So I recently was talking to a friend of mine who has spent ten years of his life living in LA trying to pitch his work. He is finally calling it quits and I can't say I blame him because I've been at it for only 4 years and I'm about done myself. It's a tough business I know . As he has told me if your going to do this learn to expect the word NO and PASS ,because you were here it 90 percent of the time. He's been doing it ten years u can't imagine how many nos that is lol I made about 11 pitches myself , all pass of course lol. I understand that know one's gets anything the first couple of times but it seems like when you pitch know matter how good, exciting or how much potential it may have there's always some minor inconsistencies of why they turn it down witch I don't really understand because if you like it, a minor fixable error shouldn't really matter. How many times things get changed when actually filming.
I own a copy of the nightmare on elm street part 2 script. When you read it , it has plenty of mistakes and most of what on the page is not what you see on screen in the movie.
In taking with my friend about his recent decision to call it quits he said to me . I just don't know what they want to see in the page to make them say YES .. I find myself asking this question because like a lot of writers I have a fresh and exciting screen play. I always feel that when I pitch there always is some minor inconsistencies that always keeps them from wanting to go forward. What do executive really want on the page ? Is it's more then that ? One problem I have had was the character dialogue flowed onto the next page . The character name was on the bottom of one page and the dialogue continued on the next page. That was there reason for not wanting it because of a mistake in the format. Well sometimes there's not enough room on the page for the print out . It can't all fit in one page . duh I think after about a thousand pitches I'll call it quits. Lol much respect to my friend for putting up with the grind for ten long years, you are my hero
Hey, Keith A Kedenburg. Yeah, it's tough, and sometimes it's really tough. Sometimes a producer passes on a project because of the cost it'd take to make it, producers are busy with other projects, etc. And what's on the page definitely factors into a Yes or No. Keep in mind that this industry is really subjective. You gotta keep networking and pitching until you find the right person who connects with your script and buys it. Or make it yourself.
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Well it's costing me a fortune just to pitch it each time lol
Networking is free, Keith A Kedenburg (some of it is).
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I think about moving to LA on a daily basis, then hear stories like this. I've been pitching and searching for representation for a while from the east coast, and nothing. Everyone tells me I need to be on the west coast to get any traction. I, too, wonder - what do they want? A friend of mine who's been in the industry since he was a child told me: today, they'll ask for you for a story about a girl in a red dress. You write a story about a girl in a red dress. You present it - it's either the wrong red, or now they're looking for a story about a girl in a blue dress. There's just no telling what's actually wanted.
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Hi, JP Luce. I've had a lot of success in the industry, and I've done it from North Carolina.
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Keith A Kedenburg Thank you for sharing your journey, and I understand what you are going through. my advice is that before you call it quits, try writing a short film, try the horror genre, and then shoot it yourself. give everything you've got with this short film, and then see what happens. If nothing happens, then you at least gave everything you got, and if it works, you will get noticed, then later you can switch to your favourite genre.
Best of Luck.
Rahul Sonawane I did write a horror short. If I knew how to do any of the rest I wouldn't need to pitch it and sell It .