Pitchfest Checklist: How to Prepare and What to Bring

Jeanne Veillette Bowerman, ScriptMag Editor

Pitching anxiety. We all get it. I bet even the pros get a teeny knot in their stomachs. Honestly, I hope to never lose the barb that snags at my insides. It keeps me on my toes. Yes, despite the contacts I have made at studios and production companies, I pitch at a pitchfests. Why? Because it’s a great way to get your foot in the door and make connections with new executives. It’s not about the sale of one idea; it’s about creating a relationship with new producers, submitting polished work that knocks their socks off, and making a great first impression to show them you’re a professional. First step: Be prepared. I don’t care how seasoned you are, there’s prep work involved in presenting your script for a possible sale. Here’s how I prepare for a pitching event as well as what I bring:

1. Travel arrangements: If you haven’t booked a flight yet, plan to stay an extra night. You’ll be exhausted after the event and need time to chill. This way, you can celebrate the success without having to race to the airport. When my schedule allows, I tack on a couple of extra days to take meetings and connect with my existing network who weren’t at the event. If you can get that extra day in L.A., it’ll also give you a chance to take a meeting with one of your old or new contacts, solidifying the connections. Note: Regarding car rentals, if you’re staying at the hotel where the event is, don’t bother renting a car. Super Shuttle is super cheap and picks you up right at your hotel. Save your money for a meal with your fellow writers. You’re welcome. 2. Business cards: I put my name, email, website URL, and cell number on one side, and on the back, the name of my script. I bring about a hundred business cards. The best business card holder is your lanyard (I even bring a lanyard with me in case the event uses pin-on name labels instead). Just stuff some cards in your lanyard so you don’t have to dig through your bag to hand one out. You’ll also be collecting a lot of cards, so have either a business card holder or a baggie to keep them all in one place. I prefer a baggie, labeled in marker with the name and year of the event. When we pitched Slavery by Another Name, one side of our card had contact info (as if it were the front page of the script), and the other side, a haunting image of a young black slave hog-tied to a pick axe. There’s no way they’d forget what our story was about when they sorted through their stack of cards at the end of the day. But no worries if you don’t have a picture that speaks 1,000 words. Just keep the card simple. This is the only screenplay I used an image for. 3. One-Sheets: The one sheet is an important item to leave behind (bring about 20). There’s no way an executive will remember every pitch they heard, and often, they need to regurgitate the pitches to their bosses. Why not help them relay your story accurately? The only time I don’t leave one behind is if, in the conversation, I learned of an angle the executive preferred over what I had written. This is why it’s critical to shut up and listen when the executive talks during your pitch. You might discover they want a female protagonist instead of a male, or someone 20 years younger. If you hand over that one sheet with the wrong protagonist on it, it’ll end up in the “pass pile” when you could have easily switched up your characters and possibly gotten a “recommend.” Tell them you ran out of one sheets and you'd be happy to email them one… which gets you their email address. See how this works? 4. Your pitch: At a pitchfest, you typically have five minutes with each executive, so you’ll want your pitch to be no more than two minutes. I like to keep mine to one minute, if possible. That leaves plenty of time for an introduction of yourself first, deliver the pitch, and then take follow-up questions. Remember, you are selling YOU as much as you’re selling your idea. Once you have your pitch, don’t forget to practice… but don’t be too polished. A conversational and relaxed style is more effective than memorizing every word. 5. Notepad (or app on your phone or iPad): You'll need to jot down comments on each pitch as not to forget who wants to read your script or to just write down the executive’s reactions. Their comments can help you improve your work on a rewrite. As I walk away from each executive, I scribble notes as to what was discussed and what follow-through they wanted. When you’re at a pitching event, potentially seeing dozens of people, you need to be organized. Of course, you can use a phone app for this too. Whatever works. But DON'T be checking your phone while you're pitching. It's rude. Period. Eye contact, eye contact, eye contact. 6. Pitching Survival Kit: Pitching survival requires nourishing your body as well. Bring a refillable bottle for water and don’t forget a boost for your blood sugar – almonds, chocolate, protein bars, and/or a mini-bottle of bourbon. Actually, that’s not a joke. Once, I pulled out three mini-bottles at the end of a conference and sat with the exhausted organizers, chatting about screenwriting and how I might help their company in the future. I stayed in touch with them and ultimately got a job out of it two years later. This does NOT mean to drink while you pitch! I'm not that crazy. Be a professional, not a lush. And be careful before you introduce alcohol to anyone. Some people are offended by it. Err on the side of caution. 7. Research the companies you’re pitching to: I can’t stress this enough. You don’t want to be pitching a romantic comedy to a company that thrives on teen zombie films. Be smart. Which also means don’t waste a producer’s time. Know what the company (as well as the executive) is known for, or better yet, know their sleeper film. They’ll be impressed you took the time to research them. Stalking can be flattering when done right. 8. Look at the classes offered: You’ll have a choice of classes, so try to choose a range to learn the most you can. When I go with a writing partner, we split up to double our opportunities to learn and then meet back up to share notes.

9. Clothes: Leave the suit and tie at home – screenwriters wear jeans, sneakers (or flip flops) and t-shirts. One step above PJs. Comfort is key, especially when you’re on your feet all day. I kind of dig this part of a screenwriter’s life. Most of the executives will be in jeans and t-shirts too, don’t sweat it. But shower! By all means, smell clean... and pack breath mints. 10. Psych yourself up: Bringing positive energy to the room is key to your success! As I said before, you are selling yourself as much as you are selling your story idea. I recently watched a great TED talk on how body language changes who you are. Practice confident posture. 11. Have fun! Conferences and pitching will leave you reenergized and excited about the possibilities for your writing career. We need to drag ourselves out of our caves and into the light. 12. Follow up with the people you met. When you get a business card, make sure you reach out and connect after the event is over. Find them on social media too. It's never been easier to stay in touch. 13. Don't send your script yet! Doing something right is better than doing something right now. You might want to read that last line again. That also holds true for pitching a script that isn’t ready. If you do, and they ask for it, DO NOT SEND IT! Instead, rewrite it. You can usually get away with sending it three to four weeks after the event. The reality is, they’ll be inundated with script submissions after. They won’t notice yours isn’t in the pile. Trust me, they’d rather read a great script than an unpolished one. They’ll be more than happy to wait. Also, even if your script is ready, don't hand them a printed copy. No one wants to lug it around, plus you want their email address for your files so you can follow up. You won’t always get that if you slip them the script on the spot. They’d rather read scripts on their iPads anyway. I know I would. Pitching is important to do more than once a year, so. One of the great benefits of pitchfests is to have a deadline to get a script ready by. For more pitchfest tips, watch our free webinar on Screenwriting Conference Essentials Webinar. Work on your pitches, get your work polished, and take that important step to fulfilling your dream. That script isn't gonna sell itself.

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