Short answer: Come prepared.
The pitch meeting is the culmination of all of the work you have done thus far: your treatment, character breakdown, pilot script, logline and show bible were all created for this moment. They are the most powerful tools that you have in your utility belt.
If you can create visuals for the presentation, that is a bonus. Why tell them what your show is about when you can show them. Don't let their imaginations run wild--anticipate their questions and create a slick proof-of-concept that will blow their minds.
Lastly, know your audience and their core desires. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself what would you want in a show?
1. ORIGIN
Briefly touch upon what inspired you to write this idea.
2. HUMAN HOOK
Why will the audience care?
3. CHARACTERS
Who is this about? Where are they in their lives?
4. DESIRES
What do they want... right now?
5. OBSTACLES
What's in the way? What types of things will they have to encounter as they try to reach their goals.
6. HIGHLIGHTS
What are the funny / sad / crazy moments that will stand out as memorable?
7. THE OPEN ROAD
What can we expect to see from the rest of the series?
Lastly, remember to be brief and to be confident. Have passion for your idea and believe in it. Your audience will feel it.
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In your checklist, isn't point 1 and point 2 almost the same thing? It feels like point 1 is the more interesiing, more 'complete' point 2
Example:
Point 2:
Ater reading "Schindlers List" I got inspired to write a holocaust screenplay. ( ...and the rest of your pitch)
Point 1:
Long ago, on vacation in France, while reading "Schindlers List", I heard on the radio that Spielberg offered a million dollars to the one person who came up with what would be Spielberg's next movie, I thought pffff-hopeless, and read on... oblivious!!! Then, years later 'chance' seemed kind to me; I read this short passage in the book "Treblinka," describing a German officer's family taking the wrong train and ending up in Treblinka, being gassed within the hour. No witneses. Non!
Now, in this time of polarization...
See the difference?!
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I pitched two shows way back, but I'm not used to pitching them, Tammy Hunt. This checklist will help. Thanks for sharing.
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I find pitching TV shows way more challenging than pitching feature films.
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Yes, I guess in your pitch you must prove that your general idea is sustainable over several seasons.
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Thank you for sharing! Definitely will need to keep this in mind as I continue writing my script :)
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Thanks Tammy Hunt for this insightful post about pitching. The TV Pilot and Pitch Deck are complete for my ‘Write To Kill’ crime thriller, fiction series and I’m ready to pitch.
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Great post Tammy Hunt ! You can never go wrong when placing yourself in the audience's shoes to demonstrate why others will want to watch your work.
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Another great insight, Tammy Hunt . I love including the inspiration for the story now that I know folks do want to know what moved me to write it and what theme can be found throughout.
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One thing I'd add is, try to anticipate the objections the executives will throw at you.
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Thank you, Tammy. Helpful advice and I just used some of it to tweak a written Pitch I'm working on.