I have created and written episode one of a very ambitious drama series.
I am considering producing a concept promo for this series, to show how it can look, the feel and tone of the show, so that I can pitch it to major streaming platforms.
However, I have no experience of pitching to streaming platforms, and I would love to hear from producers, directors, writers, on how to go about this, how they achieved a deal with them, and the overall best approach.
While I am based in Ireland, I understand that many of the streaming platforms are based in America, the UK and some may have offices in Ireland, but hearing from those with experience and success would be very helpful and appreciated.
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Hi Dave, We have so many members with personal experience pitching! You're definitely asking the right group of people! You can also consult with our script services team at writerhelp@stage32.com.
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I highly recommend doing this - you can learn a lot in a risk free environment
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You either get an agent, manager, or a producer that can walk you in. Or you make friends with people that can walk you in. Those are the main options.
You can give Stage32 your money, but a majority of the execs on this site are looking for side income and many won’t help further your career. But there is a small, small, very small percentage that will. It’s like playing the lottery
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Unfortunately Cameron is correct and The film industri is living on other peoples dream..You need someone Who might now someone and so on...but once you done something that been noticed its a little bit easier..if you produce yore script and broadcast( festivals) it in some way its a slightly better chance to get disvovered...
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For myself personally, it's about access to people that on my own would be a lot harder to connect with. I don't expect that any of these people are going to make it happen, but having an opportunity to get the feedback to improve on whatever I am working on will get me further in terms of my own skills than without it. My own two cents....
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"You can give Stage32 your money, but a majority of the execs on this site are looking for side income and many won’t help further your career." I doubt that, Cameron Tendaji. From my experience (and other people's experiences), execs, agents, producers, etc. on Stage 32 are here to help writers break in/make their pitches better/sell scripts/get in contact with the right people/etc. and find projects for themselves/their companies.
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@maurice we said the exact same thing. You just didn’t like the way i said it and took me out of context lol. All you had to do was go over one more sentence.
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"But there is a small, small, very small percentage that will." I respect your opinion, Cameron Tendaji, but most (if not all) of the execs, producers, etc. on Stage 32 are here to help creatives (and find projects).
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@Maurice you should be a lawyer lol. You are very careful and purposeful with the words you say. I respect it.
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Thanks, Cameron Tendaji. I actually wanted to be a lawyer growing up. :)
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I have found the Stage 32 community to be very helpful and full of great advise and support.
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Maurice Vaughan well said, Maurice.
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I checked your site, and see that you have a doc on Amazon Prime. I assume this is under the "self-publishing" model they have. Your short has achieved distribution. So seems to me that a first step is scouring your contacts from those two projects to see if anyone can get you a meeting, if not directly with a streamer, then with a local TV station. If you can get a local station on board, they can pitch to the streamers, pre- or post-production.
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Thank you everyone for your feedback, advice, suggestions and more, it is so appreciated and helpful. As a Producer, Director and Writer, my main goal is writing, with directing secondary and the producing is a means to getting the work made. I would love to have an agent, as Cameron Tendaji suggested, and I have and still try that, but for the most part, they are USA based and I am in Ireland, and they don't seem to be interested. Though in fairness to them, I am sure they want to see a larger body of work and some feature films under my belt and not just Short films. I have and continue to try to get local stations interested, but the market is very much America, and while I can't be there in person yet, I really need Representation there as suggested who could walk me in the door, so to speak. I do have a doc on Amazon Prime Direct, and I do have a local sales agent handling a different short film.
I have written material, which I believe will work so well, (I am sure everyone says that about their own work) that really needs to be Pitches to the mainstream streaming platforms and it seems clear I need someone who already has access to get to the table, that will have their e-mails and phone calls answered, to walk me in the door... but getting Representation is a big problem, unfortunately. It feels like a catch-22 problem.
I have been very successful with my short films, but not successful enough to get an Agent/manager. I can't get in the door to streaming platforms without an Agent/manager with access to them. Catch-22...
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"I have and continue to try to get local stations interested, but the market is very much America, and while I can't be there in person yet, I really need Representation there as suggested who could walk me in the door, so to speak." That's the beauty of Stage 32, Dave Thomas. Location isn't an issue. You can build relationships with people (producers, agents, actors, crew, managers, etc.) all over the world, and you can pitch to execs, agents, production companies, etc. that are in different countries. Building relationships and pitching are two of the solutions to Catch-22s.
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Good point Maurice Vaughan thank you.
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Dave Thomas I feel your pain, re representation and feeling somehow that you are in the wrong place. I feel the same. I am also a Producer, Director and Writer, who wanted to step up from shorts to feature length projects, but the Exec Producer on Seeing Rachel took me for a ride. I now find it difficult to judge any people behind the money, even if they come with a good references. I guess I now have trust issues! I’m still a work in progress, so don’t treat me too harshly.
