The Perfect Pitch: The Secrets To Becoming A Pitching Ace
Start Learning
Satisfaction Rate:
Webinar hosted by: Jared Iacino
Executive Vice President, Head of Film and TV Production at Panay Films
Jared Iacino is the SVP, Head of Films an Television Production at Panay Films, a film and television production company whose credits include Wedding Crashers (2005) starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, Van Wilder (2002) starring Ryan Reynolds and Serendipity (2001) Starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. In his time at Panay Films, Jared has been involved with the development and production of many projects including the independent comedy Hit & Run (2012) starring Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard, and Bradley Cooper, the MGM comedy Hot Tub Time Machine 2 starring Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Clark Duke and Adam Scott, and the family adventure film Earth To Echo, released by Relativity last year on which Jared also served as a producer. Jared also developed and was on the production team of the Jared Hess directed Masterminds, starring Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis and Kristin Wigg. Additionally, production begins this fall on the Warner Bros. action/comedy CHiPS, written and directed by Dax Shepard, starring Dax, Michael Pena and Vincent D'Onofrio. On the Television side, Jared is currently Executive Producing two projects in development with Relativity Television. Prior to his time at Panay Films, Jared worked in development and production at Walt Disney Studios, Red Wagon Entertainment, Storyline Entertainment and Fox Studios – affording him the opportunity to work on a diverse slate of award winning and critically acclaimed Film and Television projects including: The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Juno (2007), Hairspray (2007), The Bucket List (2007), A Raisin In The Sun (2008), The Proposal (2009), and The Muppets (2011). A Seattle native, Jared has a BFA from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, where he now currently serves on the Alumni Advisory Board. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
The art of the pitch. In many ways, outside of honing your craft, your ability to pitch may just be the most important skill you can learn as a creative. At its core, pitching is storytelling. But the ability to be a clear, concise storyteller, and, as a result, be someone who can deliver a memorable and winning pitch is something that takes time, knowledge, a clear strategy, and repetition. Understanding how to pitch any person or audience will give you a clear and tremendous advantage in any situation or room. You will stand out from the hundreds if not thousands of pitches a gatekeeper or decision maker hears in a given year. But further, learning how to pitch will help you build confidence, a huge variable in winning over those looking to work with you, buy your material or invest in your project.
The bottom line: Whether you're a screenwriter, filmmaker, producer, or any creative or industry professional looking to gain representation, sell their material, attract talent, raise financing, or simply looking to find work, you WILL have to pitch. Further, you WILL be in competition with others pitching as well. You've put so much time and effort into your work and building your reputation, you don't want to have it all undermined with a terrible pitch. And the truth of the matter is that most people that pitch make the same fatal mistakes over and over. They don't know how to tell a concise, riveting story. They don't know what to put in, what to leave out, and what elements really and truly sell someone on their story. But not you. Not anymore. You're about to become a pitching ace.
Jared Iacino is a film and television executive who has heard literally thousands of pitches. As the Senior Vice President and Head of Films and Television Production at Panay Films, Jared has overseen the development and production of such films as Hit & Run, Hot Tub Time Machine I and II, Earth to Echo, Mastermind, CHiPS, and numerous television productions in conjunction with Relativity Television. Prior to his time at Panay, Jared worked on such films as The Wedding Crashers, Juno, The Devil Wears Prada, Hairspray, The Bucket List, A Raisin in the Sun, The Proposal, The Muppets, Serendipity, Van Wilder and many more. As Jared can tell you, many of these projects and hundreds more he's see get moved through the pipeline, began with a well crafted pitch.
Now, exclusively for Stage 32, Jared is going to teach you everything you need to know to become a pitching ace. He will demystify the pitching process by showing you how to form and outline your pitch in practical, repeatable and memorable terms. He will identify from a studio/network/producer's perspective, the common and fatal mistakes writers, filmmakers, producers and other film creatives make when pitching their projects. He will show you the secret formula he's used when pitching and selling projects to high level executives, gatekeepers and decision makers at independent film companies, studios and networks. He will teach you the 3 most important elements every pitch should have. He will show you how to cater your pitch to different audiences and why this is such an important skill to lear. He will show you how to identify projects worthy of pitching and teach you the secret ingredient that appears in every great pitch.
