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Today kicks off a series of pitches over the next week. It's a project I've been passionate about for years and finally connected with the right people to take it out. But pitching is not my favorite part of this business
Will keep a running tally of how it goes, but I'm not going to name names cause I don't want to shame or seem bitter. We'll just call them Group A, so on and so forth.
First pitch down! A technical glitch (no matter how you prepare, whenever you use a new video conferencing system there *will* be shit that goes wrong.) Luckily it was at the top, not during my pitch.
Gonna go ahead and say Group A, a pay cable service, will be a pass. They already have another project in development that's similar. We knew this before but Group A still wanted to hear the pitch. Good practice at least.
Today is another pitch (barring it doesn't get canceled at the last minute) this time to a streaming service. I'm fired up and ready to go, wearing one of my favorite tees. There's something about looking good that makes you feel confident. Today, Godzilla is my wingman
So, uh, that happened.
Pitch to Group B went fine. Remember when I said whenever you use a new video conferencing system there *will* be shit that goes wrong? OH MAN DID IT GO WRONG TODAY.
To the point where the screen share DIDN'T WORK.
Pitch to Group B went fine. Remember when I said whenever you use a new video conferencing system there *will* be shit that goes wrong? OH MAN DID IT GO WRONG TODAY.
To the point where the screen share DIDN'T WORK.
I use Keynote for my visuals. Normally, you screen share, press play & it works. However, today, when I pressed play it wouldn't change slides. I did not know this at first. So, I'm in the zone of my intro until my producer breaks in to tell me the slides aren't changing for them
I try to get it to work. Nope. Fuck it. Gotta wing it & just let them see the working keynote slides, which for some reason are fine. Certainly not how I wanted to pitch this but you work w what you have.
The problem for me is that I now have to get *back* into the mental zone even though I'm frustrated and disappointed. So, quick apology and then mentally dive right back in.
I know companies have their reasons for using the conferencing software they do, but still, in my head I was like:
WHY THE FUCK CAN'T YOU JUST USE ZOOM.
WHY THE FUCK CAN'T YOU JUST USE ZOOM.
So I go through my pitch giving it my all cause now I also have to compensate for the effect the visuals would have but they're static. Word of advice: never fully depend on visuals. They're a nice accessory but you should always be able to pitch without them.
I get through it. After, I smile & answer questions through my frustration. Technical difficulties aside the execs were entertained & enjoyed my pitch. But I'm a Type A perfectionist so this'll be a thing that years from now wakes me up at 3am & then I can't fall asleep
Confirmed for my pitch to Group C today, another streaming service. But I've been up early, working on production stuff as well as writing. This is one of the perils of afternoon pitches, my energy is waning. Gonna do a walk to wake myself up and grab a protein bar.
We made sure today's pitch was done via Zoom as well. So 
we don't have yesterday's technical shenanigans
we don't have yesterday's technical shenanigans
Pitch is done! No technical glitches today, which was a welcome relief. Group C execs enjoyed my dog & pony show and they were engaged the whole time, which is good. Will they buy it? Who knows, but my bet would be pass b/c I don't know if it fits their "brand"
"But Akela, if yr show doesn't fit their 'brand' why wld they bother at all?"
Who knows, tv can be squirrely that way. Maybe execs think they can sell it to their bosses, maybe they've been told to find something "different" b/c their network is going to branch out.
Who knows, tv can be squirrely that way. Maybe execs think they can sell it to their bosses, maybe they've been told to find something "different" b/c their network is going to branch out.
Even knowing that, this is a business built around who you know (sucks, but it's true) so if there are network/studio execs you've never met (and in this case I hadn't) it's not a bad thing to get yourself in front of them so they meet you and hopefully rmbr you for things later
So far no more pitches this week, but next week it's on.
