Screenwriting : Pitching by W. Mitchell

finish it first

Tabitha is correct. If they ask for the script and it's not ready, then you shot yourself in the foot, and you can't go back to them.

I agree with everyone, W. Mitchell. It's better to finish a script first.

Only if you want them to steal your idea.

Depends upon your relationship with the people. I have a few people I work with. I have pitched ideas to them. As long as it is a complete idea, not just a situation.

It also depends if you have it in a fixed form. As a short story or a treatment. Then you have a (in some form) a defendable position.

Its better to finish it first. If you pitch your project and the person you're pitching it to is excited, they'll want to see it, so if you have it ready you can capitalise on this good first impression. If they like it and have to wait a few months before they can read it that initial momentum is gone.

Writers with track records and box office credits can pitch ideas & loglines and walk away with prepaid money to write the screenplay

No, it's not.

W. Mitchell yes, it’s not a good idea. If you pitch something that is incomplete you are wasting the time of the person you are pitching to. If it’s not finished, you’re not ready to pitch.

Not a dumb question at all, W. Mitchell. I think it's a good idea to get feedback on say, the synopsis or logline or first 10 pages, but probably not to pitch till it's done.

Hey, Craig D Griffiths , that would apply to a novel as well, right?

The bigger question, W. Mitchell, is what is your reason for wanting to pitch the unfinished script? What would you stand to gain by doing so?

Probably nothing Mr. Strange

It depends on how much you want to tell something with this story and how true it is to you, and this motive becomes the fuel for this process, which must be carried out. It depends on whether it becomes visible to others. In my opinion, complete isolation and yourself help you best in this process, dictating what needs to be done and will definitely be done. Self-belief and believing this story in the imagination or in the mind are more important than anything else.

And what if the pro likes the idea and asks for what you don't have. It's a blown opportunity. Finish it, rewrite it, polish it, then pitch it.

Firstly, W. Mitchell ,it's not a stupid question. Some great answers. Seems the general consensus is don't pitch what you haven't finished. On principle, I agree with that sentiment, but it is a little more nuanced than that. It also depends on the circumstances.

In a way, we're constantly pitching our stories, complete or incomplete, in an informal way. Whenever someone askes, "What have you written?" or, "What are you working on?", your response is kind of a pitch. This, of course, differs from a formal meeting where you're asked to pitch something. It definitely depends on the context and who you're pitching to.

For example, I've been called in to pitch television shows and had them commissioned based on a 2-5 page paper pitch. In some cases, nothing besides the pitch document was written. In other cases a pilot was written, but certainly not all the episodes. On other occasions I pitched to funders and had a feature script commissioned and was given development money. So it does happen, but I don't make a habit pitching my ideas to everyone I see.

On another note, a written script is easier to protect than an idea. Story ideas cannot be copyrighted. If someone wants to steal your idea, they will, there's nothing you can do about it. Your security lies in your ability to execute that idea in a unique way at a level no one else could.

My final caution against pitching unscripted ideas centers around the danger of you perhaps pitching an idea well but not having the skills to execute the idea at the level you've pitched it. If someone greenlights an idea you say you can write, but then you can't deliver, you're going to damage your career. You have to be 100% certain that you can manifest on paper what you sell in the room. Alternatively, if you've already written it, then the proof's already in the writing.

Just my take on it. Hope it was helpful in some way.

Sounds like great advice, however ideas are what stories are made of. So theoretically you could pitch a logline and summary. If the idea is interesting enough the executive's might suggest a writer for you. For instance, Ive had 3 pitch sessions here on Stage 32 and I don't plan on writing a script. I have great interest and executive's have given me plenty of insight on my logline and summary. To honest , executive's would probably rather work with writer's they've worked with before .My plan is to take a role as associate producer, on the production so that I can get a paycheck from development to post production, and that also allows me to advise on the production. This might not be for everyone, and I'm not a writer. You can read my logline and summary on my account. Would appreciate your input. So yeah , an idea can be good enoug

h if you have a game plan.

Note , taken on copyright infringement, however we have intellectual property rights that protect ideas.

Also when pitching an idea it's also important to have an agent pitch ideas , it provides an extra layer to securing your intellectual property. I'm also a talent agent forgot to mention that part. I have some experience working with executives on this level.

Ty Strange Ty, you sound like a villain from a Bond movie when W. Mitchell refers to as "Mr. Strange." LOL.

It depends how quickly they get back to you... if it's a quick "YES" then you've got a script to finish quickly.

I create the pitch deck, treatment and the first 10 pages.

Right, Anthony Murphy?!