Jared will give you the blueprint to not only craft a memorable and winning pitch, but teach you how to deliver it in a manner that has you finding the success your work and projects deserve!
"Great hearing from someone who's actually in the trenches like us. You have great energy and broke the presentation down very well; easily digestible and understandable."
- Tom Z.
"Terrific webinar thank you Jared. You were clear, concise and most importantly efficient! I learned a ton and I am about to use what I learned in a pitch at 2:30. I am excited to see what happens!"
- Maggie G.
"Thanks for being incredibly generous with your experience and expertise. I feel way more able to take on creating the brilliant pitch that reflects the story I wrote."
- John T.
What You'll Learn
- Pitching: Why Is It So Hard?
- Life Experiences - we're trained to do pitches wrong
- Writing vs. Pitching: the problem of "The story's in your head"
- What comedians and good pitchers have in common
- The Un-Pitchable Idea: How To Avoid it
- Identifying if your idea is pitch-worthy
- The "Mom" test
- Common Mistakes
- Identifying the most common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Revealing the quickest ways to confuse your audience
- Boredom: a pitcher's worst enemy
- Weighting everything in your pitch equally – The “And then this happens…” curse
- "Where are we?" The case of the missing transitions
- Building Your Story
- The story elements you must have in your pitch
- The elements you should leave out of your pitch
- Structuring Your Pitch
- Beginning - How to set everything up economically
- Middle - "Easy on the dressing"
- End - How to pay everything off in a satisfying way
- Proper pitch length: shorter the better
- Identifying The Most Crucial Elements Of A Pitch
- The most important element in every pitch
- The least important element in every pitch
- The 3 things every pitch must have
- Who Are You Pitching To - Catering A Pitch To The People In The Room
- How to identify your audience and what they want
- Easy tips to target an audience
- Q&A with Jared!
About Your Instructor
Jared Iacino
FAQs
Q: How do I watch my webinar live?
A: If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Go to Webinar, you will receive an email from Go to Webinar with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. You can also access your webinar link in your purchase history located under settings in the top right-hand corner of your Stage 32 profile.
If you received a confirmation that your webinar is on Zoom, you will receive a separate email from Zoom with further instructions for participating in the live webinar. Your login link will not be in your Stage 32 profile. If you did not receive your link via Zoom please email support@stage32.com.
Q: How do I watch my webinar on demand?
A: You will be able to watch your webinar on demand as many times as you’d like inside your Stage 32 profile. The recording is processed and posted between 24-48 hours after the webinar concludes. You can follow the instructions below.
YOU MUST HAVE A STAGE 32 PROFILE TO WATCH YOUR VIDEO – STAGE 32 IS FREE TO JOIN
If You Already Have a Stage 32 Profile:
- Log into your Stage 32 profile
- Click "Settings" in the top right-hand corner (gear icon)
- Click "Purchase History"
- Choose this webinar and click the link to view
- Go to www.stage32.com
- Create a profile using the SAME email address you used to sign up for this webinar. The email addresses must match in order to watch the webinar.
- Once you have your profile set up, you can view the webinar by clicking "Settings" in the top right hand corner (gear icon)
- Click "Purchase History"
- Choose this webinar and click the link to view
Q: What is the format of a webinar?
A: Stage 32 Next Level Webinars are typically 90-minute educational broadcasts that take place online using a designated software program from Stage 32. Your webinar will be taught by a working industry professional with in-depth teaching on a topic. If you are able to attend live you will be able to ask your Stage 32 Educator questions during Q&A.
Q: What are the system requirements to watch my webinar live?
A: You will need to meet the following system requirements in order to run the webinar software: Windows 7 or later Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later.
If you have Windows XP, Windows Vista and Mac OS X 10.9 (Mountain Lion): The webinar software does not support these operating systems. If you are running one of those operating systems, please upgrade now in order to be able to view a live webinar. Upgrade your Windows computer / Upgrade your Mac computer.
Q: What if I cannot attend the live webinar?
A: If you cannot attend a live webinar or purchase an on demand webinar, you will have access to the entire recorded broadcast, including the Q&A.
