The Pitch is a short verbal description of a screenplay and its marketiblity, to someone who is interested in either purchasing or financing your screenplay. Much like a Query Letter, but you get to strut your stuff in person. This can be a bit nerve-wracking but after some practice and/or experience it's a snap. I know that sounds a tad overconfident but considering all the CD's, books, and lectures out there that are going to all reiterate to you the same thing but with unique colorful approaches, one must trim the fat, cut to the chase, and take charge.

The bottom line is to entice the executive into wanting to buy your screenplay. Captivate the investor into wanting to finance your screenplay. In the interest of saving you, the Mac N Cheese-eating screenwriter, a little coin, behold the key to the Pitch:

                       KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PERSONALITY, PASSION 

If you are cool on these points in the meeting, you'll do fine. Imagine you're JFK for thirty minutes.

Let's look at one "basic" outline of a how Pitch may be structured.

Of course, begin with pleasantries and small talk. Let them get the impression that you don't live in the dark basement of your mother's house.

I. Genre

• The first thing you should approach is the genre of you screenplay. It gives them an initial mindset.

II. Statement

• Start with something like "Imagine you have..."
• Set the stage with a wondrous thought about your concept.

III. Logline

• State your Logline.
• This will whet the appetite. It is possibly that it is the Logline that got you here so reiterate it.

IV. Introduce protagonist

• "The story revolves around..."
• Tell them who the hero is. They don't have to like he/she yet but they have to relate to him/her.

V. Synopsis

• State your synopsis.
• Be natural. By this, I don't mean glance around the room as though you've memorized it. Tell the story as though you are relating something that actually happened. Pretend the execs are your buddies.
• Ask if there any questions, then move into...

VI. The Three M's

• "Mainstream, Memorable, Marketable"
• Discuss how wonderful this screenplay would be by touching upon the Three M's. This will lead to...

VII. Production

• Pretend you're the producer. What would YOU do to make this project work?
• Who would you cast?
• What would the budget be?
• How would you market this project?
• What does film does your concept resemble? (hopefully ones that bought Aspen homes for the execs) This is only one approach to the Pitch. There are many others out there. Find one that fits your comfort level and, like your Protagonist, strive to achieve that shining goal.