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You're welcome, Dave Thomas.
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Speaking of Catch-22s...it's amazing any project gets made outside of the studio system! You get past one hurdle then onto the next one. But keep at it - it only takes one yes.
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@Geoff Hall I have had bad experiences with Producers too, and that's one of the reasons I produce work also. Having a bad experience, from someone that did not act professionally or like a decent human being leaves a bad taste in your mouth. There are good Producers, and bad ones, and it's a matter of keep working at it and making sure you have every 'Agreement" in writing, as a Contract, plus keep all correspondence etc., just in case you need it. Sorry to hear you worked with one of the bad guys.
@Cannon Rosenau I agree, it's a miracle we get any films made outside the studio system.
I would like to connect with other established Producers that have experience of dealing with the big Streaming Platforms. Also looking for Representation in the USA, something which I think it key to getting over some of the hurdles.
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Have you tried IMDb Pro for an agent or manager, Dave Thomas? https://pro.imdb.com/signup/index.html?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpro.imdb.com%2F%3...
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Dave Thomas thank you Dave!
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Maurice Vaughan I have tried several from IMDb, but with no luck. Though I am still going through that and hope to get some luck. Thank you for the tip.
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You're welcome, Dave Thomas. Hope you get an agent or manager soon. Did you see this blog about a writer getting a manager through a Pitch Session: https://www.stage32.com/blog/romance-writer-lands-representation-after-s...
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Work with a line producer to create a smart and complete budget for a six-episode season, find your own financing, cast actors who used to be big, still have a little power to get attention, and would love to reinvigorate their careers, shoot all together, edit into episodes. Now you have a finished series that just needs a streaming home. Maybe easier for a platform to pick up than a concept from someone outside the industry.
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Thank you Dane. Shooting everything together would be the ideal and most cost effective method to make the series. Now, finding the finance, that's the BIG issue...
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Dan MaxXx You make a good point. In my case, the short answer is yes. In Ireland, I have worked as a Professional across the spectrum of the media, from writing for TV, Producing radio, Producing/writing/directing short films - I started out in the business in 1987 and over the years have kept up-skilled as tech and procedures advanced. What I don't have experience of is getting into the door with Major Streaming companies like Netflix etc. I have experience of all the necessary aspects of the business but from a national (in Ireland) perspective. So writing a series, as a show runner or more, is not an issue. It's getting the Series pitched to the Correct People in the Streaming Platforms is my dilemma.
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This is a great chance to mention the difference between showrunners and writers for those who may not know. Your ambition may be to run a series as head writer. But in addition to writing, a showrunner is responsible for all key decisions about business, staffing, schedules, locations, even craft services on a series. It is as much or more a management position as a creative position, which is why a studio will pair even a highly talented but novice writer with an experienced showrunner.
Pitching a major streamer will usually require an agent, manager, or entertainment attorney with a prior business relationship with the platform. Netflix, for example, has a posted policy that it will not accept any unsolicited material. But there are plenty of niche streaming platforms that might be more open to it, especially if it has an audience (for example, based on popular existing IP or high YouTube views).
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Dan MaxXx I hear what you are saying, but that is not the case. Netflix don't just go to people who have a great idea or a written series. I wish they did. But if you are not high profile, then we need to go to them and pitch the project.
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@Dane Johnson I agree with you, and it is a very good description of the difference between the two. In my case, I need an agent, manager or entertainment attorney with the right experience, and I need one in the UK or US, as we don't have any suitable qualified people like that in Ireland that I know of. I am currently searching for the right Agent etc., that will take me on.
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I think the point-and it’s a good one-that Dan MaxXx makes is that writers should forget any ideas that they can just put something halfway decent out and “Netflix will buy it.” That may have been true when content acquisition was the strategy to quickly build the platform. But not any more. Quality over quantity is now the absolute rule, and they’re developing high-quality content every day. It should inspire screenwriters to work harder, learn more, practice, and get better. You’ll get requests if you become known as that level of creator.
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Hi Dave! Nice to meet you. Happy to help here! We have several Executives based in the UK who can help give you advice on how to move forward. Iain Lawrence comes to mind for this project. Karina Wilson IM Global & Blumhouse), & C.L. (Scott Free Productions & STX International) are story analysts based in the UK who could give you excellent feedback. Catherine Pickworth is literary agent. Ben Worsfield is prominent more so in comedy. But Ewan Dunbar and Thomas Pemberton are both based in the U.K. You can check out all of our executives for coverage and consultations below, but if you want the direct links feel free to write into writerhelp@stage32.com and I"m happy to help! Hope this finds you well. Cheers, GiGi
Coverage:
https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/coverage
Consultations:
https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/consulting
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Hi Dave, have had the pleasure to work with Karina Wilson and her insights are spot on.