I’m a novelist with over a dozen thrillers published by Hachette. I’ve had books optioned before and a shopping agreement or two along the way but have yet to make it to the big or small screen. I was curious if being involved in the early stages could get me that elusive TV or film deal, and then writer and friend Addy Farmer told me about this fantastic opportunity to attend Make It Reel, a one day event for filmmakers, screenwriters and content creators! It was an exciting opportunity, and I couldn’t resist. I somehow convinced myself to put my name in the hat for the pitch competition at the end, judged by London Screenwriters Festival organisers, Chris Jones and Bob Schultz.
Shaking in the audience in case my name was chosen, I watched one pitch after another. Listening to the feedback. Then they said only one more, chose a name … it wasn’t mine. ALL the relief. But the name chosen was lovely Micaela; we’d chanced to sit next to each other in the audience. She wasn’t ready and asked – in the spirit of supporting each other – if she could nominate me to take her place. They said yes.
I’ve never pitched in front of a room full of people before. I’m a reasonably confident public speaker but this was something different – I was actually shaking! And … I won!
Here are tips I heard from judges Bob and Chris on the day:
- Don’t have notes in your hands – have a conversation. Try not to sound rehearsed.
- Tell them why the story is important to you
- Make them care about your characters/their story
- If it’s a comedy, make them laugh! If it’s a sad story, make them cry.
- You don’t have to fill the time. Far better to be succinct and invite questions.
- Say less, slow down. Don’t bombard with details.
- Overall: a pitch should include title, genre, the gist of the concept in a sentence or two. Comparables. A sentence or two about you. And that’s it – done.
- If possible, find the one killer line that sums up the essence of the concept in as few words as possible.
It’s fair to say that the reason my pitch won was because it had no. 8. My favourite example of this is from the world of kids lit: the pitch for Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series was Die Hard with fairies. How can you not love that?
My pitch was for a cosy crime series with a difference, with comps of Ludwig and McDonald and Dodds. The first two in the series are written in prose but currently unpublished, and I’m intrigued to approach screen and publication simultaneously. If you’d like to learn more, please contact agent Nicky Lovick at WGM Atlantic for further information.
Photo above of the three winners – from left to right, Steven Mallison (3rd), Teri Terry (1st) and Teresa Podocka (2nd).
Filmmaker, Author and Festival founder. Currently directing splinter unit on Mission: Impossible 8 and Exec Producing Apple Original show title TBC.
