Pitching

Has anyone ever had to walk into a room with strangers and pitch a sitcom idea cold? I'm about to be in this position and, exciting though it is, public speaking isn't my strong point. I've read a few things on the web about pitching but they seem to be very American, you're supposed to go in and go:

"We're on a deserted oil rig on a dark stormy night! A pregnant woman climbs down a rope ladder, struggling against the wind carrying a bag of golf clubs! A crow, played by Seth Green, squawks ominously!" etc. Which I don't think i'm dynamic enough to pull off.

Does anyone have any tips? Visualise them naked? Mention potential casting first? Is it good form to say 'it's like this, meets this' or does that scare people off?

I've tried thinking about successful sitcoms and how the pitch for those would go "There's these three priests on an island off the coast of Ireland. Our hero, Ted, has been banished there for embezzling funds. Father Dougal is a child-like idiot. Father Jack is a raging alcoholic. They have adventures."

To open the thread up a bit, how would you 'pitch' an existing sitcom and get the mood of it across straight away? Would you describe the characters, or the situation first? Can you do it in one sentence?

I stood up and pitched my sitcom "Art For Art's Sake" at a Writers Guild event earlier this year in front of some industry people and a room full of bitter writers and associated hangers-on such as BSG editors. It went OK. The thing you need to fake is confidence. I didn't completely manage that, but I wasn't as much of a bumbling bag of nerves as I thought I might be.

My approach was to start by intriguing people about the subject - "Have you ever been to an arts centre and wondered... WHY IS THERE SO MUCH SHIT ON?" before going into the detail of characters etc. Have a final line ready like "Art For Art's Sake is for everyone who's ever read an Arts Centre noticeboard and despaired".

I'm currently writing up a load of pitches for the "Son Of A Pitch" contest, so this is very much on my mind at the moment.

I hate pitching because I'm spectacularly bad with people. I'm stiff and wooden and lacking in any kind of charm or warmth.

After I did a terrible pitch for a new sitcom idea, I was relieved to be told by the producer that most comedy writers (in his experience) are bad at pitching.

Personally, I prefer to just write the script and my little capsule description of what the show's about. I'm lucky enough now to have producers who know how to pitch my stuff on my behalf.

The trick is to put it up at home before you go camping. This lets you check its condition, and learn how to set it up without the pressure of darkness or rain at camp.

Quote: David Bussell @ September 22 2008, 1:18 PM BST

The trick is to put it up at home before you go camping. This lets you check its condition, and learn how to set it up without the pressure of darkness or rain at camp.

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That made me chuckle.

Quote: David Bussell @ September 22 2008, 1:18 PM BST

The trick is to put it up at home before you go camping. This lets you check its condition, and learn how to set it up without the pressure of darkness or rain at camp.

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The Professional Punographer. Badoom-tish.

Quote: Tommy Power @ September 22 2008, 1:40 PM BST

The Professional Punographer. Badoom-tish.

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Ba Bum Tsch

Dan

It sounds obvious but if you're going to pitch cold, you need to rehearse and REALLY think about what you're going to say. (Although you won't be pitching totally cold - I assume they've read your scriipt and like it? Otherwise why the meeting?) One of the questions you'll probably be asked is "What's it really about?" To which you might reply "well it's about these two blokes who move in together and one's really posh but the other one isn't, and they're always arguing but they're essentially good mates etc"... but what they REALLY want to hear is "It's all about the importance and strength of friendship and how two different people from different worlds can break through class boundaries."

Basically they like verbal bollocks and soundbites. (or at least some do, not all.). You need to suss the room out, play to your audience. You'll probably be also asked where you see the series going, ideas for future eps etc. They'll want to know you're not going to run out of ideas after the first episode.

Also (and this is quite important in today's climate I think), you should give some thought to casting. Not everyone, just the main character/s. The more vivid a picture you can paint in their head, the better. Don't think for an instant you're stepping out of line by saying "I wrote this part with ____ in mind". Even if they don't like the performer you mentioned they might suggest someone similar.

