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Pitching your script (currently 1891 views) |
Warren |
Posted: June 30th, 2017, 9:51pm |
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Of The Ancients A man who has taught his mind to misbehave
LocationSydney, Australia Posts3897 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. |
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BSaunders |
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 1:02am |
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New
LocationGold Coast Posts272 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. |
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Reply: 1 - 25 |
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Warren |
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 2:00am |
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Of The Ancients A man who has taught his mind to misbehave
LocationSydney, Australia Posts3897 Posts Per Day 1.36 |
Yeah I figured parting with $60 wasn't going to be a massive issue so why the hell not. |
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leitskev |
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 10:18am |
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Posts3113 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. |
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Bogey |
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 10:19am |
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New
LocationThe Chair Posts232 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. |
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Reply: 4 - 25 |
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leitskev |
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 10:56am |
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Posts3113 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. |
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eldave1 |
Posted: July 1st, 2017, 11:00am |
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January Project Group
LocationSouthern California Posts6874 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.
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Reply: 6 - 25 |
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Warren |
Posted: July 2nd, 2017, 3:06am |
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Of The Ancients A man who has taught his mind to misbehave
LocationSydney, Australia Posts3897 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. |
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eldave1 |
Posted: July 2nd, 2017, 10:29am |
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January Project Group
LocationSouthern California Posts6874 Posts Per Day 1.95 |
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 |
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ajr |
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 3:52pm |
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Old Timer
Posts1482 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. |
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Warren |
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 4:23pm |
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Of The Ancients A man who has taught his mind to misbehave
LocationSydney, Australia Posts3897 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.
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ajr |
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 4:38pm |
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Old Timer
Posts1482 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... |
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AnthonyCawood |
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 5:21pm |
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January Project Group
LocationUK Posts4319 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. |
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Reply: 12 - 25 |
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Warren |
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 7:10pm |
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Of The Ancients A man who has taught his mind to misbehave
LocationSydney, Australia Posts3897 Posts Per Day 1.36 |
I think that's pretty solid advise. |
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Reply: 13 - 25 |
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eldave1 |
Posted: July 4th, 2017, 7:16pm |
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January Project Group
LocationSouthern California Posts6874 Posts Per Day 1.95 |
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. |
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Reply: 14 - 25 |
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