Be the Project Producers Remember: 5 Reasons to Practice Your Pitch

As a writer, if you hear the word “pitch” and you get a pit in your stomach, you aren’t alone. 

It may not be the easiest or most exciting part of your job, but it’s essential to get your project made!  Pitching is a crucial part of the TV and film industry, and just because you have written your pitch on paper or you said it in your head, doesn’t mean it will effectively translate to the producer or executive. You need your pitch to be clear and simple, leaving a lasting impression. Getting there takes practice. 

Here are five major reasons you should practice your pitch:

1. ARE YOU PREPARED?

The best way to find out if you are ready to pitch is to practice it out loud to someone else. Doing this allows you to find out if your timing is right, if you are talking slow enough, if your tone matches the tone of your project, and if your energy level is right. You will also hear words you get stuck on, sentences that might not make sense as you say them, and how you flow from subject to subject. You don’t need to memorize your pitch, but you do need to know it well enough that you don’t have to read directly from a paper. It’s much easier to have a cheat sheet on Zoom than it is in person, but you always want to know your project inside out regardless. 

When you are done with your pitch, encourage your listener to ask questions, this is a great exercise to prepare you for what might be asked by producers and executives. 

2. IS YOUR PITCH CLEAR AND CONCISE?

When pitching, it’s very important you hold your listener’s attention and keep them understanding what you are explaining throughout the entire pitch. Ask yourself, will they be able to go tell this to someone else? If the answer is no, you need to practice more.  


Here are the basic elements you want to make sure to cover: 

What – What is this project – a feature film, a television series, and in what genre – and to get more specific -  is it a limited series, a 30-minute single-cam sitcom, an hour-long drama?  

Who – Who is your main character and what do they want? What or who is keeping them from getting it and what are the stakes?  

Where – What is the setting of your project? What does the world look like?

When – When does this take place? Present-day, or is it in the future, or historical?

Why – Why does this story matter now? Why does this need to be made and put out into the world?  What makes it important? 

The right setup will help grab your listener right from the start and keep them engaged as your pitch goes on. 

3. ARE YOU MEMORABLE?  

You want your listener to feel excited about your project, duh! But you also want to leave a lasting impression beyond the excitement.  It could be a feeling of hope, a chuckle about something funny you said, a pull at their heartstrings, or a sense of intrigue and a million questions running through their mind about what can happen in this series. 

Whatever it is, be memorable! If your pitch is forgettable, so is your project. You haven’t succeeded in conveying the feelings you have taken the time and dedication to implement into your script. 

4. IS YOUR PITCH PERSONAL ENOUGH? 

Why did you write this story and why are you the only person who could tell this story in this way? This is a big one!  

Your pitch is not JUST about your script – it’s also about you.  This producer, executive, or company is going to be spending a lot of time with you if they option or buy your project, so it’s important to present yourself as someone they want to work with. 

5. ARE YOU HAVING FUN? 

Yes, I know pitching is a grind. Yes, I know that it can be stressful, difficult, and not what you want to be doing. You are a writer, you want to be writing!  But, it’s important to find some kind of JOY in your pitch. Harness the joy you had while writing your story, and put that into your pitch.  

If you are looking for a safe, production place to practice your pitch, you are in luck!

Through ISA’s website, you can sign up for a 30-minute virtual Pitch Practice right now at https://www.networkisa.org/mentors/view/pitch-practice-session