The document discusses the importance of pitching stories to convince others to fund creative projects. It notes that pitching is the link between stories and obtaining money to produce them. It provides questions to consider when pitching a story, such as describing the story, how it will be told, what makes it unique, and if it is financially viable. The key aspects of an effective pitch are to be honest, passionate, and clear about the story and to genuinely advocate for it.
9. PITHCING IS THE LINK BETWEEN YOUR STORIES
AND THE MONEY TO MAKE THEM !
The writer convinces his wife and then his agent, who then
convinces the producer, who in turn convinces the director and
then his financier, the sales agent, the distributor, the marketing
guy and finally the viewer.
19. 1. What’s your story?
2. How do you tell your story?
3. What other stories is it like?
4. What is your USP?
5. What is the outcome of your story?
6. Does it suit my mission?
7. How expensive is the story?
8. Will you still be there?
20. 1. What’s your story?
2. How do you tell your story?
3. What other stories is it like?
4. What is your USP?
5. What is the outcome of your story?
6. Does it suit my mission?
7. How expensive is the story?
8. Will you still be there?
But I am not JFK.
You have me standing here on the stage in front of you.
And I don’t think I can change the world.
However,
I am Director TV at VRT, the Flemish Public Broadcaster in Belgium
Chairman of the Eurovision TV Committee
and each year some 400 program ideas are pitched directly to me.
If you also consider my entire team, make it 1200 !
Everybody who landed a meeting at my office thinks he or she will conquer the world with their new program idea.
It’s like everyone being in the darkness and only you succeeding in finding the switch.
But then when I go to MIP TV in Cannes some x thousand people think they can switch on my light bulb.
You might be one of them.
I have no checklist whatsoever, but I started understanding the process in my head upon what ideas to pick.
And although the entire process is happening instantly, these are the eight questions I (or my brain) I ask myself.
I have no checklist whatsoever, but I started understanding the process in my head upon what ideas to pick.
And although the entire process is happening instantly, these are the eight questions I (or my brain) I ask myself.
1. What is your story ?
Baseline ?
Which story do you want to tell ?
Why would a viewer want to listen to your story ?
2. How do you tell your story ?
What is the format ?
How does the story evolve ?
3. What other stories is it like ?
What is the genre ?
Is it a genre ?
How does it differ from other programs / stories in its genre ?
4. What is your USP ?
Your Unique Selling Proposition ?
What are the distinguishing features that set your project apart from the others ?
Mention at least five !
5. What is the outcome of your story ?
Why would you want to tell this story ?
Do you want to change the world ?
What impact to you aim with this story ?
In the end, what is the result ?
6. Does it suit the mission of the guy who is spending his savings ?
Vision
Mission
Brands
Strategy
Program & schedules
Budget
…
7. How expensive is your story ?
What do I get for what money ?
Does it suit my generic budget ?
8. Will you continue telling the story ?
Can I have confidence in you and your team ?
Will you stay involved ?