follow the main characters arc? How much do they want to know in detail. www.bryankent.com
I believe Don Henley wrote about my MAC flight back to the loony ward at Walter Reid Army Hospital when I in leather restraints had to go to the bathroom and wasn on a stretcher in the back of the plane with a med tech . He looked around and it was just him and me in this big bay and no where to go to the bathroom . He said can I make it to the bathroom ? I said yes , are you kidding I really have to go . I got to a curtain and pushed it aside . There were at least a hundred service men and women in uniform and here I am in pajamas and restaraints and I really had to go but I wasn't about to take little steps all the way to the front of the plane because of the leather straps binding my ankles together . I hopped like I never hopped in my life the 30 feet to that bathroom saluting all the way . They were roaring and I knew I had to go back and face everyone of them . So , I hopped and saluted my way back to my stretcher in the back of that jet . I don't know how long they laughed and roared and I know that those folks will never forget that flight . Quick thinking on my part don't ya think ? Henley said on a plane to Texas he saw Jesus . I think he did and it was me ( If you seen my Father you have seen me .)
I tell you there is a script and a movie to be made about the prophet from Toledo .