Screenwriting : How to pitch without sounding like a "pitch"? by Stephanie McNutt

Okay, if I remember correctly written pitch is about 1 page long. Keep in mind this is just an experimental method. So, Writ it down how story starts, what the plot is all about and how it ends, 1 sentence for each part. Expand the first sentence and turn it into (let's say 5 sentences) Describe your plot in 10 or 15 sentences and the ending in 5 sentences. When you have all that, polish each part, make sure it makes sense since none of us knows what the story is all about, only you do. If you end with a couple of extra sentences on page 2, no big deal, it is what it is. It doesn't have to be the exact number of sentences, it could be 7 - 18 - 9 but you have to keep in mind, no manager is going to reed 5 or 10 page Pitch. I think I have a template for Movie Pitch somewhere.

Niksa Maric That is helpful. I tend to overshare, so practicing brevity would be helpful. I am going to work on this and see what I can produce.

Try giving your pitch like you're having a conversation, Stephanie McNutt. That can help keep your pitch from sounding like a pitch.

Here's a free webinar about pitching: "Pitching Tips from the Pros: Your Blueprint to a Successful Pitch" https://www.stage32.com/webinars/Pitching-Tips-from-the-Pros-Your-Bluepr...

Does posing a question in a pitch, requiring engagement, work? Or should it be avoided? A questions like, how many weddings have you been too? --Now I imagine asking that question to someone who's never attended a wedding.

Maurice Vaughan, also, thank you. I read through it, and I think I do need practice in conciseness, but I love conversing about stories. It's the one topic (and it doesn't have to be my own) in which I never run out.

You're welcome, Stephanie McNutt.

"Does posing a question in a pitch, requiring engagement, work?" Yes, a question works. It gets people thinking and curious. I've used a question in a written pitch (at the very start). I haven't used a question in a live pitch, but I plan to.

If you ask someone "how many weddings have you been too?" and they've never been to a wedding, you can improvise and say something like, "Well, let me tell you. Weddings are wild...."

hahaha, so knowing how to pivot is also a good lesson. Thanks for your mentorship in this, feeling more confident already. Maurice Vaughan

Stephanie McNutt Stage 32 has a Writers' Room (https://www.stage32.com/writers-room). There are Pitch Practice Tanks each week in the Room. The Tanks REALLY help writers get better at pitching.

The Pitch Practice Tank is every Thursday at 5:30 pm PST (8:30 pm EST) with John Mezes (https://www.stage32.com/profile/816156/about) and Brooklynn Fields (https://www.stage32.com/profile/670696/about).

The Writers' Room costs $39.00 a month, but you might be able to get a month free. Contact Jason Mirch (https://www.stage32.com/jasonmirch) or GiGi Raines (https://www.stage32.com/profile/651606/about).

Stephanie - Here's a link to Pitching Template for Features (assuming it will even work since it's a PDF file) If not I can mail it to you.

End of course it doesn't work.

I may be different to others. But I wait till I know the character and like them (even when they are hateful and loathsome). Then they are easy to write and I like talking about them. It is like talking about my friends.

The art of selling is taking people along with you. But first you have to know what they want.

@DanMaXx Thanks for that. Great to learn from experts in it. And @CraigDGriffiths I feel like this fits my style too. I need to feel a connection to my characters. How can I make others care if I am not there yet.

Stephanie McNutt I think it comes across when we talk about them. Have confidence in that. We don’t sold like slick salespeople (thank goodness for that).

I have a single mum (she is raising her learning disabled sister), street level drug dealer called Amy. She is a hateful. She gives her ex-junkie girlfriend grief while trying to reconcile with her. But she said one thing that makes me love her “the world wants me to be less than I am and be happy about it”.

It is Amy’s belief that she can be better than she is that makes for angry. Knowing her beyond the pages makes it easy for me to talk about her.

You're welcome, Stephanie McNutt.

I think this is what Niksa Maric was trying to show you (the Stage 32 Pitching Guidebook): https://www.stage32.com/sites/stage32.com/themes/two/pdfs/happy-writers/...

And here's a sample written pitch: https://stage32.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/8246747250580-Can-I-see-a-...

Hi Stephanie - I'm the director of education here at Stage 32. Please allow me to recommend this terrific free webinar on pitching that may be helpful to you: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/Pitching-Tips-from-the-Pros-Your-Blueprint-to-a-Successful-Pitch

Please let me know if I can be of any more help on your Stage 32 education journey. You can always email me at edu@stage32.com

I updated one of my previous comments, Stephanie McNutt. The Writers' Room is $39.00 a month, not $35.00. Sorry. I don't know what I was thinking.

Tell the story as it was eye witnessed by you...

Hey Stephanie, I like to pretend I'm telling a story at a dinner party. Helps me to keep it more conversational yet narrative.

@KelseyJones, that is good advice. And incidentally the story is about a dinner party, or rather Wedding Reception. I just did a longline, and I am not sure if it's punchy enough. I think I need more time with the characters too.

A good thing to do is to start with the super short version to deliver the concept and then expand from there. Get a list of the key points you want to hit (and would kick yourself if you forgot), make sure everything can relate to your character’s journey and the project’s themes and then practice it out loud over and over again. If you can practice with someone - even better. This way you can make sure your pitch delivers all the information you need to and you'll have extra confidence when pitching. Even if you're not 100% confident, practicing your pitch will make you sound confident. Being excited and believing in your own work is a great thing to see.

Excellent advice, Ewan. Thanks!

@EwanDunbar This is excellent advice, thank you. It also helps me move the story forward with that in mind, and then editing out which isn't as important to the plot or characters.