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Pitchfests?

T

TheSomnambulant

Has anyone ever had success going to a pitching event like the CS Expo? What about online things like Logliners (www.logliners.com), Script Ink (www.scriptink.com), or Screenbrokers (www.screenbrokers.com)? I mean, these things must work, otherwise they wouldn't be around, and some of them seem to offer pretty good services for a pretty low price. Like at the Expo you basically get to connect with all the major agencies and production companies, and even Logliners has some thing where they're bringing in the Head of Development at Lionsgate!

Anyone have any input?
 
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My manager has been a pitchee at a few of those things. He's sort of on the fence about them. He gets paid for being there, but hasn't signed anyone as a result of participating and doesn't know anyone else who has. He also feels sorry for the pitchers because they're not usually given enough time to be heard properly. He thinks the workshops that usually accompany them are probably more valuable than the actual pitch sessions.

Doesn't necessarily mean anything -- just fyi.

p.s. -- I got hooked up with him via a web site called InkTip.com.
 
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TheSomnambulant said:
I mean, these things must work, otherwise they wouldn't be around, and some of them seem to offer pretty good services for a pretty low price.
Click to expand...
These things work for the people putting them together. They
make money of the fee writers are charged. In many cases
the companies who go are paid a fee, too. In other cases it's
a nice tax write off and good publicity. I'm not in anyway
suggesting these pitch fests are scams - they are not. They
deliver exactly what they claim to deliver. As 2001 said, the
workshops can be worth the money. Many writers say they
have gotten business cards and have gotten nice reactions,
but actual options or sales....
Like at the Expo you basically get to connect with all the major agencies and production companies, and even Logliners has some thing where they're bringing in the Head of Development at Lionsgate!
Click to expand...
You're sounding like a pitchman for these pitch fests. I don't
know that a coupe of minutes pitching along with 200 other
writers who have paid money to be there can be called
connecting with agencies and prodCo's, but for many writers
that's the only way they will sit in front of an agent, manager
or development person.

All the majors who go send very junior people because a pitch
fest is a drag. I have gone twice - as a very junior reader with
a prodCo. I'd say that 98% of the pitches I took were terrible.
That really drags on you after a few hours. Which is why no
senior member of an agency or prodCo is going to go.

But the hope is great with all of us. And the hope of being "the
one" who is the exception is why these pitch fests exist. Along
with making some money off the hopeful.

If any writer has the money and time to spare I think a pitch
fest is a good experience.
 
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What...

directorik said:
These things work for the people putting them together. They
make money of the fee writers are charged. In many cases
the companies who go are paid a fee, too. In other cases it's
a nice tax write off and good publicity. I'm not in anyway
suggesting these pitch fests are scams - they are not. They
deliver exactly what they claim to deliver. As 2001 said, the
workshops can be worth the money. Many writers say they
have gotten business cards and have gotten nice reactions,
but actual options or sales....

You're sounding like a pitchman for these pitch fests. I don't
know that a coupe of minutes pitching along with 200 other
writers who have paid money to be there can be called
connecting with agencies and prodCo's, but for many writers
that's the only way they will sit in front of an agent, manager
or development person.

All the majors who go send very junior people because a pitch
fest is a drag. I have gone twice - as a very junior reader with
a prodCo. I'd say that 98% of the pitches I took were terrible.
That really drags on you after a few hours. Which is why no
senior member of an agency or prodCo is going to go.

But the hope is great with all of us. And the hope of being "the
one" who is the exception is why these pitch fests exist. Along
with making some money off the hopeful.

If any writer has the money and time to spare I think a pitch
fest is a good experience.
Click to expand...

HE SAID.

Most of the people that go to these things are there for experience in listening to pitches... In most cases, unless that pitch FLAT OUT ROCKS -- nobody is going to say, "Leave the script." And even when they do and they do from time to time, the script rarely even gets read.

The organizations that put these pitchfests on are there to make MONEY. Plain and simple. Harsh but TRUE. Now don't get me wrong, if you have that one pitch for a screenplay that does flat out rock, go for it. And while the numbers might not be as bad as playing the lottery, the results are very much the same.

Rather than spend money on a pitchfest, consider getting a subscription to the Hollywood Creative Directory Online and start compiling contact email addresses from within the directory and using Google. You'd be surprised at who you might be able to get your script into the hands of with just a little legwork.

Craft an outstanding eQuery and start querying those contacts... Just make sure the script lives up to the query.

filmy
 
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An eQuery is simply...

Dreadylocks said:
What is an eQuery? I know a query is a question posed, is this just another way of saying it's a formally solicitous email? Or is this some certain form of letter I should know about?


Sammi
Click to expand...

A query letter sent via email... However, I would be even shorter in an eQuery. These work a hell of a lot better than standing in line at a pitchfest.

caseyhein said:
Hey dredylocks, the unknown screenwriter has a very good article on this subject on his blog. Its a little lengthy, but hopefully it answers your question and some other people too.

http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/the-elevator-pitch/screenwriting/tricks/2009/10/15/

First half is about the fabled elevator pitch, and the second is about query emails.
Click to expand...

Pretty decent way to do them...

filmy
 
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