Introduction

In film and TV, a pitch is the presenting of an idea to potential investors/producers.

The pitch summarises:

• The plot of an idea, its themes and story.
• The main characters.
• The creator’s intention or vision for the project.
• The genre of the idea.
• The target audience for the idea.

A treatment is similar to a pitch, but pitches are performed in front of people – whereas a treatment may just be sent to potential producers.

Loglines and Synopses

The logline is an important opening for a pitch, as it generates interest in the viewers and ‘hooks them in’.

The idea is then described using a synopsis which includes:

• Main characters
• Setting and context
• The character’s journey
• The arc of the story
• The film’s centre conflict

The synopsis is more in-depth than a logline and in greater detail. In a pitch, it should still be short as not to waste time or bore the producers.

How Does the Film Connect to You?

The creator of a film may be invested in a film because of personal reasons and ties to their own story and experience. In a pitch, the creator should explain why they want to tell the story and how it is relevant to them.

Genre, Themes and Tones

This is where the creator outlines explicitly the genre and themes of a film to the producers. They explain how the themes can be interpreted by the audience and what the audience might take away from the film. The creator can also explain how their film is similar or different to others in the same genre.

References, Context and Influences

In this part of the pitch, the creator will explain other pieces of media their idea was influenced by, or any references to specific story structures or plot points from other pieces of media. The target audience can also be mentioned in this section, and how a film might share the same audience as another’s.

The Ending

The ending is the memorable part of a pitch, and it is important for the creator to be courteous and leave a good impression. Also, it is the section of a pitch where any questions may be answered. This includes questions about:

• character details.
• plot details.
• details about the creator’s personal relation to the project.
• and other relevant things.

The pitch should be 2-3 minutes long all together.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I think this information learned today will help me when creating my pitch slideshow, as a clear guide on what to include.