Screenwriting : I just pitched to another film company tonight! by Robert Sandage

Possibly these film execs needs some pschodelic mushrooms to eat before I pitch?

Sometimes it's not the film companies. Sometimes it's the script. Sometimes it's the pitch. I know, I know, no writer wants to hear that. So... What fools they are! It sucks when film companies have no vision.

Uh.... sounds so scary for a new screenwriter like me....

Yes it does suck when film companies have no vision all right. I pitched it to a friend of mine and he totally understood the concept of the script and loved it. He wants to produce it into a movie. He has spoken to investors and the producer and have started talking about who we want to cast for roles in the film.

It is not easy Vienna. I have pitched to 6 different film companies and if the executive does not understand what you are going to pitch about your script then it makes it that much harder to sell the script to any film company.

Don't give up, keep pitching you need to believe in you, and in your script. The right producer will understand and have the same vision as yours. The important thing is to keep going. That is the nature of the business and there is nothing we can do about that. But you will see that you will sell it, good luck. Don't give up!

I am not going to give up and believe that my script will be purchased and made into a movie. Thanks Vienna! :)

Way to go..... I am sure Cameron and Tarantino felt the same way when they were starting just like us.... bad joke sorry.

It is all right. We got to learn and start some where Vienna. They had to be patient also.

Sometimes communication is a hiccup. If they don't understand it, I am not sure how your viewers will. Best to find a proof reader to assist and change what seems different to another. I self published my book, and went through 3 edits. The writer all too often does not see what others see, hazard of pleasing the crowd.

You are correct Michele. I sent my script for editing and I felt so embarrassed when I saw how many mistakes (bad usage of commas, semicolons and wrong capitalization) they found. I even went and signed up for a writing English grammar online class. Have to stay calm and keep writing. :-)

As the author or writer it's hard for us to see our own mistakes I was told, glad you are on the path to being heard and seen my friend. Best of luck to you!

Not to worry Dan the script will be fixed and thanks for the advice. Sorry it took me so long to reply. I am bushed from work today. I paid to take some hour long sessions with a film executive to clean my script up. Once I master that I am sure I will be able to pitch to any film company.

Robert pardon my curiosity, but sitting with a motion picture executive, is that a friend or you have to pay to receive a session like that?

Vienna I have been pitching to film companies since March and I found a company that offers sessions to sit for an hour to talk to executives to help you master on how to pitch to them and clean up your film script as well. I have pitched to a half of dozen film companies already and it seemed that they did not understand the concept of the film. That is why I am getting the help. I know the idea that I have would work.

Terry Rossio had a brilliant analogy. You are hitting on a hot girl and the girl is the prod co/agent/manager. The girl is in a hurry to get somewhere, and it's a dark alley, and you look like a psycho. And 1000 other guys who look like psychos are also trying to hit on her. Now, get her number. It doesn't take a whole lot to blow a pitch; you're asking them to spend a lot of money on an idea, vs putting it into another project. Any one of a million issues can blow the whole thing, some within your control and some outside. Don't take it personally. Figure out how to refine the pitch and move on.

Evan I think I may know what it is also the reason why some of these film executives may turn the film down. I am pitching the film as a hard R rated film. I do not want it PG-13 rating. It will get worked out and it will be made into a film. Thank you Evan for the advice!

Just keep writing ;-)

I plan to continue writing.

Don't expect financiers to have an imagination - Page 1 must have a fireball, page 10 a death, page 120 the guy gets the girl. That's how they see it, most of the time :)

If you haven't already seen it, get a copy of Frank Darabont's 'The Majestic'. Jim Carrey plays a screenplay writer in post WWII Hollywood. A scene early on in the movie where the exec producers discuss Jim's latest script sums it up, and it still applies today. It's also a very enjoyable film (except maybe the ending which is a tad too saccharine).

Film Execs rend to be Business/Marketing/Economics Majors. They've NEVER so much as taken a Film Appreciation class. It's the reason a lot more Indies these days are bypassing the traditional studios in favor of online venues. Consider doing a version of your story that you can get out to an audience-Graphic Novel, Web/Print comic, short film/animation, what have you. Do the very best you can with what you got-Get friends to help out if possible and then let folks know via Facebook or Twitter. The more folks looking at your work, talking about/sharing it, the sooner the guys in Hollywood will get the message that you're worth banking on and come calling. Also, remember, since these guys aren't filmmakers, they not particularly bright and can ONLY see what made money LAST WEEK, YEAR, etc,. So, you could write a script i a style similar to a hit from a year ago and use it as a SAMPLE script to get some hired gun jobs.

The way that I'm getting over this problem is to show them more than just the script. I've built a full package. Script, merchandise plan, alerting top directors and producers about the project and gaining fan-fare. So fans are calling for it to be made now.

Wayne I never thought of it that way. I do have a friend who is a producer and her very much wants to be a part of getting my film made into a movie. Then I received a email from this company that I go through and the guy recommended that I talk to a executive from Paradox Films on how to pitch better. I paid for the classes to go through this service. I hope that it will work out for me. We shall see. The guy producing my film has been working in the industry for several years now. He has many contacts in the film industry. I got a friend of mine who is a very good actor to play a role in the movie. Then the producer spoke to another actors people and they told him the script must be completed. It is very close to be getting done.

http://portal.sliderocket.com/BKKNH/Ps1 Getting big named cast and crew and then pitch is how I'm doing it. My meeting is in a few weeks.

That was cool Wayne. I am trying to raise the money to make a 3 minute movie trailer. I have something going on www.Crowdit.com under RobSandage. Lowest you can pay to help is a $1 and the first 1000 people to pay $20 will receive a DVD of THE POSSESSION OF INNOCENCE.