Q: Will I have access to the webinar afterward to re-watch?
A: Yes! Like all Stage 32 education, after the purchase of a live or on demand webinar, you will have on-demand access to the recording.
Q: How do I get a copy of the handouts provided?
A: If the webinar you take included handouts you can find them as downloads underneath your on demand video. You must be logged into your Stage 32 profile to view the video and get the handouts by clicking settings in the top right hand corner, then clicking purchase history.
Q: What if I need accessibility and accommodations?
A: Email support@stage32.com to request accommodations.
Thanks for your loyalty to Stage 32 Education. We value having you in the Stage 32 community.
If you have any further questions, we are always happy to help. Please contact Stage 32 support at support@stage32.com.
Testimonials
"He did a simply perfect job. Good eye contact, easy to listen to, and he knew the material!" - John M.
"Very impressive Webinar Jared, every question I had about pitching, on the how's, do's, and don'ts, was answered by you in a totally professional yet inviting manner." - Colin R.
"Very well thought out, well paced and insightful. Appreciated the friendly, professional attitude. Thank you for time well spent." - Terri S.
"Jared, thanks so much! Very informative, and encouraging as well." - Dallas F.
"Oh my goodness... What a fantastic webinar from Jared... and he was so generous with his time... I didn't even realize we were almost at the 2 hour mark." - Sylvia L.
"Jared was GREAT! The information he provided was well executed and delivered in a way that was easy to understand." - Jennifer C.
"Excellent advice. Very practical. Thank you." - Eric S.
"Great hearing from someone who's actually in the trenches like us. You have great energy and broke the presentation down very well; easily digestible and understandable." - Tom Z.
"Terrific webinar thank you Jared. You were clear, concise and most importantly efficient! I learned a ton and I am about to use what I learned in a pitch at 2:30. I am excited to see what happens!" - Maggie G.
"Thanks for being incredibly generous with your experience and expertise. I feel way more able to take on creating the brilliant pitch that reflects the story I wrote." - John T.
"Jared was great and informative. He gave good examples and kept me engaged! I wish I could get time in with him in person!" - Dana M.
"Natural, easy, smiling - the kind of open and engaging person you'd hope to pitch to! Plenty of guidelines to help me prepare my first serious pitch - but also thought-provoking when it comes down to the story itself. Already have several ideas for making my work more pitchable. Thanks!" - Kendall C.
Relevant Tags
Share with friends:
Questions?
Reviews Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5
-
Jill A. Hargrave This was a great webinar to learn the structure of pitching. What should be in a pitch and what should not be included. I'm still practicing my pitch and found this webinar very helpful. Thanks, Jared for a presentation full of useful information about the right way to pitch. -
Diane Kryzaniak Jared Iacino did a five star webinar. I am not sure if I will be a Perfect "Pitching Ace". I know I will do a lot better on the next pitch than I did on my last one. I could see where I went off track and may have lost it a little. I will review the webinar, a couple of times before I try again. Thanks Jared and all of you "Awesome" people who put all of this wonderful education and next level webinars and Stage 32. -
Jorge Prieto Very informative. But, too much information at times. On a personal note, I recently pitched a screenplay to an Exec, whose own company had produced "dark" material and subject matter, but she said that my storty was too dark. You go figure. Now, back to Jared Iacino, on screenplay pitches , at least on Stage 32 we only get 8 minutes and that's without leaving any time for Q&A. So 15 to 20 is a gift . Where can I pitch to you? Thanks for sharing your experiences on this subject, sir. Like everything, practice makes perfect and now with many of your tools, I gotta get busy and hope that my next Executive Skype connection is working. -
Cecil E. Davis Jr. Great advice. -
Barak Shavit This is super helpful! -
Dale A. Swanson This seminar brought forth common sense issues associated with pitching any product. Absolutely first class and absolutely recommended. -
Penny Eizenga Really clear & thorough. I refer to my notes all the time. -
Stink Fisher This webinar was extremely helpful, well-thought out and informative. I will continue to go back to it again and again to hone my pitches. Thank you Stage 32!!! -
James Taumas Quite informative and well presented. -
James Norris It was well done, but I would have liked a concrete example or two. Maybe starting with a logline building a (partial) pitch from there. -
Melissa Willis So much useful information in a short amount of time. I can't wait to put this into practice. Thanks, Jared and Stage 32! -
Peter Lancucki This is a must have webinar for anyone pitching. For verbal pitches, this is perhaps the most important webinar I've watched.
