The Art of Pitching – Wednesday Night!
Hey, TV writers– If you have an idea for the next The Big Bang Theory, Bones, or Dancing with the Stars, I’m teaching a 3-hour seminar at mediabistro this coming…
Hey, TV writers--
If you have an idea for the next The Big Bang Theory, Bones, or Dancing with the Stars, I'm teaching a 3-hour seminar at mediabistro this coming Wednesday on "The Art of the Pitch: How to Sell Your Television Series Idea." Here's the scoop...
WHEN: Wednesday, May 14, 7-10 pm
WHERE: mediabistro.com, 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste 303, West Hollywood, CA
COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call Stefanie at 310-659-5668 or click HERE
To learn more, check out this webpage, or here's a little blurb...
You've
seen the perfect TV show. It's got great characters, weekly
cliffhangers, comedy, drama -- everything you could want in a hit
series. There's just one problem: it's still in your head.
This seminar will help take your idea from seed to sale. After all,
selling your show isn't merely the first step in bringing your vision
to life; it's the most important step. What are networks looking for?
How should a pitch be structured? When's the best time to pitch? Do you
need a franchise? Does attaching talent help?
We will break pitching into three stages: honing your idea, crafting the pitch itself, and getting your foot in the door with producers and executives.
We'll examine different kinds of shows and the necessary elements of
each. We'll then discuss how to structure a pitch to make it accessible
to producers, writers, and executives. Lastly, we'll explore the business
of pitching; not only how to gauge the marketplace to make your idea
irresistible, but how to navigate television's labyrinthine
network/studio system and what you can expect once you get there.
In this seminar, you will learn:
- The necessary elements every show -- and every pitch -- must have
- The difference between different types of shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
- How to structure a pitch, both verbally and as a written document
- Who you want to pitch to at networks, studios, and production companies
- When to attach actors, writers, or directors to your idea, and when not to
- What to expect when you're in the room, making your pitch, and what happens when you leave
Please note:
While we will discuss in class your ideas and how to best pitch them (if you feel comfortable sharing), this class is not about evaluating ideas. To be honest, we have no idea what's a good idea or not. After all, we're not the ones who bought Desperate Housewives. Or, for that matter, Jerry Springer.
Jane Friedman is a full-time entrepreneur (since 2014) and has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and is the former publisher of Writer’s Digest. In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and a professor with The Great Courses, Jane maintains an award-winning blog for writers at JaneFriedman.com. Jane’s newest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press, 2018).