That sounds pretty cool.

Well I am trying to raise the money to make it happen. With the 3 minute movie trailer I planned to place it onto kick starter, YouTube, or any social media site to see if someone would pick it up and by the script off of me to make into a movie.

Sadly even if you do sell a few scripts (and those scripts actually do get made) you will still need to pitch. I'd look at Jacob Krueger's Pitch Seminar. http://www.writeyourscreenplay.com/sell-your-script-without-selling-your... It's really great. Also, I know it's annoying that producers don't seem to try too hard to understand a unique script but that is why you need to do a final polish to make it producer friendly. If producers are not understanding your script, then you have some more work to do. One of the most difficult parts of being a writer is not getting your ideas down, its getting your ideas down on paper in a way that a complete stranger who doesn't care at all about you can see your vision. If that's not happening then you just might need to work through another draft. If you want to be a Pro Writer you have to become great at Rewriting. But if it's a script you really love and believe in, it should be enjoyable.

This is my first script that I have ever written. What I have posted is a rough draft and I plan to clean it up and rewrite it again. Thank you for the tips! I appreciate it a lot!

Must agree = You will always be pitching - your Script, your Talent and your Self. In fact, you and not your agent will be finding and selling most of the jobs you'll obtain over the years. As to Execs not understanding the script, it might be because it needs work (haven't had the chance to review it yet) OR because most execs don't know how to read scripts = they just know what they like when they see it. Screenwriting is the hardest form of writing that I know of. As the poet once said, "It's not a race - it's a marathon" Hang in there, JB

That is why I am sitting down tomorrow evening with a female Film executive from Paradox Films. Plus, from the person who set this up for me felt it would help me to pitch my script better and a small crack in the doorway for me to get in with this film company possibly. I paid to get some help with pitching my script. This was my first script that I have written and it is not even completed yet even though it is copyrighted under my name. I am still working on the rough draft which is the first write up and I am sure I will be rewriting it quite a few more times before it is perfect to sell it to someone.

Its great that you have access to all these people, that truly is lucky. Although it concerns me that you would begin pitching before you have polished your script. I'd call Jake (917-464-3594) hes worked as a producer and screenwriter and would be able to give you the info you need to make sure you are making the most of these connections. You only get one chance at a first impression.

Thank you so much Jess for all the encouragement that you are giving me and help also. I plan to polish my script up to sell.

You won't hit a home run if you don't get up there and take a swing. Look at it this way, you got it read. They may get back to you.

Rebecca my script will be polished and I will sell it because I know it is going to create a new kind of horror/thriller/comedy movie that no one has seen before.

Hey Robert, I am not trying to bust your bubble but I took a pre production class once and a producer who found and developed the 6th sense, spoke as a guest lecturer, He said remember this - "nobody on the entire planet cares about your script as much as you do, never expect them to" My point is keep your chip up and keep working

Thank you Brett! I will definitely continue to bust my ass. The kind of people I worked with their philosophy was, "Failure is not an option!" I was brought up to never give up and I will not. If I have to rewrite my script a 100 times I will do that to get it right.

I hear your frustration and I may be over stating something here but I just want to make one small suggestion. Badmouthing anyone even an unnamed "they" in a public forum is not the best idea. By all means rant I do it all the time but not in public. It can get you a "bad attitude" label.

I am still new at this and learning to pitch a idea or ideas Tabitha. No one is perfect. I spent on Wednesday talking an hour to a film executive and she was very informative about what areas I need to work on delivering and selling my script. I have completed the script and making the corrections that need to be done in order to sell the script to a film company. Just because I was venting I did not mention executive names or the film companies that they work for. When I received my 80 hours of Law Enforcement training in apprehending an assailant, performing searches on a person, and searching weapons, explosives, and contraband I was not perfect at it but the job performing physical security was common sense. I have told a Leading Petty Officer that when I found a shotgun in the storage bin of a pickup truck the proper procedure was to have this person take the shotgun and have it checked in at the police department. Since this LPO was in charge of the post I could not order the person to check that weapon in. The LPO then told me that I was correct about the judgement I made and they were in the wrong. A friend who wants to produce my script I wrote told me that we may need to raise the money ourselves and make it independently. That is possible and trying to get something out there is not easy at all. I very much give credit to those who started out where I was at and made a name for themselves in the industry.

I have Dan actually several ideas for film scripts. I am still working on my first script to get it perfect. If I am set then I would be happy if one of my scripts was a hit to where I could retire. All I can do is wait and see on what happens. I will continue to write .

Thank you Emerson! It is not easy pitching to film companies but I plan on pitching to more film companies.

Thank you Emerson! All the information you tell me does help me out. I have made friends in the film industry and passed my script along to them since it is completed now. Plus, a actor who is big in the B movie industry has agreed for a role in the film. I watched him when I was in high school. He is a phenomenal actor. Then a guy a couple days ago I passed my script onto him as well. He told me when I get the money raised he would make an appearance in the movie provided that I give him plenty of notice. I also watched his films back in the day on USA UP ALL NIGHT. I met him 2 years ago at a Horror Hound Convention. COOL guy to meet.

Dan I hope you are correct because I would love for it to payoff for me. I have been getting my script out there to a few directors and all. I have not heard back from them yet. Still working to raise money for the movie. I have a Crowdit account and I am working on opening up a Indiegogo account also to make the first movie script happen. Scriptwriting is a lot of fun to do but I have noticed that there is still a lot of work to be done to make it perfect. I am a perfectionist and like things done well. This script "THE POSSESSION OF INNOCENCE"is my baby and I want to make sure that it is perfect!