And finally, don't come over as a twat. If they think you're arrogant or going to be difficult to work with etc, it's unlikely you'll get anywhere even if your script's great. Always amazes me how many people forget to be nice, It's not that hard.

That's my two penneth anyway. No doubt others will disagree.

It also helps if your surname is 'Brigstocke'.

Quote: Perry Nium @ September 22 2008, 3:04 PM BST

It sounds obvious but if you're going to pitch cold, you need to rehearse and REALLY think about what you're going to say. (Although you won't be pitching totally cold - I assume they've read your scriipt and like it? Otherwise why the meeting?)

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Well, I've got another script doing the rounds, which has been so far universally greeted with 'we really like it, but for various reasons it's not makeable right now'- which is fine, I expected that when I wrote it and it's still a good calling card. On the back of it I've got some meetings set up, and I know I'll be asked 'and are you working on anything else at the moment?' I've got another script all ready to show, and a couple of back up ideas.

So I need to walk in and be all...thrusting and dynamic. ugh.

thanks for the advice though Perry, I am going to walk around my lounge pitching aloud to a beanbag.

Quote: willie garvin @ September 22 2008, 3:50 PM BST

Well, I've got another script doing the rounds, which has been so far universally greeted with 'we really like it, but for various reasons it's not makeable right now'- which is fine, I expected that when I wrote it and it's still a good calling card. On the back of it I've got some meetings set up, and I know I'll be asked 'and are you working on anything else at the moment?' I've got another script all ready to show, and a couple of back up ideas.

So I need to walk in and be all...thrusting and dynamic. ugh.

thanks for the advice though Perry, I am going to walk around my lounge pitching aloud to a beanbag.

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Good luck with it. Like I say, others might disagree. Just going off personal experience.

And I would say forget the thrusting, dynamic aspect - just be you, unless you're a knob, in which case be a less-knobbish version of you. (obviously not suggesting you're a knob!) It's pretty simple really - just imagine yourself in their shoes listening to you. Are you boring the tits off them or do you have their interest? Are you coming over as desperate? Flaky? Borderline psychotic? As "creatives" we're all these things, but in the early stages you have to keep a lid on them I think.

Quote: Perry Nium @ September 22 2008, 3:04 PM BST

It sounds obvious but if you're going to pitch cold, you need to rehearse and REALLY think about what you're going to say. (Although you won't be pitching totally cold - I assume they've read your scriipt and like it? Otherwise why the meeting?) One of the questions you'll probably be asked is "What's it really about?" To which you might reply "well it's about these two blokes who move in together and one's really posh but the other one isn't, and they're always arguing but they're essentially good mates etc"... but what they REALLY want to hear is "It's all about the importance and strength of friendship and how two different people from different worlds can break through class boundaries."

Basically they like verbal bollocks and soundbites. (or at least some do, not all.). You need to suss the room out, play to your audience. You'll probably be also asked where you see the series going, ideas for future eps etc. They'll want to know you're not going to run out of ideas after the first episode.

Also (and this is quite important in today's climate I think), you should give some thought to casting. Not everyone, just the main character/s. The more vivid a picture you can paint in their head, the better. Don't think for an instant you're stepping out of line by saying "I wrote this part with ____ in mind". Even if they don't like the performer you mentioned they might suggest someone similar.

And finally, don't come over as a twat. If they think you're arrogant or going to be difficult to work with etc, it's unlikely you'll get anywhere even if your script's great. Always amazes me how many people forget to be nice, It's not that hard.

That's my two penneth anyway. No doubt others will disagree.

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I've got a meeting this week, and I'm going to keep all that in mind-cheers!

Quote: Matthew Stott @ September 22 2008, 10:34 PM BST

I've got a meeting this week, and I'm going to keep all that in mind-cheers!

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Good luck Stotty - you'll walk it mate

Quote: Perry Nium @ September 22 2008, 10:36 PM BST

Good luck Stotty - you'll walk it mate

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Thanks, though I may have trouble with the whole 'not being a twat' bit.