In order to get funding for your film, the most important step is often the in-person pitch where you try to convince your listeners that your idea is the one among many that they should pursue. This opportunity is what can make or break your chances to get your film funded. It not only shows how well you understand your subject and whether that very subject is even worth creating a documentary about, but it can also give broadcasters valuable insights into whether you would be a right fit to cooperate with them. They also want to figure out during your pitch, if you will be a good match for there values and business plans and whether communicating with you and working together on a film is going to work out. So going beyond your actual ideas and plans for the film you have to look at your pitch also as a type of speed-dating for cooperation partners where broadcasters try to determine which filmmakers would be compatible with their mode of operations (Glynne, 2007).
Skills to pitching
In order to successfully pitch your idea to potential funders there are a few essential skills you need to acquire beforehand.
- The ability to briefly and concisely sum up your projects. This clearly shows that you have already spent a significant amount of time diving into the topic and that you have reached a certain level of expertise as well as trustworthiness in the subject.
- Being able to passionately present your idea. While objectivity and neutrality is vital when outlining the facts, broadcasters and other funders also want to see that you actually want to create this piece. Being passionate about your idea from the very beginning and knowing why it is you want to pursue it will guarantee you to work hard on the project in the long run.
- Trying to predict the questions you will be asked. However extensive you think your pitch is, there will always be follow-up questions. If not to clear up misunderstandings about the film, broadcasters will ask them to get a feel for you as a filmmaker and find out whether you would be a right fit for their channel. Here it is of vital importance for you to familiarise yourself with the broadcasters and the individual slots you are pitching for in order to give satisfactory answers (Glynne, 2007).
Questions to ask yourself
The following are some of the questions you should ask yourself beforehand in order to deliver a successful pitch:
Why now? Is there any current event or issue that would benefit from your film right now?
Why you? Do you have any personal connection to the topic or do you provide important added value?
How will it fit into the broadcasters schedule? Are the length and topic of your film appropriate for the slot you are pitching for?
Has it been done before? Very carefully look for similar films that might render your whole project redundant.
Who is going to be involved in the film? Who are the main characters and what does the team behind the production look like? Are there any names or personalities that might be the convincing argument for some broadcasters?
What are the costs going to be? While it is always somewhat difficult to predict the exact costs of a future production, investors would, understandably so, like to know what they will be getting themselves into beforehand.
When are you planning on making the film? For many distributors and topics scheduling is of great importance, as publishing the right film at the wrong time would be disastrous.
Being able to answer all of these questions confidently will give commissioning editors a good insight into whether you are capable of delivering a film that will fit their needs and wants as well as be profitable for them (Glynne, 2007).
Taster Tape or Teaser
To round out their pitch, often times filmmakers will include a short, very rough “first taste” into what the finished movie might look and feel like. This is especially helpful for documentaries which are character based, in order for commissioning editors to get a first impression of the person who will make or break the whole film. Generally a teaser can be very helpful in conveying the core of the film to your target audience at pitching events (Glynne, 2007).
As we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words and if you show 25 of them per second there is no amount of talking you could do to achieve the same effect.
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