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Day 9 Assignments
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8 Replies
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Sky Canyon Phone Pitch
What I learned from this lesson is to understand the components of a pitch, which ones to use – which will change depending on what elements I have to work with (credibility, expertise, title, concept, etc) – what producers are looking for and might ask, and how to prepare for these. This is what I’ve been looking for and can know develop my skills around pitches.
1. Tell us which of the four strategies you are going to use to open your pitch:
Blend of two:
Lead with credibility.
Lead with a great title.
Lead with a strong business hook.
Lead with a High Concept – LOGLINE
2. Give us your script for phone call pitches, like I did above.
Hi, I’m Sky Canyon; I was formerly president and publisher at New World Library, famous for international bestsellers in self-help and spirituality, which my current script deals with, and I’m wondering if I can share a quick logline with you to see if my script grabs your interest?
Great, it’s a Dramatic Comedy Feature, titled THE MILLIONAIRE MONK.
Here’s the logline:
When a deliberate bad tip crashes the career and marriage of a Wall Street Guru-wannabe, life conspires to land him in a Tibetan monastery where he struggles to find inner peace and teaches the monks to trade the market.
3. Give us a one or two sentence answer to the questions a producer may ask:
What’s the budget range?
Mid-budget – $15-30 million; much of the Tibet scenes can be shot on a soundstage, with establishing shots to give us the feel of Tibet and the Himalayas. Same with New York. The outdoors could be shot in B.C.
Who do you see in the main roles?
– Originally written for Jim Carrey as Jack, the lead with special attention to both the dramatic role AND the comedic dialogue and physical comedy. However, Jim might be too old for this now; Ryan Reynolds or Adam Sandler could fit well.
– Prianka Chopra as the female role, Jena – she would be a strong push-back on Jack – great balance.
– Richard Gere as Jack’s investment firm boss in New York. Especially with his love of Tibet, and written with him in mind.
How many pages is the script? 110
Who else has seen this?
Have not shopped it around, talking to you first.
Why do you think this fits our company?
Because you’ve done dramatic comedies in this mid-budget range; this is in your wheel-house.
How does the movie end?
It is a dramatic moment with a feel-good ending. The Chinese are in a disaster with their air pollution, they want the frequencies developed by the monks to neutralize the pollution. Jack, the lead, makes a deal with Zhang, the Central Chinese Committee Member, to release the head monk if the monks can beam the frequencies to Chinese satellites and get the results. At the last minute, just when the head monk is about to be executed, the air in Beijing and other cities clears. Jack is a hero, and goes back to New York to start a green tech investments firm. Jena, the Indian woman who led the TREK that Jack reluctantly went on that landed him in the monastery, shows up in New York by surprise. The chemistry with her and Jack ignites – the guy gets the (right) girl – as we pan out on a beautiful earth with clear skies.
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Title: Ron Horton’s Phone Pitch for “Charley’s River”
I guess what I learned most is I have to give into phone pitches. I do much better face to face. Now I have to figure a way to see phone pitches in the same way.
1: Lead with experience, and then high concept. I’ll closely follow this by asking permission to give them the concept.
Hi, I’m Ron Horton. I’m a screenwriter, and former white-water rafter. My latest script is an Action/Adventure, Charley’s River, “featuring the highly challenging Colorado River. In 30 seconds, I can give you the concept. Would that be okay?
It’s about a daydreaming, Chicago financial genius, who, because of a woman scorned, ends up as a white-water rafting guide. The only way to realize his perfect life, with the women of his dreams, is to find it after their deaths.
2. Budget:
a. It’s a mid-range movie budget, between 20 and 40 million. The 1st and 2nd acts are shot in Chicago, the 3rd, on the Colorado River, with some scenes shot in a production tank.b. Main Roles:
Charley: Because I hear he loves white-water rafting, Brad Pitt
Susan: A new face, a graduate of Mullenberg College of Acting with a 4.0, Crystl Faye Horton.
