SimplyScripts Discussion Board
Blog Home - Produced Movie Script Library - TV Scripts - Unproduced Scripts - Contact - Site Map
ScriptSearch
Welcome, Guest.
It is March 28th, 2024, 4:19pm
Please login or register.
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login
Please do read the guidelines that govern behavior on the discussion board. It will make for a much more pleasant experience for everyone. A word about SimplyScripts and Censorship


Produced Script Database (Updated!)
One Week Challenge - Who Wrote What and Writers' Choice.


Scripts studios are posting for award consideration

Short Script of the Day | Featured Script of the Month | Featured Short Scripts Available for Production
Submit Your Script

How do I get my film's link and banner here?
All screenplays on the simplyscripts.com and simplyscripts.net domain are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. This screenplaymay not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
Forum Login
Username: Create a new Account
Password:     Forgot Password

SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Discussion of...     General Chat  ›  Pitching your script Moderators: bert
Users Browsing Forum
No Members and 2 Guests

 Pages: 1, 2 » : All
Recommend Print
  Author    Pitching your script  (currently 1891 views)
Warren
Posted: June 30th, 2017, 9:51pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


A man who has taught his mind to misbehave

Location
Sydney, Australia
Posts
3897
Posts Per Day
1.36
Hi all,

Interested to know if anyone has any experience with this.

So Stage 32 are asking for true stories to be pitched to Jim Young, Owner & Producer at Animus Films and David Hurst, Scripted Development Coordinator at ABC/Lincoln Square Productions.

You have to pay for the 'privilege', $30 each pitch but these are people with access to millions of dollars to potentially make your movie. So I guess if you really think you have a good idea it would be worth it right?

These are face to face pitches (via Skype).

Money making scam or legit?

So I've paid my cash and will be doing it because I think I have one hell of a true story. It hasn't made it to the threads yet because it's been a 2 year project and I'm still about 20 pages from the finish. For all the people that I have rain checks on feature exchanges, this is the script that I want you to read.

Anyway, has anyone done anything like this before? What was it like and would you recommend it?

Thanks.


Logged
Private Message
BSaunders
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 1:02am Report to Moderator
New



Location
Gold Coast
Posts
272
Posts Per Day
0.09
I doubt Stage 32 would promote any illegitimate stuff. They're a pretty well known site.

$30 is a small price to pay for what could possibly get your script produced.

Good on ya for going for it and I hope they like your idea. And if they don't.. Fuck em.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 1 - 25
Warren
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 2:00am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


A man who has taught his mind to misbehave

Location
Sydney, Australia
Posts
3897
Posts Per Day
1.36
Yeah I figured parting with $60 wasn't going to be a massive issue so why the hell not.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 2 - 25
leitskev
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 10:18am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


Posts
3113
Posts Per Day
0.64
It's a lottery ticket. Anyone who was actually making a living producing movies would not be doing $30 skype pitches. I'm not saying it's impossible that it could lead to success, but it's HIGHLY unlikely IMO.
Logged
Private Message Reply: 3 - 25
Bogey
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 10:19am Report to Moderator
New



Location
The Chair
Posts
232
Posts Per Day
0.06
I've done it several times with Stage 32. No success yet.

My only caution is that I sometimes get the impression that the folks hearing the pitches are honing their evaluation process as much as the pitchers are trying to perfect their pitch -- a learning experience on both ends.

Good luck.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 4 - 25
leitskev
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 10:56am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


Posts
3113
Posts Per Day
0.64
I did one of these 2 weeks ago. My writing partner had signed up for it. You're basically pitching to people that have managed to get attached at some lower level to a film, and they are trying to milk that film credit. I don't blame them, this is a tough biz, but if they had current careers in the industry, they wouldn't have to do this kind of thing. Same as script gurus.

I do think it can help you practice your pitching though.

I would suggest this:

1) the person on the other end will make his/her decision on whether they like your project in the first 15 seconds of the pitch. Keep that in mind. So your idea must be REALLY high concept. It has to grab right away, in a few words, or you're lost.
2) are there any characters that would appeal to A-listers? Make that a focus.
3) leave plenty of time for him to ask questions. This is important because it lets you get feedback on your concept.
Logged
Private Message Reply: 5 - 25
eldave1
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 11:00am Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
Southern California
Posts
6874
Posts Per Day
1.95
In my opinion, if the $30 pitch is viewed in the context of you are paying $30 to practice pitching - okay. I imagine honing pitching skills important. However, I would think that the linkage to an actual sale would be weak.

I have tried query services, virtual pitchfest, inktip, etc. - all promising industry exposure. The person paying for the service is always left with the following paradigm when done with the service:

* Did the service suck or did my script/idea suck? Impossible to answer.

I have nothing against Stage 32 per se because you can join for free and decide what you want to buy. I might try this since I do need to practice pitching. But I doubt there is any real linkage to production.

