By now, if you’ve completed a screenplay you probably know that when you get ready to market your script to try to sell your screenplay, you need to have a strong logline or a short pitch.
No matter what kind of marketing you do to sell your screenplay, you will need to craft a pitch of your screenplay — for pitching both on paper and verbally.
Although many writers tell everyone they see about their story — which is a kind of pitching — as soon as we call it a “pitch,” the fear of God sets in for many screenwriters and they just get all messed up about it. Nevertheless, as a screenwriter, you need to learn about pitching so we’re going to take a look at one aspect of it in this article… and that is on How To Open your pitch.
One of the most difficult parts for many screenwriters is knowing how to open the story because you always hear: MAKE IT EXCITING! Actually, it’s the same for the screenplay itself. You have to very quickly catch the ears and eyes of your audience. Keep in mind, most people walk around like zombies a high percentage of time, just rolling through life today like they did yesterday… doing the same thing over and over…. like Groundhog’s day… without the advantage of awareness they can change!
If you’re going to break through the sleepful slumber of sameness, you have to do something to wake them up so they can hear the uniqueness of your story.
Here are three possible ways to open your pitch for your screenplay… that can help you capture their attention.
1. Start in the middle of your scene when you open your pitch.
Start out with, “So there you are …” and describe the situation your character is in. For example:
“There you are. You’re living your dream. You always wanted to be a rock star, and now you are. You step out of your private jet and start walking down the steps to thousands of fans snapping your photo, holding up signs of love for you, and screaming for your attention… and suddenly you hear what sounds like a shot, you look over and see your bodyguard fall down… now all your fans starts screaming at the top of their lungs and running away. In that moment you realize that –”
You finish that sentence and when you get to the end of that setup, then you can introduce your character and say something like: “…and this is the situation that Jimmy Dellasandro walks into as he…” Then you go into the rest of the pitch.
By placing your pitch audience in the middle of the story, it pulls them into the world of your story.
2. Open your pitch with the setting and create the mood.
“It’s 1942. WWII is well underway. Hundreds of Europeans fleeing from the Germans want to go to America. But to do so, they must go to Casablanca to get their exit visas. The hottest spot in all of Casablanca is Rick’s Cafe, operated by Rick Blaine, an American expatriate. Rick’s Cafe is a happening night club where people often cross paths with old friends who are coming and going…”
Here we are drawn into the setting, the vibe… We get the mood. We can feel the lively activity of the club…and the tension of that time in World history. We want to know what’s next…
3. Ask a truly provocative question — which has pros and cons — to tittilate the imagination of your pitch audience?
“What would you do if someone who was extremely attractive offered you one million dollars for one night with your new spouse… after you both had just lovingly agreed that you needed that money for something very important to you both?”
This, of course, is the premise of the film “Indecent Proposal” with Demi Moore and Robert Redford. The question itself engages the mind and draws you in. Whether you’re married or not, you can’t help asking yourself what you would do! And probably… “Who’s offering?!” Also, what if it was to get the money for an operation for your sick mother… or a sick child?
You see… it gets the mind engaged! All three of these openings do. And there are plenty others… You must grab them from the beginning… so they stay engaged.
The Purpose of the Pitch For Your Screenplay
The whole purpose of the pitch is to get the reader or the person to whom you’re pitching your screenplay to request a copy of your script and read it. You must draw them in from the beginning, tell them enough to get them invested, but as little as you need to really whet their appetite to read it!
Best Practice For Pitching
A good practice is to actually write your pitch before you begin… or anywhere as you go along in writing your script. You don’t have to stick to that pitch, but if you practice writing a tight pitch, it may actually reveal things that are missing in your story. It can inform you in terms of coming up with elements of the plot or main characters that make it more interesting!.
I can’t even count the times that a screenwriter has sent me their synopsis for me to use to write the pitch in their query letter for their Script Marketing Campaign, and in doing so, I notice a hole in their story. Sometimes they just didn’t include it in the synopsis, but more often, it’s actually a hole in the screenplay itself. So writing a pitch or even a synopsis can help you see your story differently and tell you where you need to do some work.
Once you finish writing your screenplay and go back for a fine-tuning polish, it’s time to starting pitching your script. You can do this through a Script Marketing Campaign with us here at Smart Girls. You can attend pitchfests or go to events where you meet executives in person and get an opportunity to pitch. Or just do your own research and reach out to them one by one. with your Query Letter Pitch Email. Make sure your pitch starts with a captivating opening. Also remember to Establish your credibility as another important part of the pitch.
The main thing is to Get out there and Get Busy!
If your pitching skills or your pitch is not as strong as you want it to be, you might also consider a pitch coaching session with Melody Jackson.
The sooner you start practicing your pitch, the better… so get out there and get busy.
