Glossary

13.1 Developing an Effective Pitch

3 min read•august 6, 2024

Crafting an effective pitch is crucial for screenwriters looking to sell their scripts. It's all about grabbing attention, showcasing uniqueness, and positioning your story in the market. A great pitch combines a compelling , engaging elevator pitch, and standout .

To make your pitch shine, you'll need the right materials. This includes visual aids like pitch decks, as well as well-crafted verbal and written pitches. Don't forget to highlight your story's market potential by identifying similar successful projects and defining your .

Pitch Essentials

Capturing Attention and Interest

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Top images from around the web for Capturing Attention and Interest

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  • Logline succinctly summarizes the story's main conflict and stakes in one or two sentences, designed to grab attention and generate interest (When a retired assassin's daughter is kidnapped, he must confront his past and take on a ruthless crime syndicate to save her)
  • Elevator pitch expands on the logline, providing a brief overview of the story's key elements, characters, and themes that can be delivered in a short conversation or "elevator ride" (30-60 seconds)
  • High concept refers to a story idea that is easily understood, has mass appeal, and can be communicated effectively in a single sentence (Jurassic Park, The Hangover)

Differentiating Your Story

  • Hook is the unique or compelling aspect of your story that sets it apart from others in the genre and draws in the audience (A love story set in a time loop, a heist movie where the thieves are all over 70 years old)
  • Unique selling proposition (USP) identifies the specific elements that differentiate your screenplay from similar projects, making it stand out in the market (A coming-of-age story featuring an underrepresented minority protagonist, a sci-fi thriller that explores a groundbreaking scientific concept)

Pitch Materials

Visual Aids

  • Pitch deck is a visual presentation (usually PowerPoint or PDF) that accompanies a verbal pitch, highlighting key elements of the story, characters, and market potential through engaging visuals and concise text
  • Effective pitch decks include eye-catching images, concept art, or mood boards that convey the story's tone, style, and visual aesthetic

Verbal and Written Pitches

  • Verbal pitch is an in-person or video presentation where the writer communicates their story, its unique elements, and market potential to potential buyers, producers, or agents
  • Successful verbal pitches are well-structured, engaging, and demonstrate the writer's passion for their project
  • , also known as a pitch document or , is a more detailed written version of the story (3-10 pages) that includes a synopsis, character descriptions, and market analysis for potential buyers or representatives to review

Market Positioning

Identifying Similar Successful Projects

  • Comparables are examples of successful films, TV shows, or other media properties that share similar themes, genres, or target audiences with your project (Describing your sci-fi adventure film as "Guardians of the Galaxy meets Indiana Jones")
  • Citing relevant comparables demonstrates an understanding of the market and helps potential buyers or investors envision the project's potential success

Defining Your Target Audience

  • Target audience refers to the specific demographic groups most likely to be interested in and engage with your story, based on factors such as age, gender, interests, and viewing habits
  • Clearly defining your target audience helps guide marketing strategies and demonstrates the project's commercial viability (A young adult romance aimed at females aged 13-18, a gritty crime drama targeting mature audiences who enjoy shows like Breaking Bad and The Wire)

Key Terms to Review (5)

Hook: A hook is a compelling element in storytelling that grabs the audience's attention and draws them into the narrative. It can be a striking image, an intriguing question, or an unexpected event that creates curiosity and sets the tone for the story. A strong hook is essential as it lays the groundwork for the setup and inciting incident, enhances loglines, and strengthens pitches by making them memorable.
Logline: A logline is a brief summary of a screenplay, usually one or two sentences long, that captures the main plot, character, and conflict. It serves as a critical tool in screenwriting by distilling the essence of the story, making it easier to convey the idea to others and helping to ensure clarity in the writing process.
Target audience: Target audience refers to a specific group of people that a story, film, or project is intended to reach or appeal to. Understanding the target audience is crucial as it informs the creative decisions made during the development of a story, including tone, content, and marketing strategies. Identifying the target audience helps in shaping loglines and pitches to ensure they resonate with the right viewers or stakeholders.
Treatment: In screenwriting, a treatment is a detailed summary of a screenplay that outlines the main story, characters, and key scenes. It serves as a blueprint for the screenplay itself and is often used to communicate the vision of the film to producers and collaborators before the actual script is written.
Written pitch: A written pitch is a concise document that outlines a film or television project's concept, characters, and storyline in a compelling manner to persuade producers or investors to support it. This type of pitch serves as a crucial tool for screenwriters, allowing them to effectively communicate their creative vision and generate interest in their project.
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