UPDATE: Got the call today that, as I predicted, Group A is passing. Still. Building relationships with execs is never bad. https://twitter.com/AkelaCooper/status/1367611595451293699?s=20
UPDATE: Group B & C, both streaming services, are passing. I figured Group C would, as my show was nowhere near their brand currently. Group B is kinda a bummer, mostly b/c that was the pitch w/technical difficulties. I'll wonder if that would have made a difference had it worked
But, ultimately, I won't spend too much time dwelling. This is the game. You can't control the outcome or the reasons why execs pass on things. You just keep going.
Today's a new day for pitches! Two: one this morning (Group D, streaming) and one this evening (Group E, also streaming). Not a fan of late afternoon pitches cause by then everyone's tired. Both are important, but if we have a shot at all it's with Group D.
Pitch to Group D is done. After, they seemed pleased, but I got hit with the "Well told" comment from the lead exec. Mmmkay. Not gonna read too much into that but I've gotten more from Groups that passed soooooo yeah.
Pitch to Group E is over. Gotta say end of day pitches are HARD. You're tired. They're tired. Everyone's thinking about dinner. But you still gotta bring it, I'd say even more so than normal cause you have to keep up your energy as well as their engagement.
While I was pitching it seemed like they weren't engaged but after they were v happy w the pitch (dare I say impressed) & had thoughtful questions. A good reminder that you can't always tell what an exec is thinking just by their facial expressions (though, sometimes, you can)
They also seemed excited about the character and they story we want to tell. Like with every pitch, they have to take this back to their team and run it up the flag pole. If anything, it's a good note to end the day on
At it again today, pitching to Group F, another streaming service (dunno if y'all have noticed but there are a LOT of those). I'm on the fence about calling this one, could go either way. So today's pitch mood is simply
Per usual with afternoon pitches I'm hitting low energy. I like to use music to hype myself up. This has been a constant through this process. https://open.spotify.com/track/53BHUFdQphHiZUUG3nx9zn?si=876937b05cf742d5
Group F is over and done with. Started off the pitch by calling an exec by the wrong name. I apologized, laughed it off, they took it in stride.
Group F were a pleasure to pitch to. Their questions were a fun way to expand on the pitch & they seemed to dig it, calling it "nothing like we've seen before". Doesn't mean they'll buy it but I'll take any compliment I can get
Tip: usually you'll give the tone of yr show, but come w more examples even if your project is unique. The exec asked if there was any comparable on tv I cld site. While there isn't any one specific show I could name, I gave a "it's like X meets Y" & they got what I was going for
With this one done, there's one more left and that's next week.
UPDATE: Group E has officially passed. While disappointing, not wholly unexpected as they said it was "too dark" for their brand. Plus, they already had something similar in development that was lighter. Thems the breaks sometimes
PITCHING UPDATE: Group G, who I was supposed to pitch on Monday, had to push-- to April. So, unless something else pops up before then, it might be a while before I have another pitch.
PITCHING UPDATE: Group F, a streaming service, has passed. They want to develop the IP they already have. Disappointing, but when we get knocked down we pick ourselves back up.
News is coming fast and furious today--emphasis on the furious--Group D, a streaming service, has also passed on my show. Was told it's b/c they're looking for more "world building shows" than "character driven" shows.
There is absolutely NO way to control for things like this
There is absolutely NO way to control for things like this
For those keeping score at home, it's pretty easy: I'm 0/6 so far. Have one more pitch scheduled, and possibly another if we can make it work.
A mini update. Group G a cable channel, has pushed our pitch yet again. This is the 4th time. Frustrating but it happens. Though I do find it funny that they were supposed to be the first group I pitched to and now they're gonna be waaaaay last, if it ever happens at all.
Today's the day for the Group G pith annnnnnd we're already having technical difficulties.
Group G pitch is DONE! Like, I think I am done-done with pitching this series, as there's no other entity lined up. It's been a long, wild journey. I've been a fan of this property since I was a teen and if nothing else I gave this one my all.
Having said that, Group G is a premium cable channel and I think this might not be within their brand. The execs were nice and enjoyed the pitch, but I think this is gonna be another pass. If so, so be it. You can't control what the market wants (or thinks it wants).
Thank you all for your encouragement along the way, it means a lot. I hope this thread helps anyone who needs it.