Other education that may be of interest to you:
The Art of the Self-Edit - 10 Things You Need to Check in ANY Script Before Sending it Off
If you talk to an exec, a manger, or any other gatekeeper, you may be surprised to find out just how many scripts that are sent to them are turned down before they’re even given a chance. Whether it’s due to formatting errors, unclear descriptions, or other fixable problems, countless scripts fall by the wayside and countless writers lose an opportunity either because they were too eager to submit or because they weren’t able to look at their creation with objective eyes. The good news is this is a problem that can be fixed. Before you send your script off to representatives, executives, or reputable contests, you need to ensure your screenplay is written clearly, formatted correctly, and tells a story that raises the stakes and builds momentum. Too often, writers go on blind faith and hit “send” before it sees a second set of eyes. But you can (and should) be your own second set of eyes with a practice known as self-editing. This is where you take your writer hat off, hang it up for a hot second, and put your editor cap on so you can revise your screenplay in an objective manner. It’s harder than it seems, but there are actually 10 specific things you can learn to read your script for that will help ensure it’s ready to be sent. If you can master the self-edit, you will greatly improve your chances of getting your work seen. Ready to learn how to do that? Nikki Terpilowski is here to help you master self-editing techniques. Nikki is a long time literary agent and owner of Holloway Literary who represents both screenwriters and novelists and is highly experienced at negotiating book-to-film deals for her clients, most recently Argent Pictures and ABC Studios. Her roster of authors have made Amazon, iTunes, Globe & Mail and USA Today bestsellers lists, have been nominated for Goodreads Choice, and RITA Awards and received starred Publishers Weekly reviews. She has also been invited to speak, teach classes and take pitches at ThrillerFest, Sisters In Crime, Romance Writers of America (RWA), Virginia's Festival Of The Book and many more literary events. Needless to say, Nikki is incredibly familiar with writers and their work and knows what it takes for a script to make it through the noise and get her attention. Drawing on her deep literary background, Nikki will teach you an effective way to self-edit your own script and the 10 aspects you need to focus on before sending it off. From more technical issues like script formatting and establishing action to narrative topics like scene structure and character arcs, Nikki will walk you through how to determine if each element in her self-edit checklist is effective. She’ll give you tools to determine where your script’s red flags might be and strategies to fix up each element. With the strategies Nikki provides, you’ll be able to feel more confident in getting your script ready and sending it to reps, execs and contests
Hook the Reader in Your First 5 Pages
Most Execs will toss a script if they aren't hooked in the first 5 pages. We challenged you to create or polish a teaser or opening sequence that builds a world, characters, and plot that leave us begging to read more!
What Elements of A Script Really Drive Up Your Budget?
