Dave - true re VPF,  but I've had a couple of read requests, which they don't have to do either, one led to an initial discussion on a script that ultimately didn't go anywhere but a bit more than a tick box

Very cool -

When you pitch as ajr describes, be it spending budget on imdb or not, you talk to people you choose who could fit for your projects. You learn their thinking, their connections, you start to build a database in your head about who is who, who wants what, how's the philosophy of their company etc…

It's knowledge.

You really cannot compare a buy-me service to the hard work that (as I describe above) starts with research about who you phone or email, why, and what ends with analyzing the outcome and making conclusions. Conclusions you may need at some point. Those experiences build a net of information. My opinion at least.

But I don't know how hard it is in America. I just can say from what I know, those filmmakers are all real people, who listen, feel, and can be convinced through quality and also psychology when it comes to communication. The later point can't be emphasized enough.

In the end, sure you must invest. In books, your time, information, festivals or competitions. I said it before but few do understand or listen: Screenwriting might take everything from you without giving anything back. If you'd instead be another kind of artist, say, a singer, then at least you can stand in the pedestrian zone and give your all. Screenwriters without a credit or productivity do not exist for the public or even their closest in case of their performance and heavy efforts. I just can repeat myself, thinking of foregone comments of mine: It is dangerous. Especially when your passion gets out of control and you want more space then the world is willing to offer. Who decides what you deserve in this vague field? Just hard.

So what's your price?


Anybody got an info about the July OWC ladies and gentlemen?

Warren - I will be interested to hear what your thoughts are on the process after you go through the pitch.  

Quoted from eldave1 Warren - I will be interested to hear what your thoughts are on the process after you go through the pitch.

Thanks for reminding me, Dave. Sorry, I helped to derail the thread. Good luck from me too, Warren. When you can overview the costs, then making whatever experience is all right I believe.

Good or bad, I'll let you all know how it goes. It's happening this weekend.

Good luck this weekend then.

Did you pitch it to any of your screenwriter friends?

And is it $30 or $60? You said somewhere here that you're willing to spend a 60 so I'm confused.

No I have kept this script very much under wraps.

It's $30 each and I'm pitching to two different people.

My experiences with the stage32 pitching stuff isn't good, really. I've pitched twice, but both times with a written pitch rather than a skype session, because those sessions are at 3-4 am for my time. After a couple of weeks I got back coverage notes, but not more than 2-3 sentences. I think for the price you can get much better notes for your script / pitch document. You can submit both to CWA for example, iirc the submission fee is 40$ there and you get 5+ pages of detailed notes for each plus you are running in their contest.

Guess it depends what you want. I don't want to enter a contest and I don't particularly care about notes out of this. Either they like it or they don't.

It you want to enter a contest and you want notes then that would be an excellent idea I imagine.

I had to unsubscribe from Stage32. They were plugging pitch sessions, web workshops, TED talks and all sorts, more or less every day. I've yet to hear of anyone who got a genuine deal from any of these types of events.

Similarly if you go down the script competition/festival route which guarantee the winning scripts will go out to 100 production companies and get you are phone call with real studio execs. Folk act like they've won the jackpot when they win one of these, but they never seem to lead anywhere. I had an 'award winning script' sent out to 100 production companies after winning a competition once, I didn't get a single follow up.

These things are great practice for pitching and interacting with low-level operatives on the fringes of the industry. If you treat it like that and have the cash to spare, I don't see the harm at all. I hope the pitch was a good experience for you.