Thread by @bryanedwardhill

I did pretty well last year with zoom pitching as a screenwriter. As I said, I learned a bit from studying YouTubers I watch and here are a few adjustments I made in the age of digital story trapping, LOL.

Your mileage may vary...

1. Get a decent camera. I have a @razer kiyo and I'm about to try out the new @elgato -- but having a decent webcam is a good investment. Also, have good lighting. My Razer has a built in soft ring light, but try to give yourself a nice soft source.

It'll look good on you.

2. Mind that background game. Because I'm a filmmaker/photographer I went too far and I designed my office with color theory in mind, but if you can FRAME yourself with things behind you, that will make the image more compelling.

Eliminate clutter.

3. Tom Ford talks about raising the camera ABOVE you and he's Tom Ford so listen to him. My webcam is perched on my monitor, but the "laptop look up" does no one ANY favors. Even if I was Idris Elba, best believe that camera will be slightly above me and POINTED DOWN.

Trust me.

4. Get a decent microphone. I use a Blue something or other, and it was like 70 bucks in Target. Solid podcasting mic. I wouldn't sing into it, but it's great for pitching/writer's rooms, etc.

5. Talk with your hands. That's a good rule, in general when you're presenting, even in person, but it's especially good on a zoom because it keeps things lively. It'll make you "good television" and that's essentially what you are when you're on a zoom.

6. Don't over perform, but try to have VARIETY in tone and delivery.

I CRASHED a pitch because it was too long and I was droll and I just didn't have it that day. It happens, but try to orchestrate your energy a little bit to keep the whole thing interesting.

7. As I said in the above, my Pitch-Crash was also because it was too long. I had a 14 page document I had developed with producers, and I needed to abridge it for the pitch. I thought I could move through it, but it was too long. Lost them 10 min in.

Keep it under 15min.

8. I minimize my zoom window while I'm pitching. I don't look at the screen. I LOOK AT MY LENS. That's what they're looking at while they watch you. If you're watching your screen, your eyes might never connect via the cam.

Learned that the hard way, hahahaha.

9. On a zoom, you can hover the mouse over the screen and see the NAMES of the people you're speaking to so when you answer questions, USE PEOPLE'S NAMES at least once when you respond. "That's really interesting, Anakin -- well, I would approach it like..."

10. I've never pitched someone named Anakin, but I'm trying to manifest that so bear with the above.

11. If someone has a cool item in their room, MENTION IT, because that's a great ice-breaker for a 30 sec warm up. Folks will open up about it, and you'll get to settle in before you go. Don't waste time, but a minute of rapport building is always a grace note.

12. Smile if you like a moment in your story and it vibes with the mood. As humans, we're PROGRAMMED to respond to a smile. It just works on us -- when it's GENUINE.

If you're a sociopath, don't be a screenwriter. Be an agent.

I'm just kidding, agents. You know I love you.

13. Now, I know a lot of folks use visual aids in pitches, and that's a solid thing...but I RARELY do. Mainly because people will be watching my keynote and then I'm a voice in the background, and I'm clicking slides via the internet -- too much room for tech error, for me.

14. Generally, I avoid wearing patterns on a zoom because it's constant visual stimulus, but it's distracting. I need the delivery to be the focus, not my awesome Tupac giving Marilyn Monroe a joint t-shirt I bought from my favorite street vendor.

15 -- last one. Have a glass of water nearby because you'll usually need it either during the pitch or the QandA (If you're lucky enough to get questions) and when I don't have one, I always regret it.

Hope the above is helpful.

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