Learn what components of a script make your project more expensive - and they're not always what you expect - so you can write your screenplay with a budget range in mind! PLUS! You'll receive exclusive handouts to help you keep expensive elements of your script in mind while writing! Every writer has heard it - certain elements of your script end up too expensive for a production. When producers are generating their production plan, if the budget is too high they will either scrap your script all together or, if you're lucky, ask you to modify your work to lower the cost of your film or series. Whether you’re writing a low budget independent film or a large studio tentpole project, it’s important to keep in mind which elements of your script will drive up your budget. As an example, you probably can't write too many locations (or big action sequences) into a script that you hope to sell to the Hallmark Channel, whose budgets are usually in a specific range, or have too many child actors in low budget movie as that can require many additional hidden expenses. If you want to build a career as a screenwriter, it’s critical that you understand what elements of a screenplay make your projects expensive so you can pragmatically write with your budget range in mind. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, we will dissect and identify the elements of your script that can unexpectedly inflate production costs across various film genres. These elements are often hidden within the narrative and it falls on you, the writer, to write with these in mind. You will learn the secrets to crafting compelling stories while keeping a close eye on the bottom line, making your next film project attractive to investors and producers so you can get your movie made! Teaching you everything you need to know about which elements of your script are deceivingly expensive is Rosi Acosta, former Film Commissioner for Puerto Rico, Unit Production Manager (UPM), and DGA member who has worked on over 75 film and television projects, including the feature films DRIVEN, SPEED KILLS, and IMPRISONED. As a seasoned physical production professional, advocate, spokesperson, mentor, content writer and film commissioner, Rosi’s career in the film industry has been driven by passion and her love of film and television. Rosi has firsthand experience developing scripts to fit a certain budget and is sharing the knowledge she’s learned from her extensive career exclusively with the Stage 32 community! In this information-packed webinar, you will learn how each aspect of a script can potentially drive up the production budget - everything from legal, copyright, and set safety considerations to genre elements, casting considerations, stunts, and working with minors and animals. As a screenwriter, it is important you keep all these elements in mind when writing your project. Whether you're a seasoned screenwriter looking to gain insights into the financial intricacies of your craft or a budding filmmaker eager to understand the factors that can make or break a film's budget, this webinar is a must! PLUS! You will receive exclusive handouts to help you keep expensive elements of your script in mind while writing! Praise for Rosi Acosta's Teaching with Stage 32 "Rosi Acosta is, in a word, awesome. She is a treasure of knowledge and easy to understand! Incredibly detailed." -- Lawrence W. "Rosi, your 30 years of experience shined through today. You broke down this so it's easily understandable and now I know that my production this year will be union!" -- Rachel G. "Awesome explanations of the unions, guilds and organizations. Very comprehensive." -- Paul F. "You made this so easy to understand. Thanks Rosi!" -- Brandon C. "Putting together my first film as a producer almost made my jump off a cliff. I wish I would have seen this first! What a world of difference it would have made. Thank you, Rosi!" --Marlene D.
How to Write a Female-Driven Pilot + 4 Script Downloads
Includes Downloads Of The Pilot Scripts For RUSSIAN DOLL, FLEABAG, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL & KILLING EVE When it comes to today's streaming and television landscape you can easily paraphrase Beyonce... Who runs the world? Badass female characters do! From laugh-out-loud comedies like HACKS to emotionally charged dramedies like GINNY & GEORGIA to dark stories of corruption like THE DROPOUT, its never been a better time to write female-driven stories. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you’ll learn how to create a female-driven story that only you can tell. Guiding you is Colleen Labella, the producer and Director of Development at Leslye Headland’s Shoot to Midnight. She has sold numerous television series, including Netflix’s RUSSIAN DOLL, Freeform’s SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, and the upcoming Star Wars series THE ACOLYTE for Disney+. Colleen is dedicated to telling stories about womxn and the LGBTQIA+ community, and she’s bringing that passion and her years of experience to teach you: How and why the industry’s interest in womxn has changed Current patterns in popular female-led series What’s working and not working in today’s female-driven stories Current themes in these shows What is the future of female representation on television Common traps to avoid when writing these pilots How to develop new and interesting characters we haven’t seen yet Most importantly, Colleen will show you how combining your unique voice with different television formats and utilizing multiple storylines can enhance your work, creating a better script and series overall. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to hear from a fantastic expert working at one of the most in-demand production companies around. You’ll walk away with a stronger understanding of both female-driven series and where your voice fits into this growing market. Praise for Colleen's Stage 32 Education: " I strongly suggest Colleen Labella. She is amazing and so detailed.." - Susan W. "This was honestly one of the best webinars I have ever seen!" - Brianna C.
