Pitching Your Script

“You have to want to make a film for other reasons - to say something, to tell a story, to show somebody's fate - but you can't want to make a film simply for the sake of it.” 

― Krzysztof Kieślowski, Kieslowski on Kieslowski


Pixar Rule #4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.


Preparing your Pitch For Dummies:

If you follow those requests, your first sentence introduces the characters, the next sentence illustrates their conflict, and the final sentence leaves listeners wanting more. The conflict generally suggests the film's genre, but if not, consider alluding to that in the final sentence as well.
Here are some examples:

• Europe, 1912. Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater enjoy a secret and passionate romance after they meet on a ship chartered toward New York. That ships happens to be the Titanic.

• Jessica Stein has met and refused virtually every man in New York City. Maybe it's time she looked for a woman. (Kissing Jessica Stein)

• Northern England, 1984. Young Billy Elliot, the son of a poor local miner, decides to start training for a career. In ballet. (Billy Elliot)

These examples suggest the skeleton of a short pitch.

Broad Basic Beats of the Story

Who is the hero? At the start? New opportunity? What's the Goal?

Where did you find this story? Why this story?

Antecedents - others that have done well.

So do you have any questions about my script? Or can I send you a copy of my script