Hello Stage32ers,
Hope you are all well.
I've noticed a few posts recently in relation to pitching - people sharing their anxiety about the process and asking for help on the format. Pitching, along with outlining and crafting a logline is one of those skills that a screenwriter with ambitions to sell their work needs to master.
I thought I'd share my own journey. First up. I'm an introvert - there's a misconception that introvert = shy. It doesn't and I'm not. Introverts process information internally and need to recharge alone, extroverts process information externally and need other people to energize. So, it might be true to say that shy people are probably introverts, but not all introverts are shy.
What does that mean? When it comes to articulating any kind of information to people, I really need time to go over the format, digest it, know how I'm going to articulate it, practice it and then I'm good to go. Winging it is just not something an introvert does naturally, or at least, not something that I do.
So for me, there are 3 key components: format, delivery, & practise, practise, practise.
There are resources on the web and this site (webinars and guides) on format. Just like crafting a logline, you need to understand the format of a pitch in order to distill the salient points of a story that hooks and holds an executive's attention.
Delivery and Practise go hand in glove. If you're pitching over Skype, my number one tip is to practise your pitch on camera to family or friends, or preferably to someone in your trusted writing circle, who can provide honest helpful feedback on the pitch material and your delivery. Were you energetic, engaging, did you look to camera, were you correctly lit, could you be heard, was the background distracting - based on your pitch, would the person on the receiving end want to watch this movie or read your script?.
I started Skype pitch sessions on Stage32 last year. To date, I've done 10 pitches, with 6 script requests. I've learned something from each and every one, even the NOs. I've learned how to match material to executive, how the material is received, decisions that are factored in when hearing a pitch, pulse check on the marketplace, how to improve my pitches, how to strengthen my material, and most of all, I've learned that a pitch is not something to be feared, it's something to respect and embrace.
Hope this helps someone out there.
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This is a fantastic post and reflection, @Eoin! Thank you for sharing! I particularly love how you clarified that introvert does NOT equate to shy. I've had to defend "reserved" as not being "shy" either, because they, too, are quite different.
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This is incredibly helpful information Eoin O'Sullivan! Thank you for sharing your experience and your advice. I think this is going to come in handy. And by the way, a .600 average gets you into the Hall of Fame in just about any sport. So 6 requests out of 10 pitches is pretty phenomenal!
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Thanks for the tips, Eoin O'Sullivan.
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You bring up an interesting point about backgrounds in video conference calls. I think they can be really impactful. When I get to the point of video conference calls in my own newly-started pitching effort, I'm going to be setting up a whole background area just like any YouTuber. My own interest is martial arts movies, so I'll have a bunch of traditional items and figurines from myths and legends as my background...along with a few posters of the notable stars. In my opinion, as long as you don't go overboard, the background can really help layer-on the old charm...and that is the whole point of the pitch.
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This is VERY helpful. I am also an introvert and totally intimidated by live pitches. My nerves get the best of me, but I should know better. As you said, practice, practice, practice, and there will be an improvement! I used that in everything else I've accomplished in life, so why not this, too, right? Thanks again for the post. :-)