TV Series Pitch Document Writing Lab (One on One Mentoring)
The writing lab is full. If you have any questions, contact edu@stage32.com By popular demand, we're bringing in TV executive Anna Henry (who has 100% satisfaction with her webinars!) to teach a one-on-one TV pitch document writing lab! Need help with writing your TV series pitch document? Look no further! Anna's here to help. "I thought it was a great course and really helped me understand the format. Anna is knowledgeable and quickly cuts through to what can help your story better. Her notes on my script were insightful and really demonstrated her thorough experience." - Lee L. "Anna’s class was by far the most thorough, well put together, and organized screenwriting class I’ve ever taken. I have an MFA in filmmaking and, after graduating, I still felt as if I didn’t fully understand the structure of pilot writing. Anna’s class laid it out step by step and she went through every piece in detail. She was also extremely available to her students. During our one-on-one sessions, I expected to have a quick 15 minute call with her but she ended up speaking extensively with me about my story from outline through script stages. She really, truly cares for her students and is there to answer any questions, which, given her abundant experience in the industry, is a priceless piece of her labs. Thank you, Anna!" - Jacqueline D. "Anna was concise, and detailed. I've been working on log-lines/treatments/synopsis for 2 years for my scripts and never had it nailed like Anna was able to do. She rocks!" - Cheryl Lynn S. This is the golden age of television and the appetite for content has never been greater. What does everyone network and streamer want? Fresh, unique, authentic voices with never-been-told stories. While the door is open to new writers, the competition is fierce. Of course you need a very strong finished script, but before that will be read, you need to be able to communicate what makes your show stand out from the crowd, what will make people want to watch it for years and years, and why you are passionate about writing it. You need a blueprint of what the series will be beyond one episode. That's where a pitch document (aka bible, aka treatment) comes in. Whether you are selling your show verbally, sending the pitch to a potential producer, or applying for a fellowship, this document carries the weight of your imagined world with all its inhabitants and stories. That's a tall order! So where do you begin? How do you organize your ideas? What should be in a pitch? How detailed should you get? Should you start with a summary of the pilot? Should you have ideas for future episodes? What should you say about your characters? In this lab we will delve deep into writing an effective pitch for your scripted television idea - one that will clearly communicate your intentions, excite the reader, and convey your voice and your passion. I have spent my career developing television projects with writers and selling those show ideas as a development executive, manager and producer. What I have found is that most screenwriters have taken classes that helped them learn about story structure, writing scenes, dialogue, etc. but writing a pitch is entirely different. Most writers need help with switching gears and selling their story in addition to telling it - which is the purpose of this lab. Payment plans are available - contact edu@stage32.com for more details
Learn How Professional Writers Should Handle Feedback On Their Work from Producers and Executives
Do you ever get frustrated with the notes you receive on your scripts from producers, representatives, and executives? Sometimes the notes you get don't make sense to you or feel like they will undermine your big ideas. But, this doesn't have to be the case. There is an art to receiving notes as a writer, and a way to properly understand and respond to those giving you notes. If done correctly, you can maximize the opportunities that notes bring you to build trust with executives and improve any draft. No matter where you are in your writing career, getting notes is a part of the job. And the higher up you go in the industry, the more crucial it is to be able to take notes, address the notes, and work with the note-givers professionally. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you'll learn why the notes process is so important, what the different types of notes are, and why they matter. You'll also learn tricks of the trade on taking notes and building strong relationships with those giving the notes. This is extremely important information for writers at every level. Taking you through the rules of the road on how to receive feedback on your scripts is literary and talent manager Spencer Robinson of Art/Work Entertainment. With over 20 years of experience, Spencer has had clients in films from directors Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Clint Eastwood, Gore Verbinski, and more. In television, his clients have worked on projects from Netflix, HBOMax, Amazon Prime, The CW, Cinemax, FX, Starz, Nickelodeon, EPIX, and TBS, to name a few. Using his extensive experience helping writers develop and sell their scripts, Spencer teaches you the do's and don'ts of script notes so that you can make the best impression on executives at the biggest streamers, studios, and companies in town while always improving your scripts in the process. Whether you're getting feedback on a draft of your first script, or your 10th, being able to take notes is an invaluable tool that you'll use your entire career. This webinar will show you how to take notes professionally, why notes matter, and ensure that you walk away prepared for success. TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS EDUCATION FROM SPENCER: "Had a great time learning and progressing my knowledge of the craft of writing and working directly with a mentor who is a professional in the industry. Spencer was fantastic to be taught by! Thank you!" - Natalie A. "Spencer's teaching style is the best! His patience and easygoing approach is ideal and unique to him. Kudos to Stage 32 and to Spencer!" - Armando O.
Register / Log In
