In (filmmaking), a pitch is a concise verbal (and sometimes visual) presentation of an idea for a film or (TV series) generally made by a (screenwriter) or film director to a (film producer) or (studio executive) in the hope of attracting (development) finance to pay for the writing of a (screenplay).
The expression is borrowed from "(sales pitch)". A pitch is used throughout different stages of production, such as casting and distribution, as well as to urge film producers to further fund a project. Filmmakers who devise a pitch tend to manufacture a production package, which is handed out to each potential investor during the pitch. The package contains the basic information for the filmmaker's project, such as a plot synopsis and budgeting values. Sometimes, filmmakers will produce an independent (pitch trailer) as a part of the package to help potential financiers better visualize the project and the filmmaker's vision.
Though pitches are usually made on the basis of a full (script) or (teleplay), (animated) productions for both film and television are often pitched on the basis of (storyboards) alone. For example, the animated television show (Phineas and Ferb) was pitched from a storyboard. Co-founders of the project, (Dan Povenmire) and , needed to convince overseas executives for (The Walt Disney Company) to (greenlight) the series, so they drew a storyboard and recorded it as a reel. They then mixed it and dubbed it over with sound effects, voices, and narrative, then sent the recording to the executives, who accepted it.
Television pitches can also be devised by the network or company that produces the program. Certain networks are pitched the idea of including a character in a series in order to boost ratings. Such pitches have been used with "Oliver" in (The Brady Bunch) and "Luke" on (Growing Pains). Networks also try to force their ideas on series' producers through their pitches, though their approach is business-oriented and their ideas are generally not favored by writers and viewers. In 1992, the crew of the animated series (Rugrats) was approached by Nickelodeon, which pitched the idea of a Rugrats (Hanukkah) special. (Paul Germain), co-creator of the series, responded by suggesting a (passover) special, which he dubbed a "funny idea." After they closed production for (that special), they began considering the Hanukkah special and eventually created it in 1996 as the episode "(A Rugrats Chanukah)."
References
- Steiff, p. 58
- Karg, Van Over, Sutherland, p. 84
- Karg, Van Over, Sutherland, p. 86
- Povenmire, Dan (2008). "Original Pitch" featurette, from Volume 1: "The Fast and the Phineas" (DVD). (Buena Vista Home Entertainment).
- Swartz, Mimi (1998-10-30). "How raising the Rugrats children became as difficult as the real thing". The New Yorker. p. 62.
- Alberti, p. 144
- Alberti, pp. 145–147
- Ribadeneira, Diego (1996-12-05). "Rites of Chanukah reach many". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts.
Further reading
- Aguado, Ken & Eboch, Douglas (2013). The Hollywood Pitching Bible: A Practical Guide to Pitching Movies and Television. ScreenMaster Books ISBN
- Alberti, John, ed. (2003). Leaving Springfield: "The Simpsons" and the Possibility of Oppositional Culture. Wayne State University Press. ISBN .
- Karg, Barbara; Van Over, Jim & Sutherland, Rick (2007). The everything filmmaking book: from script to premiere-- a complete guide to putting your vision on the screen. Everything Books. ISBN .
- Steiff, Josef (2005). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Independent Filmmaking. Penguin Group. ISBN .