The most common suggestion I see for picking producers to pitch to is to select somebody who produces the same type of genre that your script is in (pretty straight forward)
However, the most commom note I've been receiving on my pitches is "while we like your idea, we already have something pretty similar in production" -- does anybody have any tips as to how to break through this barrier? All suggestions are welcome!
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I've received the same treatment time and again...two thoughts come to mind:
1. Persevere, and weather the storm.. believe in your work and continue to highlight and promote it, eventually someone will bite.
2. Identify what specifically they already have 'like yours,' and answer that call -- what makes YOURS different than the ones already in development? Or if nothing does, then take that as your answer, and tweak your story to be that "Fresh"/"New" concept no one has seen before.
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Use such killer approach as "It's like Shark but only in space" (referencing pitch of Alien)...
...but u better have killer script accompanying that attitude ;)
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just a polite way to say, "PASS." It's all bs. Only way I know is to deliver your script to desk people - folks with titles. And usually that way involves a REP (Agent, Manager, Lawyer, Friend of a friend referral).
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"We already have something similar" is the "I'm really not looking to get into a relationship now" of the filmmaking world.
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... "we already have something pretty similar in production.""
What Dan and CJ said. But If this happens a lot it could easily be that your idea really isn't "out of the box" enough. To get strong ideas, besides reading tons of screenplays, read a lot of opinion articles and the papers-etc. Then again, if you search long enough, there is always something similar. That is why the old phrase "Give me the same thing, only different" became "Give me the same thing, only better."
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I posted a similar question about "knowing your genre", I'm curious to the answer myself. Especially when you consider we're in a world of reboots and sequels. I suppose the only realistic answer is to keep trying, if someone really likes what you have, or more importantly sees the profit in it, you'll more than likely "get a deal".
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J.B. Bettiol You can of course do research and see what other movies have been made which have a similar plotline as yours or what other movies are in development which has a similar story as yours. - then you can go even farther by reading those scripts or watching the films and figuring out how you can make your story better and different so producers no longer say they have something similar. Out of curiosity what are the two comps on your pitch?
Matthew Walsh and Kiril Maksimoski - thank you so much for suggestions
Dan MaxXx, CJ Walley, Rutger Oosterfhoff, and Gregg McBride - thank you all for your insight into the business and giving me some clear-cut examples of experience you've had in this area, it's incredibly helpful
Nick Assunto - thank you a million for personally looking into my feedback, Nick. I'm very grateful as I also looked into the producers IMDb page and he certainly wasn't lying about having projects in development that were similar, but that was more along what I was asking with my original question since it was the similar shows (among other things) that made me want to pitch to him in the first place. But again, thank you very much for looking into it - I certainly felt as though the producer was being honest with his interest and not trying to give me "the run-around" so thank you for confirming!
Kacee DeMasi - that was exactly what I did :) I went to the producers IMDb page and saw his company had recently optioned multiple scripts that were along the same genre as mine and I felt that mine was "similar but different" enough for me to pitch it, but it turned out to still be too similar. And thank you for your curiosity, my pitch was for an action crime drama series and the two comps I use are "Sons of Anarchy" and "Animal Kingdom"
Also, if anyone could teach me how to "tag" people in my comments that would be much appreciated!
“Sorry I already have a spouse. And I am a lesbian”. Dam, she has a spouse, I had a chance otherwise.
This isn’t a barrier just a reality. A barrier is something to overcome so you can proceed. I think you need to find a producer that wants one of those as well (whatever that is). Or the other most common piece of advice given (and hardest to explain), write something unique.
Craig D Griffiths I've certainly got my fair share of those reviews, but this one (as with a few I've gotten recently) the tone of the review has very much been:
"You've got everything I want, unfortunately I have a spouse and don't wan to cheat on them."
I certainly understand some producers give the people pitching a "generic pass" that comes off as though they had a shot when they didn't, but these particular instances the producers gave me genuine interest and simply pointed out they have projects in the works that they felt are too similar (which is why I pitched to them in the first place, which circles me back around to my original question). But I do appreciate your insight into distinguishing "barriers" from "reality"
"I have a spouse and don't want to cheat on them." How many spouses you got? Maybe a split personality? Anyway, a 'pass' is a 'pass'; be it BS or not. I received a 'pass' on my Gorgeous George script (boxing centered) because it was similar to a production already in progress... a couple of months latter Million Dollar Baby was released.
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This is why concept is critical. You don't want a generic idea, you want a mind blowing idea that nobody else has thought of - something so amazing that they can't has anything similar already.
Too many writers go to script with the first idea that they come up with, rather than the best idea.
You need to come up with the amazing idea within the genre. The one in a million.
Just keep writing and polishing and pitching!
"high in concept" yes I believe I heard something about that before. Like some guys peed on my rug and the rug really held the room the room together. And I don't roll on Shomer Shabbos. I mean other than X-wing fighters.....
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Beck & Woods screenshot their results for one spec screenplay.
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Lotta passes and maybe's I see there...wander what happened to them...oh, I recall - they're the writers of Quiet place!
Kiril...shhhhh... IT's right behind you...