Okay, a little #protip time, and then Imma log out of here for the rest of the day to write, kids. Ready? Here it goes.
1. I am presenting this b/c I've been part of another person's pitch where I am the "veteran show runner" aboard the project -- it's his script/deck, not mine.

2. That said, the writer of the project/pitch has never done anything in animation before, hence... where I enter. I took my dude's materials & very gently asked if I could revise the stuff that I knew for a fact for would not work for the execs who would be reading it.

3. I did my thing. He agreed with most of it... but I didn't go hardcore on the goods b/c I knew upon going into a collaboration with this gent that he had LOTS OF FEELINGS about how good the project is. That's fine. I saw potential in the PREMISE, which is why I came aboard.

4. But I knew, if this thing sold, that it would be on the strength of IDEA, not the script. The script is pretty good... it could be exceptional. But I knew the writer wasn't ready for me to take over & do what I do best. That's fine. I'm good with being #2 for the pitch process

5. Now... after pitching this bad boy to 6 places, and hopefully more, we are starting to hear "no's", and here's generally the feedback: "The idea was good, but the script didn't deliver on premise". Which, again, I had a hunch. But I also knew my dude wouldn't hand over reigns.

6. So I've got two long-winded points I'm getting to. The first is this: if you are partnering with a pro on a project, in an area you've never written for before, have the humility to let them GO TO TOWN to make your script an absolute beast. Defer to them to...

7. ...do what they do best. Don't be precious about letting them elevate your game, ESPECIALLY if you want your pitch to be dependent on execs seeing the script after. That shiz better be straight fire if so. Now, could I have pushed more to fix his stuff? Maybe.

8. But I also knew the personality I was dealing with... and this is someone who intimated not so subtly he'd had rough dealings with people trying to take over his projects before. I HAD to let him have final say on the shape of the script. It was what it was.

9. Here's the problem with that: now that he/we are hearing "Script didn't deliver", he's shocked that execs are going nuts for his script b/c "Everyone else loved it!" Well, no... I don't think that was the case. But the idea was strong & the script could be developed if sold.

10. So here's my other point about this process: DO NOT PUT ALL OF YOUR EGGS IN ONE IDEA. Because you sure as hell are going to be devastated when that one doesn't hit. My man right now is entering that phase b/c he has nothing else in the works. He thought THIS was "the one".

11. If you have an idea you want to pitch, BE WORKING ON THE NEXT ONE even before one meeting is set. That solves a couple of problems. First, you're staying busy with the next thing you love while waiting to pitch the first thing. And #2, if you don't stick the landing...

12. ...on the first idea, you've got another one incubating to present next. And here's the best part about that: if you got in the door with the first idea, EXECS WILL HAPPILY HEAR THE 2ND, 3RD, 56TH ONE IN THE FUTURE. So in summation: okay, you didn't sell "the one"...

13. Amp up for "the two", and beyond. It's rare you sell you very first idea, especially if you're newb to the game. And THAT IS OKAY. You're in the game. THAT is the important part. Maybe you struck out this time. Next time, you might hit the homer.

14. Now I gotta figure out a way to get the Dude to understand all of this, as he has been... insistent that everything leading up to this part of the process has been flawless. Oy to the vey.