Pitching Dos and Don'ts

Boot Camp: Pitch Pit 2007 at the LATV festival provided this list as a guide before producers pitched their ideas in a structured setting to willing execs. Here is more info about the LATV Fesival's Pitch Pit:

DO: Introduce yourself andstate a few key points about your background before you launch into your pitch. Create a logline on yourself as you’ve done for your pitch.

DO: Your Homework! Know who you are pitching to. Make sure that they’re the right people for the format of your idea. Do the research, know what they’re looking for and deliver it! In addition, you must know your intended audience and why your idea will appeal to them. Check out their pitching preferences using the

DO: Be Prepared! Practice! Know your pitch backwards, forwards and upside down and don’t use notes. Anticipate possible questions that you may be asked and know how to answer them.

DO: Be Brief! Condense your pitch into a short, concise presentation. Make it catchy and easy to “get”. Have a logline that describes the basic premise and purpose of your show. Leave time for interruptions and questions.

DO: Be Passionate! (not too passionate – don’t forget that this is essentially a business meeting) Make it clear that you believe in your idea 100%. If you’re enthusiastic about it, your enthusiasm will spread.

DO: Make your catcher feel like they’re involved in the process. If they make comments, don’t dismiss them. Let them know that you are flexible and that you welcome constructive criticism and feedback.

DO: Maintain your focus! Pitch as if this is your only pitching opportunity. Connect with the person in front of you!

DO: Be professional and look professional. Be organized and have your contact information all in one place and ready to hand out. Be neat and clean and have some breath mints on hand. Remember, you’re not just pitching your idea, you’re pitching yourself!

DO: Have more than one pitch prepared. If you have extra time, you might want to present another idea OR ask your catcher, “What else are you looking for?”

DON’T: Stalk the catchers! Once your pitch is over and you’ve given them your contact info and one-sheet, move on.

DON’T: Use props! No one wants to see you fumbling with your bag of tricks. Your pitch should be so clear and so organized that the only prop you’ll need is you. Gimmicks don’t work!

DON’T: Give the catchers any extra material unless it is requested. This includes scripts, treatments, tapes and gifts.

DON’T: Overstay your welcome! When your appointment is over – it’s over!

DON’T: Press the catchers for contact information if they do not offer it.

DON’T: Solicit catchers for jobs!

The Boot Camp's Pitch Pit always has something for everyone - participating companies represent multiple genres and formats.

Use your time to pitch your current projects or take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the network or studio with whom you’d like to work in the future. One-on-one meetings give you face time with players you might not otherwise meet.

Catchers who participated in the 2007 Pitch Pit (happened July 27th in Los Angeles, CA) include: Atlas Worldwide, Battalion Entertainment, Cartoon Network, City Lights Television, Creative Convergence, Distraction Formats, Echelon Entertainment 2, Farah Films & Management, Foster Entertainment, Fox Reality, Fremantle Media North America, Fun Little Movies, FX Networks, Granada America, Hallmark Channel, Handprint Entertainment, Hearst Entertainment, High Noon Entertainment, Homerun Entertainment, InFrame/Hollywood Classics, Lifetime, LMNO Productions, Lucine Distribution, Magical Elves Productions, Mark Phillips Philms and Telephision, MediaZone, Mess Media, Moore/Cramer Productions, National Lampoon, Original Productions, Paradigm, Pie Town, Rebel Entertainment Partners, Reveille Productions, Scott Sternberg Productions, Screen Door Entertainment, SiTV, Spike TV (scripted and non-scripted), Starz, Style, Tailwind Entertainment, Talpa Content USA, Tsunami Productions and TV Guide.

 

To find out more about the LATV Festival and NATPE go to: http://www.natpe.org/

NATPE will be putting on a big industry conference in January in Las Vegas. We will post more details.