Screenwriting : Pitching an Idea without a draft... by Felix Agyeman Boahen

Felix:

I've pitched a written logline and synopsis several times without having a script. On one occasion, I wrote a first draft script in a week for the producer who eventually optioned it and recently sent it to A-list director. In late 2017, I wrote a two page pitch that scored me a two-year shopping deal with De Pass Jones Entertainment. https://www.depassejones.com/

However, pitching without a screenplay is risky, and if you receive interest from producers that want to see a script, you better be able to write under pressure. Additionally, your written pitch needs to stand out with a memorable logline and concise story synopsis.

Recently, a producer I work with had a concept for an action vehicle starring a famous actor. I watched one of the actor's hit films and spent several days developing a two-page pitch and a pitch deck. The producer received permission to send the pitch to the folks who work with the action star. Thus far, we've not heard back from them.

Best of luck with your work.

Thanks Phillip... Derek, I will check it out...

That's the problem, Phillip... When there's an interested party, who would be eager to see the script, that could bring a lot of pressure and a speedy writing...

Speeding up on a script too is so risky...

What Phillip said.

If they want to read it, you have to be able to write a great script against the clock so that you can get it to them before that door closes.

If you have experience writing salable material on a tight deadline, it's still a gamble... but might be worth it.

But if you can't get them a great script before they forget about you? Wouldn't chance it. Just write the script first.

Yh William, you're right... But I would like to be on such a chase... "The greater the suffering, the greater the peace"...

I've been led to understand that for someone with a track record of writing saleable scripts, this would be acceptable, but for an unknown, it could come off as amateurish. Is this correct?

How do you expect to be paid?

Felix. Write the screenplay. LOL.

If you pitch someone your idea and they like they don't need to pay you to write it. Not a good move unless you know and trust the producer. I know a few but not too many I would trust.

Write the screenplay and then make it shine. Because it shows your writing talent

Lolz... Shara, I'm on it... Guardino, well said...

Clayton, that's why we learnt the craft...

And hey MaxXx, what do you mean by, "how do you expect to be paid"?

Sometimes you need to come clean...

MaxXx is saying that screenwriters get paid to write scripts. Ideas, everybody has them. The money comes when you actually have the product,. I mean, sometimes people get lucky and they can sell an idea but those are the lucky few.

Felix, if you want to be an idea person, forget writing and become a Producer/ Salary Executive; hire Writers to execute your idea.