I have spent the weekend at @StoweStoryLabs listening to and coaching film and TV pitches. And I've noticed a few things that I think might be helpful to filmmakers, but really anyone who is pitching a project (business, etc) that they really care about (thread)
1. In the case of films, we are playing make believe for a living. What I remember about playing make believe as a kid is that it was really FUN. A great pitch should feel fun, should bring you a sense of joy, because you have a chance to play make believe with someone else.
2. Pitching and writing are two very separate skills. Think about it like speaking two different languages. You can't translate directly from one language to another - the structural rules are different.
3. Writing is a solo effort, involving details, entire story worlds. Pitching is the art of conversation: you know when you're captivating someone in a conversation. You make sure only to include the details that are compelling, and that inspire thoughts from the other person.
4. Trust your story, but also remember that the other person's imagination is 50% of that story. Your job is to drop them into the most evocative moments and scenes, using the most illustrative details. Their imagination will help you.
5. If you concentrate on what really excites you about the story, there will be many threads: a character's journey, a story world, a cool conceit - they'll all be useful but not usually all at the same time. You have to know who you're talking to and what's likely to hook them.
6. Remember that a pitch is NOT as ask for something but an offer: you have created a great opportunity and you're looking for the right partners. Start the meeting getting to know more about the other person, hone in on what they'll respond to and if they're the right person.
En fin, if you walk in to a pitch with a sense of joy at the opportunity to talk about something you really care about with people who are potentially interested and helpful partners, it should always be at the very least a great learning experience.
