Hi there. I'm looking for advice on how to effectively write a two-page pitch for the pitch sessions. I did one a few months ago, and the feedback I received said I needed to be clearer with walking through the story and they wished I had some visuals as well.
The issue I'm running into is writing a two-page pitch for a six season show, it's a comedy so it's supposed to come out funny, and it has a cast of six. I couldn't see where I was supposed to fit more detail into just two pages, not to mention visuals. Three pages I probably could, but not two.
I'm not opposed to video pitches, I just have the sense that I'm very liable to choke because I get really nervous and I'm afraid I wouldn't get it all within the eight minutes. Also, I have covid right now, so my voice and energy are not optimum, so I thought I'd try another two-page first.
Thanks for any help,
Riley
Edit: I do have a ready pitch deck in power point, but it takes longer than six minutes to get through, unless I skimmed past some stuff. Are you allowed to do that, or do you have to read what's on your pitch deck word for word?
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Perhaps you are being urged not to use general words, and to describe specific actions. Probably, you should concentrate on the development of the main character of the series and generalize what his wrong actions and their consequences are.
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Have you focused on what's in the first few episodes to get the producers/viewers interested instead of all six seasons? Concentrate on getting them interested in the hooks and teases the show has and then briefly mention where the series could go.
Verbal pitches worried me a lot at first but I've fined tuned my script to read to them so I'm familiar with it and ready to go. I've occasionally stumbled around a bit, it can happen, but you just have to roll with it and keep going.
Remember, the producers want you to give them an idea they'll love.
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I hope you feel better soon, Riley Blankenship. I haven't had a written Pitch Session for a TV show, but this blog might help you (especially the "DO: Tell the Story" part): www.stage32.com/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-pitching-3254
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And here's a free webinar about pitching: www.stage32.com/webinars/Pitching-Tips-from-the-Pros-Your-Blueprint-to-a...
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Riley: I take a journalistic approach to write a one or two-page synopsis and begin your pitch with your (preferably one-sentence) logline. Additionally, you may wish to include a few lines about yourself and your writing. For a TV series, I would provide a synopsis for your pilot rather than all your episodes. That's the territory covered in a show bible. If you require further assistance, you can hit me up.
To add to what Phillip said, a pitch is really just about you and who you are! I would start with the synopsis for your pilot. Don't add details about every single thing. Just the main ideas of what your show is actually about.
I thought about doing a written pitch but I'm the opposite. I think I'd do better verbally pitching, but there both difficult. I can only give you the advice I give myself and that is know your work, know your story and characters, plot and theme and give it your best. There's no failure in that
Lead characters are mined so reader/audience actually cares for them in a good or a bad way. EG Core traits. What they face daily plus goals & conflicts etc. (As a start to pitch I mean, I used to get feedback I'd not highlighted them enough before I went into main story.) Recently was told to , Put “Comps” under my log lines so reader gets instantly the theme. I briefly answered to bookmark this thread but will come back later with way more info cos travelling about now.
Some good feedback I got is to paint more the world that the story lives in. Also aside from gist of the story, seed the elements that help viewer get behind characters. Also if it's a series/episodic what makes this stand out and sell as a package? Another point that changed the way I write 2 pagers and got some success is the creative wrapping of the actual script should feed into the pitch itself. Before, I viewed my pitch as a separate entity to my script and it was often a way too clinical blueprint. Now I think of the pitch and script as a "oneness" part of the same creative. It's easy to forget the driving force and passion that led to writing a particular script when trying to cram on 2 pdf's what's inside your head and this can lose some of that original vitality and flow. .
Hi Riley, if you're interested, we have a sample written pitch that you can look at. Just email success@stage32.com.