Good advice! At a recent screenwriting expo a knowgeable person told me the only two responses at a pitch event are "no" and "send a 1 page summary".

Is this true?

If the person you pitch to REALLY likes the pitch, what can you expect?

Thanks,
Dan
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Hi, Dan. Thanks for your kind note about my blog posting, above.

All I can tell you is my own experience in attending pitch events on the West Coast and East Coast. I've been there both as a "pitch coach" for other writers, and as a screenwriter doing the pitching on the other side of the desk. I have never heard a producer ask me to send them a one-page summary after having listened to (and liked) my pitch-- though I believe you that this does happen sometimes. Instead, they usually ask for my business card. It IS true, however, that if they like your pitch, they are not likely to hand you their address and tell you to just go ahead and send them your screenplay. And they certainly won't ask you to hand them your script right on the spot. They obviously don't want to be lugging tons of scripts around.

In my experience, if they like your pitch, they will request your card so that they can get in touch with you (which doesn't always happen, by the way). Sometimes, the reason they don't simply request your script right then and there is that they want to discuss your pitch with their boss back at the office, first. If the boss gives the "okay", they will contact you to request your script. They probably don't want to give out their address to all the writers whose pitches they like because they don't want to get inundated with unsolicited submissions.

Also, maybe only after they've heard ALL the pitches, will they know which ones were the best of the best, and which scripts to request. They might want to filter out the weaker pitches after the event is over, rather than asking for the script every time they hear a decent pitch.

Keep in mind that most of the producers hearing the pitches at events like this are very "junior" employees who may not have the authority to make the final decision about which scripts will be requested. They tend to be the young, energetic, up-and-comers who are willing to give up their weekend to listen to a zillion pitches at these screenwriters' conferences. When I pitched my own film projects at pitch fests, I found that all the producers (or producers' staffers) listening to pitches there were extraordinarily nice and patient people, as well as very attentive listeners. These folks sit for days and listen to so many pitches they must have "behinds" of steel!

I can see a rationale for why some producers might ask you to send a one-page synopsis if they like your pitch presentation at the event. Maybe they want something on paper so they won't have to take notes while listening to all those pitches, and will have something to show their boss after they get back to the office. Or maybe having the pitch on paper provides some sort of legal "paper trail" that protects both parties in some small way-- but I'm not a lawyer.

If you do send anyone a written synopsis, I'd suggest you register it with the WGA before you pop it in the mail. But don't be too "paranoid" about pitching to producers. Most producers, especially those at pitch events, are not in the business of stealing ideas. Hope this helps! "Stay tuned" for next month's blog entry...

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