What I ever never understood is why you have to pay to expose something valuable to people who need it to make their living. Kind of like pay $30 to Exxon to tell them where you think the oil is.

What I would love to see is a virtual agency. Where you can submit your script/loglines et al for free - they do the work of getting it to producers and in return get a pre-agreed to percentage of the sale. That would incentive them to only do those things that link your script to production. You win - they win.







My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 6 - 25
Warren
Posted: July 2nd, 2017, 3:06am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


A man who has taught his mind to misbehave

Location
Sydney, Australia
Posts
3897
Posts Per Day
1.36
Thanks for the input all.

I think everything to do with screenplay writing is a bit of a lottery. If you don't have a ticket you definitely aren't going to win though.

Will let you know how it goes.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 7 - 25
eldave1
Posted: July 2nd, 2017, 10:29am Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
Southern California
Posts
6874
Posts Per Day
1.95

Quoted from Warren
Thanks for the input all.

I think everything to do with screenplay writing is a bit of a lottery. If you don't have a ticket you definitely aren't going to win though.

Will let you know how it goes.


True that


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 8 - 25
ajr
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 3:52pm Report to Moderator
Old Timer



Posts
1482
Posts Per Day
0.28
I wouldn't pay to pitch something. I don't think there's a substitute for grinding it out. Get an IMDB pro account, look up the people you think would be a best fit for you, query them first by email, follow up occasionally, place a phone call. The majority will ignore you, some will write back with a polite no, however every now and then you connect.


Click HERE to read JOHN LENNON'S HEAVEN https://preview.tinyurl.com/John-Lennon-s-Heaven-110-pgs/
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 9 - 25
Warren
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 4:23pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


A man who has taught his mind to misbehave

Location
Sydney, Australia
Posts
3897
Posts Per Day
1.36
And how have those connections worked out for you?

I wonder if dollar for dollar value you have wasted more money on an IMDb pro account than I have on 2 pitches.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 10 - 25
ajr
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 4:38pm Report to Moderator
Old Timer



Posts
1482
Posts Per Day
0.28
It doesn't have to be an IMDB Pro account, that was just an example. You can go about getting your info in a number of ways, it's a lot easier these days than it used to be. You can use http://www.everyonewhosanyone.com.

Point I was trying to make is that getting a script noticed is a numbers game, and you're competing with hundreds of thousands of people, most of whom are P.A.s on movie sets with proximity to decision makers, so it's a grind...


Click HERE to read JOHN LENNON'S HEAVEN https://preview.tinyurl.com/John-Lennon-s-Heaven-110-pgs/
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 11 - 25
AnthonyCawood
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 5:21pm Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
UK
Posts
4319
Posts Per Day
1.14
I've used Stage 32s Happy Writer's pitch service (though managed to get it for free)... was good to practice pitching and the 'Exec' requested the script and gave me some useful feedback.

I think it's less of a lottery than the IMDB Pro route as you already know exactly who you are pitching to and who they work for... though the IMDB Pro route is perfectly valid and I've used that too.

VPF is worth a look too, though it's written pitches, less feedback but a good range of options... and Roadmap Writer's too...

My advice... use as many as you can within your budget, you never know which route will prove successful.


Anthony Cawood - Award winning screenwriter
Available Short screenplays - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/short-scripts
Available Feature screenplays - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/feature-film-scripts/
Screenwriting articles - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/articles
IMDB Link - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm6495672/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Logged Offline
Site Private Message Reply: 12 - 25
Warren
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 7:10pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


A man who has taught his mind to misbehave

Location
Sydney, Australia
Posts
3897
Posts Per Day
1.36
I think that's pretty solid advise.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 13 - 25
eldave1
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 7:16pm Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
Southern California
Posts
6874
Posts Per Day
1.95

Quoted from AnthonyCawood
I've used Stage 32s Happy Writer's pitch service (though managed to get it for free)... was good to practice pitching and the 'Exec' requested the script and gave me some useful feedback.

I think it's less of a lottery than the IMDB Pro route as you already know exactly who you are pitching to and who they work for... though the IMDB Pro route is perfectly valid and I've used that too.

VPF is worth a look too, though it's written pitches, less feedback but a good range of options... and Roadmap Writer's too...

My advice... use as many as you can within your budget, you never know which route will prove successful.


Generally agree with this other than I am not a fan of Virtual Pitch Fest (VPF).

- You don't know who actually read the pitch
- They really don't have to "respond" - they merely click a dialogue block for a pre-written  standard response.






My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 14 - 25
 Pages: 1, 2 » : All
Recommend Print

Locked Board Board Index    General Chat  [ previous | next ] Switch to:
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login

Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post polls
You may not post attachments
HTML is on
Blah Code is on
Smilies are on


Powered by E-Blah Platinum 9.71B © 2001-2006