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Day 8 Assignments
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POWER PLAYERS LESSON EIGHT
FRAN’S PITCH FEST PITCH
WHAT I LEARNED: You have a perfect outline here of what to do. I just followed your outline, your advice, and it WORKED OUT BEAUTIFULLY FOR MY SCRIPT AND MY PITCH!
1. Hi. My name is Frances Emerson. I’m an alumna of the ScreenwritingU.com screenwriter classes. I also have several articles published in newspapers and magazines. And I have a Bachelor’s degree in History, specializing in American History and historical research.
2. I’ve been working on a three-part series based on the true story: THE GREAT RACE BETWEEN THE NATCHEZ AND THE ROBERT E. LEE.
3. The greatest race to ever be recorded in the annals of American History, top speed of either steamer–in 1870–state of the art–seventeen miles per hour.
4. Budget range: for this blockbuster of a story, high—90 million plus?
5. On my wish list: I would love to show you the pictures of the captains, first, for you to understand my choices: Liam Neeson for Cannon, Mel Gibson for Leathers, and Tom Holland for Charles Welbourne Knapp.
6. Act (Part) One: The race begins in New Orleans before thousands of spectators. And Charles’ love story, with the object of his affection, Frances Shackelford, on board the Lee, culminating in the Lee’s fourth boiler ready to explode.
Act (Part) Two: Continues Charles’ love story with Albert, the young cavalryman who tries to steal Frances’ heart—and worming his way into her family fortune.
Act (Part) Three: brings us to the Danger Zones. The Devil’s Country. The most treacherous, dreaded part of the Mississippi River where even the most experienced pilots and captains fear to trundle, and then a fog so thick settling in nothing can be seen beyond the bow of either racer. Ending in the Lee’s triumphant entry into St. Louis’ harbors, a full six hours ahead of the Natchez,
7. a marriage proposal for Charles and Frances, and a celebration NASCAR drivers would envy today.
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David’s Pitch Fest Pitch
What I learned is that I already have a compelling hook and since I have a decent script already covered by copyright and WGA I could pretty much send it immediately upon request. I’ll probably tweak it a little before my next pitch, through, because I feel like this process could definitely result in more requests.
1. Hey I’m Dave. I’m a writer who has won awards for both film and theatre.
2. I have an action drama called Deeper than Blood.
3. The high concept of this film is a small town bank heist in the middle of a wildfire evacuation.
4. Please give your one or two sentence answer to each of these questions:
What is the budget range?
I’d say this is low budget. Depending on the actors you get, I’m confident you could shoot it for less than five. Of course if we drop an A-list or two in there the budget will have to be reconsidered.
What actors do you like for the lead roles?
I think Lucas Hedges would be ideal for the lead role of Danny. He’s a fine actor, about the right age, and has a great look for the role. And Matthew McConaughey, if we could get him, would be great to play Danny’s dad, Arlo.
Give me the acts of the story.
Act I centers around a young man, Danny, who commits to helping his ex-con father, Arlo, rebuild his life in a small town where memories run long and grudges run deep. Complicating this are two of Arlo’s old criminal associates who show up demanding money he owes them but doesn’t have, and a wildfire that sparks up outside of town and starts inching towards them.
Act II is Danny trying to help his dad get those guys off his back, but since the circumstances dictate that he can’t go to the sheriff, he has to use other means. So he ends up damaging his own reputation and relationships, and actually spends a day in jail.
Act III begins when the wildfire suddenly hits the town much sooner than anyone anticipated, and everyone is evacuating. Danny goes to help Arlo get out of town, but Arlo and his old associates hijack Danny and his pickup, dragging him into violence and a dangerous bank heist as the town burns around them. Arlo reveals his betrayal when Danny finds out it was Arlo that started the fire in the first place.
How does it end? (setup / payoff).
Danny ultimately has to decide between his father and himself and everyone he loves. So he shoots his father, then has to help a wounded and limping sheriff escape the wildfire on foot.
Credibility questions What have you done?
I’ve written and produced multiple films and stage plays, many of which have won awards. I have footage that can be shared on request.