Jack: The gruff, cop, boyfriend, Jeremy Holm of “The Ranger.” He’s also a friend.c. 113 pages
d. Based on the film River Wild, and your affiliation with Brad Pitt, I can see this might just be a good fit. You were 1st on my list.
e. At one point Charley is forced to make a decision. Should he let the boyfriend drown, or does he keep true to himself and jump into the class 5 rapid to save him. He saves him.
This one act draws Susan to him and they begin their courtship on the river. Six weeks later they are married.
On their honeymoon rafting trip, followed by their friends and film crew, there is a tremor in the canyon that starts a landslide. A boulder hits Charley and sends him to the bottom of the river. Susan goes in after him and knocks him free from the eddy.
They end up on the beach, amazed they got out of that in one piece. But they are quickly confused since they are no longer bleeding from the rocks and they are dry. When they row over to their friends, they have their answers. Their bodies are lying in the other raft.
They float away. Their three good friends are the only ones in the crew who can see them as they enter the next rapids.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by Ron Horton.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by
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What I learned most doing this assignment is putting together a phone pitch
Phone pitch:
Hello, I’m Danielle Dillard and I specialize in writing screenplays in the family and faith-based genres. I’ve written screenplays for Greystoke Entertainment and helped develop stories for the Hallmark Channel.
I have a screenplay, a family comedy with touching elements called The Cut-Off Heiress which follows a spoiled 19-year-old socialite diva who gets financially cut-off by her wealthy parents, and she must learn how to fend for herself for the first time.
The budget range is between 20-25 million and I can see a talented young actress in the lead, such as Peyton List. The script is 105 pages. There is a manager that’s currently reading the script and I think it’s a great fit for your company because of your recent success with your family comedy, The Family Hustle. My film has a very touching yet entertaining ending that shows the protagonist’s transformation from a shallow girl to a mature, compassionate young woman with a passion for helping others less fortunate. Would you like to read my script or receive a synopsis? Thank you.
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Tracy’s Phone Pitch
What I learned is it’s best to boil it down and let the person you’re pitching ask for more. That way no one wastes time, and you don’t bore the other person. My hook feels strong, and I look forward to doing feedback to continue to improve it.
Hi my name is Tracy Lawson. I’m an author, historian, and the sixth great-granddaughter of an unsung heroine of the American Revolution.
Today I have a period drama called Revolutionary Anna, adapted from my novel Answering Liberty’s Call: Anna Stone’s Daring Ride to Valley Forge. It’s based on the true story of a woman who sets out for Valley Forge to save her husband and ends up saving the American Revolution.
Budget Range: Low budget? $3-5 million?
Who do you like for the lead roles?
I prefer Jenna Coleman, Dakota Fanning, or Amybeth McNulty, who have had lead roles in period series. I also like Aimee Teegarden and Megan Boone.
Pie in the sky? Bradley Cooper. I adore Tom Mison, though. Eddie Redmayne and Tom Sturridge would also be good choices.
Summary of acts: In Act 1, news of the terrible conditions at Valley Forge drives Anna to make a treacherous 200-mile journey with supplies for her husband and brothers. Her mother tries to talk her out of going, but her uncle offers to bankroll the trip, provided she deliver a letter to his business associate on the way.
In Act 2, Anna realizes her uncle tricked her into delivering funds to a smuggling ring that steals supplies from the army. Furious, Anna risks her life to try and stop the smugglers but fails. In York, PA, a congressman recruits her as a spy and asks her to carry a secret message directly to General Washington. Finally, she has a chance to make up for her earlier naivete!
In Act 3, Anna’s only had the message for a few hours when a man rides up, blocks her way, and demands she give it to him. Anna refuses, and the race is on for the remaining 80 miles to Valley Forge!
In Act 4, Anna uses skills she’s learned on the road to outsmart her pursuer. When she reaches Valley Forge just yards ahead of him, she is detained at the picket line. She is an unknown courier, so Washington’s aides consider the message she has risked her life to deliver unreliable. Anna convinces General Washington to read the message in time. With the information it contains, Washington can thwart a conspiracy that would have replaced him, derailed the Franco-American Alliance, and led to an American surrender.
The story ends with the Revolution on firm footing, and Anna reunited, if only temporarily, with her soldier husband.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by Tracy Lawson.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by
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Rod’s Phone Pitch
Strategies: Lead with credibility.
