Pitching Your Film
(Sample pitches)
Step III. What is an Elevator Pitch?
Many filmmakers are familiar with the term "The Elevator Pitch." One of the first steps in starting a film is for it to get approval; a film needs a sturdy base story for it to be successful. For this purpose, someone on the production team, usually the director or the screenwriter, will scout out a producer to get their film supported. To do this, mastery in the skill of pitching your ideas is crucial.
Imagine you are on the third floor of a building, and you walk into an elevator surprised to see one of the most well-known producers around. This is your chance. You have about as long as three floors to make your film seem worthy of being made, all you have to do is convince them.
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In this scenario, a screenplay or treatment won't do. This producer has limited time, you just need to ignite a spark in them that shows the potential of your project. For this reason, pitches should be strong 3-4 sentence-long paragraphs that summarize:
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Your main characters, their intentions (if any)
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The plot of your movie
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The resolution of your movie
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Important details pertaining to the story.
This rule for pitching does not only apply to the literal scenario described (that isn't to say it won't happen.) The main takeaway is that a good sense of condensing a good idea into a persuasive paragraph is an important part of getting your film recognized.
So start off by imagining you were in that situation, and write as many pitches as you can. Don't settle for just one, even though you know for sure that's the film you're going to make. You'd surprise yourself with your imagination if you keep the process flowing. Write two or three more. Then you are ready for the next step.
Next week, we will be discussing treatments for your film.
-Chloe