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Julie’s Pitch Fest Pitch
What I learned is to keep it very simple. Just the basics. Be ready for other questions.
Hi, I’m Julie. I’m a huge police show fan and have used my degree in psychology and my experience from the police citizen’s academy to create a groundbreaking new drama series called Detroit PD: DART. Dart stands for Domestic Assistance Response Team. It’s about the seismic culture clashes that happen when a civilian team is sent to handle domestic related calls instead of or with the police in an effort to reduce excessive violence and offer more comprehensive care and access to community programs.
What is the budget range? $1M per episode
What actors do you like for the lead roles? John David Washington & Max Martini
Give me the acts of the story (A-story only)
1. Teaser, Three shots fired during an altercation in a wealthy family’s home. We don’t know the shooter(s) or if anyone is alive.
2. We find out that the police have a betting pool on the Joneses, a family caught in a cycle of domestic violence.
3. Mack & Johnny respond to a call at the Joneses, counsel them, then arrest them both as mutual combatants. Johnny gives the husband Dr Mel’s business card (DART social worker).
4. Later, there is a triple homicide at the Joneses house.
5. Mack approaches Dr. Mel to see if there was anything more they could have done and they agree to work together.
How does it (the series) end?
· A-story
o The teams are lured into an abandoned building by a disgruntled former cop and are ambushed by a local gang. Mack saves Jackson’s life, but then he falls through two floors.
· Serialized
o At the end of the first season, the pilot DART program gets approval for its long-awaited funding, but then we find out the mayor has been accused of embezzlement, so we’re not sure if there is any money for the program.
Credibility questions: What have you done?
· I have written a spec script for the TV series Southland that was a quarter finalist.
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(I apologize for the tardiness. I took my family on an end of summer vacation!!)
Lesson 8 – Being a Star at Pitch Fests! – Assignment
Mike O – Pitch Fest Pitch
What I have learned doing this is shorter is key. Being succinct, follow the process and keep it focused on the “hooks”
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Create your entire Pitch Fest Pitch.
1. Tell us your credibility. I have written a number of feature film scripts and television pilots, several of which have won semi-finalist and Best Screenplay recognition in various contests. I worked with Cynthia Whitcomb, former professor, UCLA Film School, who has sold more than 70 feature-length screenplays, 25 of which have been filmed. In her words, “It’s time to market your work. It’s ready and so are you.”
2. Tell us your genre and title. “Christmas Trimmings” is a holiday romance script.
3. What is your one or two sentence hook? Brooklyn learns her estranged father has died. A workaholic homebody, she must travel cross-country and settle her father’s affairs. It will require her to overcome her feelings of abandonment, outsmart a sociopathic employee and accept her father’s posthumous love which changes her thoughts on life, love and what comes next.
4. Please give your one or two sentence answer to each of these questions:
4a. What is the budget range? Low budget: $1 million to $5 million,
4b. What actors do you like for the lead roles? Protagonist – Brooklyn = Sara Canning Supporting Character: best friend and mentor – Carolyn = Rosamund Pike Antagonist – Richard = Mark Pellegrino
4c. Give me the acts of the story.
4d. How does it end? (setup / payoff). The antagonist is outsmarted by the protagonist. He is beat at his own game.
4e. Credibility questions What have you done? I have written a number of feature film scripts and television pilots, several of which have won semi-finalist and Best Screenplay recognition in various contests. I worked with Cynthia Whitcomb, former professor, UCLA Film School, who has sold more than 70 feature-length screenplays, 25 of which have been filmed. In her words, “It’s time to market your work. It’s ready and so are you.”
NOTE: even though we’ve presented this as the Pitch Fest Pitch, you will also use this structure for pitches you do on Skype, or in your initial meetings with producers. The most important thing here is that you are giving them the exact information they need in the order they need it. You are presenting your pitch the way a producer’s brain works.
(1) Credibility (2) Genre (3) Title (4) Main Hook that will sell the movie (5) Answer questions
If you pitch the way they think, you will have much more success as a screenwriter. Have fun doing this assignment. It will make a big difference in your pitching!
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