Script: Hi, I’m a produced writer and I’d like to give you a one-line pitch.
(If okay):
Your whole life changes when you find a naked girl in a burnt out car.
(If negative):
Thank you.Answers to questions:
Budget: 1 to 5 million.Cast: No cast in mind, suggest this will be the producer’s decision depending on availability when shooting dates are set.
Script length: 90 pages.
Who’s seen this: No one. Wanted to give you the first look.
Why this company: Your company has a good track record with this genre and I like the production values in your films.
Ending: Believing Brad is dead Lisa gives in to the villain’s sexual desires since the opening scene but at the last minute she sees Brad alive, armed, struggling toward them. She inflicts distracting pain on the villain and Brad takes takes him out with a vengeance.
From this session I’ve learned how to construct a brief live pitch for making cold calls to a warm market producer.
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Lee Skore Phone Pitch
(4) What I learned from this lesson:
Choosing the strongest idea(s), but presenting it/them very concisely so a producer can see the WHOLE movie, is challenging.
(1) Which of the 4 strategies to open the pitch? Credibility, title, concept
Hi, I’m Lee Skore, I wrote my script with the guidance of my mentor, Chris Soth. The title is TELLING LIES. The concept is a Nantucket woman must solve the mystery of her past before the person who murdered her parents kills her too.
(2) Answers to the following:
— Budget range: Probably in the $15-$30 million range.
— Main roles: Female lead: Dakota Fanning, Kara Kilmer; Male lead: Taylor Kinney, or someoe like Jake Gyllenhaal or Chris Pine.
— Number of pages: 104
— Who else has seen this: Chris Soth and one friend
— Why I think it fits your company: You have produced other mystery movies in the same budget range of TELLING LIES.
— How does thi movie end:
Setup: Corey wakes from her nightmare screaming, “Stop killing me.” She finds 3 skeletons down an old well and learns her DNA matches 2 of the skeletons. Someone tries to kill her. She must solve the mystery of her past before the killer tries to murder her again.
Payoff: Corey fights for her life, kills her attacker, and survives.
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Marian’s Phone Pitch
What I learned doing this assignment is, that it’s great to have guidelines but ultimately, I have to do what feels best for me personally. So, I have added a lead strategy of my own.
Lead with an honest compliment.
Hello, my name is Marian,
I am excited about your last movie. I thought it was an exceptionally brave story in a strong genre, so I would love to pitch you a story I wrote.
Before I went to the Academy of Television and Film, I grew up on a North Sea Island. The North Sea thrills tourists, but hardly anyone knows, that it can be very dangerous.
With the sea rescuers, I experienced on our island, more than one time per week, tourists have to be rescued from the mud flats.
My story is a survival thriller that is based on true events. For 25-year-old beach volleyball player Hannah and her younger sister Tessa, a mudflat crossing becomes a deadly fight for survival.
The script is 90 pages and has a dramatic ending where Hannah not only has to save herself and her sister after being dunked in dangerous muddy sand but also has to face a dark family secret.
The budget is in the range of 2-5 million euros and the project would be ideal for upcoming young actresses who have already built their fanbase.
I imagine this could be an interesting project for you as you have done similar projects successfully in the past. What do you think?
I will gladly send the script and a small promo. Thank you very much. -
Lisa’s Phone Pitch
What I learned doing this assignment is that your phone pitch doesn’t have to be memorized and that shorter and more concise is better.
Strategy:
Lead with high concept: Vegan who gets turned into a vampire
“Hi I’m Lisa Molenda and I was wondering if I could run a quick log line by you?”
What’s the budget range?What’s the budget range? 30 million per season
Who do you see in the main roles? Lizzo, Tabitha Brown.
How many pages is the script? 44
Who else has seen this? We entered it into a pitch competition and were rated in the top 30% on Coverfly.
Why do you think this fits our company? It’s in a similar tone as Barry, and will have a similar budget.
How does the show end?
The Pilot ends with Jane feasting on oher coworker, sealing her fate as a vampire. Season one ends with Jane finding out that the blood the vampires had been supplying her was coming from human farms.
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