Screenwriting : Writing--it's about being able to tell a vivid, compelling, and well-structured story. by Chaun Lee

Hi Chaun,

I've started pitching my projects this year. I think you can convey far more in a verbal face to face than you can in a written pitch. The producer gets a sense of your personality, presentation and passion and also has the opportunity to ask you questions that they can't when they read the same material. One of my projects is a biopic/true story

Kind Regards,

Eoin

I worked for some big shot Producers and I don't remember them hiring from just a writing sample. The page gets you a meeting.

Employers want to look you in the eye, maybe sit down dinner, and you gotta convince them to trust you/be the best person to hire. Pitch face to face/practice Zoom video pitching.

Filmmaking is a one-on-one, eyeball-to-eyeball business and we'll all get to run around in public again pretty soon. Since you're not in my neighborhood this doesn't apply to you. I will listen to a verbal pitch (phone) first; that'll tell me if you can communicate. If your logline (concept) fits our style/needs/requirements/capability (it'a a big IF); then I'll ask for your script. If your script holds up under scrutiny then I'll get together with you for coffee/beer. My thought: Verbal is better (that's just my pov.)

Eoin, thank you for sharing your experience. I feel the same. I'm of the school of thought that it'd be better if someone can hear and see you.

Dan, that makes sense. Some of the members are going to be practicing verbal pitching on Zoom regularly starting this week. I'm grateful for the practice.

Doug, no, I'm not in your neck of the woods, so thank goodness for video meetings! We still have to read our written pitches over Zoom to our group, so we're doing both I guess. The exercise got me thinking about it. I want people to get a sense of my personality and feel like it's so much more difficult to convey in a written sales document.

Although, I have a tendency to giggle, moreso when I'm nervous, and it didn't bode well for me during a few phone pitches. I've gotten it in check now...lol.

Running counter, as usual, I prefer the written pitch first. If it then seems like something they want objectively, we can get together either through email or phone to discuss it subjectively. I haven't had a problem with this method. Would it be easier and more efficient to do Zoom or Skype? Probably. I think that is one of the hold backs with one of my scripts that is very difficult to transmit the emotion of the thing, of the value of it in a written version, but I know I can sell it personally. When you write the sort of stuff I do, niche stuff, a lot of the producers aren't going to be looking for it anyway, even if it does fit a wide genre like "thriller" or "action." Part of this is because I might be interested in doing a feature, a documentary, or pilot at any given time. When I'm not doing that, I'm working on novels, so that relationship is totally written, I can't even get my current publisher putting my latest novel out in September to return a phone call.

Chaun Lee let me add that this thing is mainly about writing assignments. I don't know anything about selling original specs to studios or 6+ figure paychecks.

My one original spec sold to Lions Gate Home Video- I didn't get any meeting at all/or even rewrite. Business Affairs Lawyer made an offer; said they got pros on staff to rewrite my concept.

T.L., hmmm, that's an interesting perspective. I have a varied list of genres I'm interested in, and I've recently realized I seem to lean more towards the paranormal. So, sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, etc, really appeal to me. But, I can see for instance, how layering those elements into other genres can make it more complicated to devise effective and thorough verbal pitches. It would make them more niche. I'm doing my most recent true story/biopic written pitch assignment on a historic Native American. I'm finding that I'm able to put more interesting and engaging tidbits into the written version.

Best of luck with your novel. I know this is a stressful time right now, and some people aren't doing well, almost everyone I know has someone directly or indirectly related who's been impacted by all of this. Hopefully you'll get a call soon.

Dan! Wow, your personal experience is valuable info. I never thought along those lines. I guess that's why a writers have to be able to detach from their stories/material.

Wouldn't it depend in part on who you were pitching, or where they are at the time? Is this a strictly transactional or objective business proposition? Or do you have at least a passing acquaintance with any manager, exec, producer, etc. in the room? If it's a written pitch only, it obviously should be letter-perfect. An in-person has its own demands -- maybe more than the written -- but you can bring in your own persona when others are present, whereas a written pitch cuts that to almost zero. But...a written pitch can be read at any time, 2 a.m., obviously not so for an office or other professional (or even casual) setting. Then there's Skype, Facetime, Zoom, etc. which are kinds of combos of written and in-person. (I don't know how prevalent it is now, but I'd bet that in some social-distance future, face-to-face-on-the-web pitches may be preferred...) It's your call...but prepare for all of the above. I'm doing exactly that.

Chaun Lee that is why I don't give advice, but offer my perspective, because it is typically not a good suggestion, it is just what has worked for me. I recently went to meet a few of the producers I had contacted through my method, so the personal eye to eye is still valid, but I would rather meet them in a business setting.

As for the novel, no worries, I don't want to talk to them anyway, they are publishing the novel, what else do I want from them? My larger point was that the business of literature is done almost exclusively through writing up to and after publication. Relationships in that sense are largely and remain impersonal, unless one becomes big enough that they see an advantage in making that personal relationship. I'm no one to them.

I got my agent by pitching her over the phone. I sold my first three screenplay and got my first writing assingment via a written pitch but I did have to meet with producer before I was hired. If you just writing on spec the goal is to get them to read it so it really doesn't how you do it as long as you never quit trying.

It purely depends on the person.

Having done both, sending out a written pitch allows you to noodle it and get feedback until it makes sense. Your writing shines, regardless of your personal skills.

Verbal pitches should fall in line with all the same preparation, but not everyone is good live and that skill has to be developed after much practice. If you have a day job that gives you lots of practice working meetings, that's great. But some writers I know just struggle when it comes to talking about their work in front of people...

I feel like I'm much stronger on paper than trying to verbally explain something. I just get clouded with thoughts and leave something out. I've submitted written pitches that I felt were stronger than my one and only verbal pitch that was a disaster.

Mark, I agree with both of your points and can see the value in each. Skype is being used for video pitches on Stage32 exclusively. I like it. Initially, I was so nervous, but I've gained confidence with continued practice.

Love that Dan! So, it pays to perfect both forms.

Chris, I agree. I think I started verbally pitching because I like to challenge myself and deal with the discomfort until I reach a point of proficiency. I'm working on the written and will take the same approach.

Peter, I'd encourage to continue with both then as a few others have suggested. It wouldn't hurt. My first pitches were so so terrible. That's me being 100 percent real with you. But, I've kept at it. Now, I think I'm decent, but there's always room for improvement. Getting out of your comfort zone allows you to see what you're made of :)

Hmmm T.L....I can see what you're saying. I guess as you grow in your craft, so will the desire for executives in all realms to connect with you verbally or in-person.

Chaun Lee I can see where you're coming from, but I've been doing this for twenty some years, sometimes focusing on screenplays, sometimes on novels, sometimes my own productions. I have never cared whether executives connect with me at all. I care about whether they connect with the work. For some people it is all wrapped up into the same thing, for me, they are very separate.

Love that T.L. "I care about whether they connect with the work.". Thank you.

I've pitched a tv / streaming services screenplays at a film festival - There were two industry people and I had about 4 minutes to pitch characters, genre, etc. Also, I would recommend reading scripts similar to your genre. I tend to write acts too long so I'm trying condense. Good luck Chaun.