Filmmaking / Directing : To Pitch or Not to Pitch?...and to WHOM? by Mark DePonte

Mark DePonte, if I feel one of my stories is really good I send it off for awhile but not too long, then I choose from my best to make my own film because I know my efforts, persistence, and money are going to something I care about; no games and I gain tech knowledge of filmmaking and it is finished.

Rinse and repeat.

Gotta love free shipping, Mark DePonte. Haha Email success@stage32.com and let them know what your goal is. They’ll help you pick who to pitch to.

Do not be misled by those spam emails. I answered two of them for script coverage that included phone calls. Spent $700 only to learn both readers were out of work and not involved with the companies they were advertised to be working with.

If you follow Maurice's advice and try to get direction to specific readers with "connections" they will offer up random guesses, including suggestions to people no longer even on the site's database. No joke. This has happened to me. Forget it and unsubscribe is my best advice. Good old fashioned networking on LinkedIn is the way to go but only through people you already know. Don't hit up strangers as that's counter productive. If you don't believe me, check to see if my reply is still here in a day or so. Lately any time I post anything critical of the site's pitching and coverage services my post gets deleted.

LaVoie,

Based on my own experiences and the complete disconnect between the extremely positive feedback i get from 1000s of actors and directirs that read my scripts, when compared to the dismal assessment i get for the ecact same script when reviewd by a "professional"coverage" reader.

So it is the cost of doing business to win somevand lose some. I expext that.

But but if something clearly new and original and very entertaining crosses their desk, it is crucifide because it doesn't follow the "hollywood mold. pulp fiction didntfolow the mold. The story doesn't start until like page 50 (not 15 like 'coversge requires")

So they not be crooks or amatures.

But they may have blinders on and can not see that the pages they read goes beyong what adiuances normally experience and see and geel and taste today.

I won't give up on them but like they Indiana Jones in the last crusade...i must choose wisly

Mark DePonte dismal assessments are par for the course. The real problem is that great assessments also go nowhere. Trust me. I've had them. The webinars can be helpful and the community is great. Just avoid the script services tab as it's a giant waste of both time and money.

Definitely do some BG research on the person you want to pitch to. Sometimes the links to the credits stated are tenuous at best. Often if you check imdb or the associated company website for its staff - the 'exec' is nowhere to be seen. Likewise check the person's linkedIN - a couple of times I've found that the exec has a completely different job... and no association with the company mentioned in their employment history...

The other thing to bear in mind - and it is stated in the Stage32 blurb - the exec is representing themselves, not the company they purportedly work for/with.

Simon Foster good reality check Post. In the Arts World there are only a few good patrons, brokers, and mentors. Good luck to rest of us.

Honestly, it's hard to know the perfect answer to a question like that. I would start with changing the assertion that you'll only get one shot. No one knows exactly how things will play out, but we know what will make sure that nothing does. If you think your one shot has been taken, you may think less of other opportunities that come your way.

Whoever you decide to pitch to, whenever you get the opportunity to do so. Believe in the project and communicate your belief in it whenever you can. As you perfect your craft you might figure out how to make it even better, or decide to create it yourself. Sometimes the gatekeepers miss amazing ideas that deserve to be make, so you may have to take on that responsibility. It's not the easiest way, but it's still one way to make your film.

Keep at it and don't give up.

M LaVoie stage 32 mods delete my posts when I talk about money/lack of money going back to customers.

Cameron...

Looks like either your post did not come through or it was sensored?

Try again.

Mark

Mark, I agree with Simon Foster's comment, with a few additional suggestions. But first a caveat. I've written almost two dozen features, another dozen shorts, and a few TV pilots, but have yet to jump into Stage 32's pitch world, despite receiving an incredible number of e-mails inviting me to do that. The reason is primarily the one you highlight, deciding the right person to whom to pitch and secondarily because I'm not quite ready to fork over hundreds of dollars. But for me, I've decided, there are three things I'll need before I jump in. First, a critical assessment to determine which of my projects are the best written, have the catchiest loglines, and are the most unique. This is just about as difficult as asking which one of my children do I like the best. Second, as realistic an evaluation of the budget for my chosen projects. Pitching a $50 million dollar script to an independent producer seems like a waste of time. Third, doing some deep research on ImdbPro into what agents, managers, and producers are connected to films that resemble my chosen project. Then I hope to do some pitch practice in the summer before laying it on the line to whomever seems possibly open to my pitch. But one last suggestion: don't give up. Despite there being tens of thousands of people writing spec scripts and hundreds of rejections that seem personally directed to you, there are loads of movies and shows being made every year and, most importantly, thousands of people employed in the industry who need projects to sell to meet their mortgage payments. Good Luck. Dan

Some "execs" are here to make money, some honestly seek projects. Do some research on them first. I"ve talked to an "exec" who fetched coffee on a movie set and that was about it.

I was hoping Stage32 would have vetted them for us since they are "pitching" them to us!

Stage 32 vets the executives, Mark DePonte.

Hi Mark DePonte! Great question and happy to jump in here! I would agree with what Daniel Husbands says about making sure that you have the right mindset going in and don't think of one pitch session as your "only shot." You can pitch your project to whenever you want until an agreement is signed. In terms of Stage 32 Pitch Sessions, they are designed for feedback first and foremost, and while they can lead to great Successes, the goal with them is to let you know how strong your pitch is and how to make it better. The Stage 32 Executive Liaison, Nick Phillips, vets incoming executives that are featured on the platform. And if you have any questions about who you should pitch to, feel free to shoot the Success Team and email at success@stage32.com and we'll try to point you in the right direction :)

Indeed Mark DePonte, my colleague Emily J is correct. After assuming the Executive Liaison position earlier this year, I have built upon the vetting standards that were already in place here at Stage 32, and we are all conscientiously increasing those standards as we continue to bring on executives to work with our writers. We truly do try our best to bring you all the best. And as mentioned above by Simon Foster and others, doing some additional due diligence on your own about an individual exec could be a way to additionally ameliorate those concerns. Lastly, I also concur with the notion of not giving up. I have been fortunate enough to eek out a living in this business for nearly 30 years, and there are still, to this day, plenty of moments where I feel that same frustration, and I look at this business (and my bank account) and go what is this is all for??? But please trust me when I say that it gets better, and please know that we strive to make sure you are talking to quality execs to work with who will ideally ease those frustrations as opposed to exacerbate them.

First,

I would like to truly thank everyone who commented and shared all of their (Pros and Cons) of what they have experienced with pitching. It is VERY helpful.

Second, to Maurice, Emily and Nick...

Last week I did purchase a "pitch" session (your order: 3521424816789793902) and the deadline is this Saturday. But I am NOT a pro, never pitched anything, etc.

I NEVER wrote a 2-page before, but i cobbled one together anyways last week AND sent it to "writerhelp@stage32.com" to look at it before submitting it. They acknowledged they received it and said they would gladly help which was very nice. BUT...I never heard back.

So maybe you can find out what happened before it's too late.

Just saying...

Do a google search on the "exec" before any pitch. Caveat Emptor!

You're welcome, Mark DePonte. I don't have a way to find out what happened, but I could email you Stage 32’s most recent written pitch examples. One sample is for a movie and the other is for a series. If you want me to send you the examples, DM me your email.