Week 9 – The Art of the Pitch

Being a screenwriter is about so much more than writing. It isn’t enough to put beautiful words on the page, or describe action fit for the biggest cinema screens. In fact, your screenplay may never get considered unless you master the art of the pitch. Ah yes, pitching; the mortal enemy of many screenwriters. What could be more unpleasant than standing in front of a room of money men and VIPs, attempting to sell yourself and your ideas in the hope of getting the greenlight?

While pitching is an intense process, screenwriters should approach it with a positive mindset. It’s rare that we get to delve into why we’ve written a script and what we want to achieve with it. Relish the opportunity to show why this is the script that people need to pay attention to. It can be daunting being in the spotlight, and it’s easy to grow tongue-tied, but channel your inner-Danny Ocean, explain yourself with charm and confidence, and you’ll convince anybody to produce your screenplay (or rob a casino. Or both).

Should you use visuals and other media in your pitch? Like everything, it’s all about why you’re using it, and how well you’re using it. If you want to deflect attention away from yourself with colourful pictures and a compilation of your favourite movies, maybe leave the sizzle reel at home. However, if you have a visual style you want to demonstrate, or a memorable look for your characters you want t explain with photographs, you should add a visual element. Anything that will make your story clearer and make you stand out is worth trying, as long as you remember the most important asset: YOU!

-Harry Ford