This 8 week course will explore the art and craft of pitching and selling your television project to producers, studios and networks/streamers. Learn the verbal and sales tools to successfully sell your project, including pitch structure, voice control, emotional intonation, the effective pause and sound effects. Learn how to build and use a visual deck/lookbook. Sessions will involve pitching and receiving constructive critiques from Todd and fellow classmates, as well as one on one time with Todd hearing and giving his thoughts on your pitch. 

Saturday January 4th - Mar. 1st 2025

10:30am-12:30am

 
SYLLABUS

SESSION ONE - WHAT MAKES A GREAT PITCH

My History Pitching in Hollywood

The First One

Pitching Movies

Pitching Pilots

The Highs and Lows

What is your history?

Student Introductions 

Your Pitching History

Time to get Verbal 

Don’t be Shy 

What Makes a Great Pitch

The Idea

The Performance

Your Passion

Personal Connection

Verbal Skills

Show and Tell

The Visual Deck/Lookbook

Images that Help Describe Your Story

Casting Comps - Actors you Imagine 

Samples

Is it Necessary? Not Necessarily

Assignment: Write and submit a synopsis of your idea. No more than a long paragraph.

SESSION TWO - STORY AND STRUCTURE

The Show/Series

The More Accessible the Easier to Sell

Describe in One Sentence

Who is Your Audience? 

The Importance of Tone

Funny? Scary? Violent? 

Pitch Should Reflect Tone of Your Show  

Comps - TV Shows & Movies that are Similar 

Character Character and More Character

The Most Crucial Element

Why People Want to Keep Watching

Specificity

Authenticity

Pitch Structure

Personal Connection

Teaser OR/THEN The Show in a Few        Sentences

The Pilot AND/OR The Characters

The Ongoing Series

Wrap-up/Why they NEED to buy it

Assignment: Write and submit a description for each of your main characters, including their goals, motivations, behavior patterns and backstory.  

SESSION THREE - THE SKILL SET 

Enthusiasm 

Express Your Excitement

Don’t be Too Cool for School

Passion is Contagious

Eye Contact

Look into Camera Lens Over Zoom

Look into Eyes In a Room

Memorize Don’t Read

Your Voice

Volume Modulation

Emotion When Needed

The Pause

Sound Effects

Gesticulation

           Hand Movements

           Body Movements

           Widening Eyes

           Leaning In

           The Smile

Practice Makes Perfect

           The Mirror is Your Friend

           Video Recording

           That’s What Friends Are For

Assignment: Write a beat sheet for your pitch, including the introduction, basic pilot story with character descriptions interwoven, and where you see the series going. 

SESSIONS FOUR & FIVE - WIND UP AND GET READY TO PITCH

One on One with Todd

           Fifteen Minute Sessions          

           Individualized Critiques

           Q&A  About Whatever’s on Your Mind

Assignment: Write a revised beat sheet based on the feedback you’ve received. 

SESSIONS SIX & SEVEN - PITCHING TO THE BIG ROOM

Presenting to the Group 

           Calming the Nerves

           Fielding Questions

           Listening to Notes from Todd and Your  Peers

SESSION EIGHT - THE BUSINESS OF SELLING

Representatives

           Finding an Agent and/or Manager

           Working with Reps

Knowing the Marketplace 

           Reading Trades

           Watching Shows

Proper Meeting Behavior 

           Do Your Homework       

           Research Who They Are

           Compliment Wisely

           Desperation is Sign of Weakness

Assignment: What did you learn in this class? What did you like the most? What did you like the least?