Getting a pitch meeting
You mentioned that you went in to pitch for How To Eat Fried Worms and that it was the first script you were paid to write. Well, say a screenwriter has written a number of scripts and they want to pitch their ideas to a studio. How does one go about that? You can’t just waltz into Dreamworks and start spouting off lines right? So, what does one do? Set up a meeting? Could it be THAT simple? Calling and setting up a meeting?
–Josh Caldwell
New York
It always starts with a meeting, and generally these are set up by an agent or manager. In the case of FRIED WORMS, it was set up by my friend Jim Whitaker, who was working as a junior executive at Imagine, the company run by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. He had read my very first script, and thought I might be the right person to adapt this little kid’s book the company had just optioned. So it was my friendship with him that got me in the room. But it was my take on the story that got me the job.
I’ve written in other places about the mechanics of a pitch, but generally it works like this. Pretend you just saw a great movie, and you wanted to convince your skeptical best friend why he should see it. What would you say? That’s a pitch.
Now usually, before you even go into a pitch meeting, some of the groundwork has been laid. For instance, before I pitched BIG FISH, the executives at Sony read the book, so they had some idea what the project was about. Even in the case of a completely original idea, it’s good if the recipient has been told what kind of movie you’re pitching — a thriller, a comedy, a futuristic prison romance, whatever. For something like TARZAN, which I’m writing now, we had a few phone calls to discuss the overall tone and approach before we even set the meeting.
And almost always, the people hearing the pitch want to read your writing ahead of time, so they know you really can write. In the case of FRIED WORMS, I was at a real disadvantage in this regard. The only writing samples I could show were my first script (a tragic-comic romance) and the novelization of NATURAL BORN KILLERS. The other writers pitching for the job were true comedy writers, many of them working on THE SIMPSONS. Ultimately, I got the job. Even though the movie still hasn’t been made, I’m tremendously grateful for the opportunity.
Articles
January 16th, 2004 at 2:33 pm
Thanks for that peek behind the curtain, John. And keep up the good work.
September 22nd, 2004 at 12:29 pm
I laud your site copiously, finally I found a venue for a script-nerd like myself. A wonderfull site, however, I would like a more radical change of colour once I have read a headline in your archives, you see there��s but a subtle diffrence between blue and slightly more blue. Very hard on my much used eyes (I am a cameraman, living and working in Iceland). Otherwise keep up the good work!
August 16th, 2005 at 4:21 am
Dear John,
I’m a french screenwriter and don’t have an agent. My script (in english) had been read by a independant producer I met in a seminar in LA. He is interested in it but the budget is too important for him. So he wants us to get a pitch meeting. He told me there are many places we can pitch (AFM, Screenwriters Expo,..). What do you think about it ? Is it really possible to make a deal in a pitch meeting like that ?
April 9th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I’m really busting my hump to get my character designs noticed with the storyline proposals i have created and worked on for over 15 years. If any one is interested the website is (www.xdragunn.com) ive created the website, drawn the characters, rewrote the storylines in a little under 3 months for my art/education curriculum thesis. if any one goes to the website click “ANIME” and the page should come up with the designs as well as the storyline proposals. If anyone is interested email me!
good luck to everyone,
-Dustin
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:39 am
Thanks John
Excellent insight. Although, I do have another question. Why are agents so picky? where can I find an agent, open to new aspiring screenwriter’s and their submissions? Also, I have a friend who is a director in CA, well known in certain circles, is it wise to approach him to rep me as a manager, and have him set up pitch meetings?
thewriteguy@hotmail.com