Creating Stories and Pitching Your

CTPR 566

Creating Stories and Pitching Your Vision in Film and Television

2 Units Professor: Pen Densham SA: Nick Wenger 310-656-9733 (949) 244-0704 [email protected] [email protected]

Fall 2010 Monday 6.30 – 9.30 PM ROOM # THH 208

OVERVIEW

Using the art of story telling as a foundation, this course will explore both sides of “show business” - the “show” process of personal creativity - and - how to pitch that vision to the “business” side. It will cover the Hollywood Motion Picture and Television world. And explore how to sell smaller projects IE. Digital media. It will also consider how directors, producers, editors, cinematographers, production designers, sound designers, etc., can effectively communicate their artistic ideas to people they want to work with. A twice Oscar Nominated and multi award winning writer/director/producer, Densham will address: Myth, Character and Story; including Developing from pre-existing source material; Script writing, Packaging and techniques for successful pitching and salesmanship. He will discuss passion as applied to the creative and sales process. The skills taught in this class are not only valuable to writers, directors and producers as they seek to write or develop concepts, access development funds, package talent into their productions, and find financing and distribution. But, should also help develop entrepreneurial skills useful for initiating smaller productions or job finding. The class will explore how to shape projects that are personally valuable and commercially competitive, as well as review the marketplace (personal networking, use of Agents, Accessing buyers, etc.). Densham is the author of the forthcoming book. “Riding the Alligator – Strategies for a career in Screenplay writing (and not getting eaten)”.

Students will hone their storytelling skills in short, written form and their selling skills in verbal presentations. It is expected that they will develop original project ideas to present to the class, as well as interact with visiting industry professionals.

READINGS AND VIEWINGS:

The class will be asked to view Moll Flanders (written and directed by Densham) and possibly other films and TV programming.

1 IN-CLASS PRESENTATIONS and WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:

There will be a reading assignment from books on Hollywood, Creativity, Sales techniques and Problem solving, with the intent that each student explore a different, well-reviewed book. (List to be provided.) Digest the books top 10 key ideas and write them up in very simple point form, with a single paragraph description of the book. To be shared with the other students as part of developing both a creating and selling, ideas exchange.

Film and Sales Book Reviews: Short Overview & Best 10 Points. (Week 3) Students present evaluation to the class. Have a shareable written leave behind.

There will also be three in-class presentations (pitches), which need an accompanying short written, leave-behind summary document. There will be brief explorative discussion after each pitch to help the student and better target their concept. These in- class presentations will be graded on their clarity, creativity, and overall qualities of engagement.

They will take place on the Mondays listed below.

All students are expected to stay for the entirety of the pitches so they may observe and evaluate the presentation process. Class on these nights may run late, depending on the number of students.

The written assignment accompanying the in-class presentation will be due at the end of the relevant pitch session. Late assignments will lose 5 points (out of 20 possible points).

The total page count for each written assignment should be brief, but will depend on the project being presented.

Project #1: Personal/Artistic or Low Cost Film Pitch (Week 5/6)) The accompanying written assignment for this presentation must include a project/story, or simple sales approach, as presented in class.

Project #2: Studio Commercial Feature Pitch (Week 8/9)) The accompanying written assignment for this presentation must include a project/story description, as presented in class.

Project #3: TV Network MOW, Series or Webisode Pitch (Week 12) The accompanying written assignment must include the project description, as presented in class. Pilot story idea with main creative series elements. Main character breakdown and a list of 4-6 sample episodes. Cover letter with audience/network demographic profile, time slot analysis.

FINAL PRESENTATION: Students will perform an extended pitch, based on one of the three projects they have previously presented in class. This pitch will be accompanied by a simple written sales presentation that includes a brief cover letter, story synopsis, creative elements, budget projection, and sales or promotional rational.

OFFICE HOURS: Pen Densham is available by appointment only. He can be reached at his production office: 310-656-9733, or via email: [email protected].

GRADING: Class Participation =10% Written point form digest =10 % Each Project (3 x 20%) = 60% Final Presentation = 20%

Missed Pitches: An unexcused missed pitch may result in a full grade penalty. An excused absence from a pitch can be made up without penalty by appointment within one week.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or the TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301, and is open 8:30 AM-5:00 PM Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

COURSE OUTLINE

NOTE: Industry guests will visit and participate in some classes (TBA).

Week #1 8/23 Orientation and Overview Show Business is art and commerce. What routes can make you successful? Story ideas that make you passionate. Why humans tell stories. Joseph Campbell and the seven major plots. Overview of targeting and tailoring your story for buyers and the selling process.

Week #2 8/30 Elements of a powerful story. Finding your creativity. Shaping a story. Three acts structure. Characters actors would like to play. Acquiring & optioning

3 literary materials (book, article, life rights). Classic books are free! Working with a writer. Reconciling creative conflicts. Week #3 9/13 Moll Flanders – A case study. - Students present book analysis. Moll Flanders. From an idea - to a spec script - to a film. Originality, passion and what sells. Students present and discuss top elements from reviewed books. Targeting and tailoring your story for buyers. Test driving your project. How to overcome rejections.

Week #4 9/20 Personal/Artistic or Low Cost Film Pitch Ideas for an independent film. Festival movies. Horror. The $200,000 movie. Techniques for selling your vision to others. Pitching art movies to actors with their own companies. Discuss Just Buried – started as a pitching contest winner. Deal-making. How to get financing. How to close a negotiation.

Week #5 9/27 In-Class Presentation #1: Personal/Artistic or Low Cost Film Pitch

Students present projects.

Week #6 10/4 In-Class Presentation #1: Cont. Students present projects. Intro to: The studio system and its requirements.

Week #7 10/11 Studio Feature Film Development--continued The studio system and its requirements. What is a development exec looking for? Why so many re-makes, sequels, games and brands. Zeitgeist. What will we be watching in three years? The search for and acquisition of studio material. Selecting a writer. Packaging. Strategies to get green-lit. 3-D Films. Creating trailers or posters to sell an idea.

Week #8 10/18 In-Class Presentation #2 – Studio Feature Film Pitch and Evaluations

Week #9 10/25 Studio Feature Film Pitch and Evaluations--cont’d

Week #10 11/1 Dramatic and Comedy Series. TV Movies, Anthologies. TV series case studies based on series pitched and sold by Trilogy. Identifying a network’s demographic need. The key elements of pitching a series. Legal considerations in development. What sells,

4 what's needed to sell, evaluating venues. Optioning, packaging and selling TV movies. Getting it ordered – the show runner.

Week #11 11/8 Feature or TV Development: Guest Speaker

Week #12 11/15 In-Class Presentation #3: TV Network or Cable Movie Pitch….or TV Series Pitch

Week #13 11/22 Pitching to the Media Frontiers Online story telling content. Web distribution. Graphic Novels Gaming. Handheld mobisodes.

Week #14 11/29 Final Pitch Presentations

Week #15 12/6 Final Pitch Presentations