How many requests do you get for a script read from your pitches? I get a lot now. Why?
Passion.
It’s that simple if a producer, manager, agent or financier is looking for your genre.
What is passion? It’s being excited about what makes your story unique and why audiences will not only love it but relate to it. And you MUST convey that passion.
I’ve attended many pitch events as well as pitching via phone, fax or email and I almost always get a script request. That’s because I exude passion in my speech and language. But it took a while to really know how to do it and I’ve learned a lot.
At events where I sat at a table with a group pitching to one or more producers, what I often notice is how monotone writers are when pitching their story. What do I mean by monotone? It’s starting your pitch the same way as everyone else: Title, genre, “It’s about…” without any compelling change in voice level or adding a unique phrase with excitement that really engages their listeners or changing your serious facial expressions.
Here’s an example: At one event table with 5 of us pitching to one producer, I was the third to pitch. This producer heard all pitches before commenting on each one but he didn’t go in order. When it was my turn, he looked at me and said: “I’ll come back to you.” Uh oh. Not good after hearing his comments to others: “You don’t seem excited”, I could hardly hear you,” “I’m not sure you know your story”, “What excites you about this story?” ugh.
To backtrack a moment, the project I pitched was a Shakespeare rom-com adaptation. First of all, the name Shakespeare is an immediate turn off because it translates as expensive period piece which is not a popular genre. With preparation help from the brilliant producer and pitch guru Gary Shusett, I opened my pitch with the idea that I had partnered with the most famous author in the world who loved my idea about adapting his work in a way that had never been done before. Of course, the producer wanted to know who my partner was but I didn’t tell him until I revealed what was unique about my project: that this was a contemporary (and I emphasized ‘contemporary) adaptation set in New York where many of his characters finally meet each other for the first time. “I bet you want to know who the author is, right?” I asked with a teasing smile. His eyes lit up. Of course he did. I revealed it was Shakespeare and he laughed just as he should for a rom-com pitch. Then I really turned on the passion with my next line:
“How great is that????” I said with excitement, throwing up my hands. “We always see an adaptation of only one of his plays but his characters have never met! But they will now!” His eyes lit up.
When the producer finally came back to me to comment, my anxiety rose: “I loved your pitch and your project but we’re not looking for rom-coms.” Heart sag on my part. He continued. “But I love your passion. It was natural and your excitement made me excited. I will remember you. You should all learn from her,” as he pointed to everyone.
Even though he did not take the project, he will support it in some way in the future even if it’s by word of mouth. By the way, I did get a known producer attached later at that same event.
This passion can also be found in written form by choosing words that fit your genre (i.e. you must make people laugh if you’re writing a comedy without having to tell them it’s a comedy) and use out of the box phrasing like I did with “How great is that???” that will pop out, excite and engage your reader.
Yes, pitchers are nervous including me. Apply your nervousness in positive, excited pitches by changing your vocal levels, facial expressions, gestures and unique pitch beginnings. You all want to pitch well and sell your project (and that does come across all too often) but if you lack passion, no one will be passionate about your project.
