On the pitch

On the pitch,

For more information, visit: Here's How Screenwriters Can Learn to Talk to Movie Moguls and Agents

In this IW post, a chapter from this new book on Screenwriting by Max Adams was referenced detailing some common sense items for concept creators a little further up the path to success.

1: Know that the suit is looking at how to explain your idea in terms of cash potential, e.g. box office. They want movies that have done well to represent certain elements or decisions in the story you've created. They want Actor's who are recently trending to be suggested for the lead roles. So as you read trades, start to look closer at trending names of actors and directors who are having success. Perhaps profile their style or sensibilities. Or if that's too much work to do it as a hobby, make sure the research is part of your pre-pitch planning.

2. When you explain the film, they want you to explain the plot because they are thinking of how the trailer will be crafted. Intangible and internal/emotional qualities of the script are for you alone, unless they ask you to explain the subtext, specifically. What they want is a compelling film atop a marketable foundation. You were thinking a marketable film built atop a thematic foundation, but no. But you can find the middle ground by going to the heart of the plot and demonstrating a need for the principal character to move forward. Really good story is based around really compelling motives that allow a character to drive scenes forward. In that way you can suggest a deeper need that will pull at the audience and hopefully your producer. But it's gotta be in present tense and it has to be in film-able terms and you have to have the appropriate references that speak success to them so they can forward your concept with gusto.

3. We are sometimes told to yell "Action!" or perhaps say it in the emotional tone of the scene. You want to get everyone focused and in the proper mood in the instance that it affects their professional demeanor and helps provide the right environment for the actors.

What this article suggests is something in line with this idea, you dress to your pitch appointment in a manner somehow supporting your script's pitchable qualities. Don't take this to an extreme and show up in an alien costume for a sci-fi. As stated in the read, if the script might be defined as edgy, dress a little sharper yourself. If you just wrote a stoner-comdey, come relaxed as opposed to conservative. If you are pitching a $200 million dollar eye gouger, perhaps put a suit on. Consider reasonable fashion choices that will help the interviewer believe that you have the personality suited to command the responsibility your interviewing for. Couldn't hurt.

Let's get what we came for,
C.M. Sanchez III