Definitely Maybe
In my last post I mentioned Project X, an idea I’d submitted to a Ö÷²¥´óÐã executive in the hope that she’d commission a script. Well, her verdict is in, and it’s…
…wait for it…
…lukewarm. It’s a maybe. She’s not sure. She needs to be convinced.
So the next stage is for me and the producer I’ve been working with to go into the exec’s office and pitch the show. We need to sell the idea, explain how it’ll work and show what a broad appeal it could have.
Problem is, I’ve tried pitching before and I’m rubbish at it. I get scared. I’m like one of those people on Dragons’ Den who get two sentences in, forget their words, stand quietly for a bit and then cry. And that probably won’t get us our script commission.
But we’ll have a go anyway. I’ll try to make Project X sound like a sure-fire winner while being refreshingly different from any show that has gone before. I’ll try to make it sound like a mixture of all the best and most successful shows of the last few years – a sort of Shameless meets The IT Crowd crossed with Lazytown with its own slant that makes it completely different to any of them. I’ll be dynamic and enthusiastic. And I’ll be talking through my hat the entire time. (That is, unless the executive in question is reading this, in which case it really is a guaranteed sure-fire hit, honest).
I’ll let you know what happens…
Comments
I've read somewhere that picturing your commissioning exec in nothing but cross-gender underwear helps in situations like this.
On the other hand, it might just make you grin like a fool and force the above to cautiously reach for the security button.
Either way, try it and let me know what happens.
Thanks Joe. Got to be worth a try
Hi Daniel: Sorry I'm late in responding to your blog. Been a very busy last couple weeks--turning 40, being the biggest. Anyway, I'm not the master pitcher either, but I find that when I'm excited about the project, if I really would love to see my particular project on TV or on the big screen, then I can really get into the pitch. I can 'sell' the idea, the concept, the originality, and support the fact that there is an audience out there for it. I also try and put things in perspective--it's not the end of the world for me if they don't go for it; I have other concepts and scripts to pitch as well. Be confident in your ability as a writer and in the project you've created. Have fun but be professional. And go for it! Good luck!!
I felt very angry with thetrailer you used to advertise Dragons' Den which delivertately encourage mysonganistviews. You deliberately used Debroah, the only woman in the team, and the image of the foot, painted red underneath, squashing a man,was realy really offensive. Other women have complained to me about this. Why reinforce this sort of attitude, it does not help women and is tastless and pornographic. Surely business does not have to b e presented as something so violent. I will not be watching the programme again, as I think it is becoming like Big Brother and the Apprentice, playing games of power with people. A live experiment on human beings. Anne
Hi Anne
Unfortunately we don't have anything to do with trailers here.
The best place to complain about anything you see or hear on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã is the Ö÷²¥´óÐã complaints website.