Confessions From A Netflix Pitch Meeting - Jeff Deverett

Jeff Deverett is a producer, director, writer, and actor known for Full Out 2: You Got This! (2020), ism (2019), The Samuel Project (2018), Kiss & Cry (2017), Full Out (2015), King of the Camp (2008) and My Brother's Keeper (2004). Jeff's successful film and TV career began with distribution with New World Entertainment, Astral Communications, Anchor Bay Entertainment and his own company, Deverett Media Group. In this Film Courage video interview he talks about how to make a profitable movie and briefly touches on AFM [American Film Market], MIPCOM and MIPTV media markets.
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[@personone9252]

"It is not about the story at this stage, its about marketing" There is the problem of modern entertainment.

[@mrkrimpet58]

To be fair, he is talking about finished products. It's not about the story anymore because the movie is in the can.

[@mrkrimpet58]

@Rheumattica Enlighten me o wise and arthritic child! Tell me how Hollywood is proof of capitalism gone amuck in that they over-market substandard products! Tell me how commerce is the enemy of art! I posit that you have not had enough lessons on context or ignored them.

[@amiros_2001]

Been the problem since the beginning of time tbh

[@fraseralexandertoms]

@@mrkrimpet58 That's where this falls flat to me because most people want to know how to get the film financed - who cares about netflix when you have a script you're trying to get produced (in the context of this interview) - I'd rather hear how he got the gymnastics film financed because that is the risk -

[@kevinokai]

@@fraseralexandertomshe talked about financing a movie in a different interview on this channel. He said investors don’t care much about the movie, they mostly care about whether or not they can make their money back. You need to forecast the possible amount you can make from the movie and also have a potential distributor on the line waiting to have a look/acquire it. These numbers will help the investors know that your product is a viable one. Just like on shark tank, the “numbers” matters. Hope this helps.

[@hgwells35]

No wonder Hollywood is dying. Screw creativity, vision, and interesting stories. Just give me my demo checklist and make sure Netflix execs think they will hit their numbers. Pathetic.

[@MuttonChopYaz]

Trust the science, bro. Computers don't lie!

[@aaroncook5928]

To be fair, can't exist without a profit. I think this is where artist fail at times. I do feel it's sad there are probably a lot of loat opportunities for great art. But just want to be fair, Netflix isn't exactly on the upswing. They have to have wins before they lose subscribers even more and fail themselves.

[@piersyfy4148]

Sheep leading sheep. Like actually.

[@afungfegeevita5320]

As an independent film producer and Screenwriter from Cameroon, I just want to say this channel has helped me alot. It's my film school lol. Thank you FILM COURAGE

[@filmcourage]

Cheers Afungfege! 🇨🇲

[@gavinchecchi9519]

🤣 “It’s my film school”

[@oishik5640]

Hi Afungfege ! Can I see any of your works?

[@afungfegeevita5320]

@@oishik5640 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJqVeomtdt6NlbM My portfolio

[@IndieFilmCommunity]

We LOVE Film Courage!

[@AdamWelch]

This is so depressing and amazingly enlightening at the same time.

[@loststoryproductions]

Show business usually is lol

[@VaughnJogVlog]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@hackiest]

well said

[@igano111]

No wonder 99% of the output is dog shit.

[@hitlafilms4631]

I agree with you

[@Avalon_1991]

"So you have a Netflix Pitch Meeting for me?" "Yes sir I do"

[@Danchamp07]

We’re going to have to work really hard to get this one greenlit. Actually it’ll be super-easy, barely an inconvenience.

[@albertwesker8049]

@@Danchamp07 Oh realy?

[@MrVinjex]

Giving a pitch is super easy, barely an inconvenience

[@Cthfurbhu]

Wow wow wow... wow.

[@michaelperrigo]

Being meta is TIGHT!

[@RolandDeschain1]

Producer: "We want to do a reboot of a beloved property but we want to destroy everything fans loved about it." Netflix: "Greenlight!!"

[@Seras99]

Or… respect it like Cobra Kai. 🐍 It depends on who’s the company behind it beyond Netflix. lol So to me, it’s a hit and a miss.

[@RolandDeschain1]

@@Seras99 COBRA KAI started on KZbin I believe.

[@Seras99]

@@RolandDeschain1 Correct! And Netflix really liked it so much that they picked it up! Best decision they have ever made.

[@chrisjfox8715]

What reboots have Netflix produced?

[@beerosaurusrex]

@@chrisjfox8715 I assume they're specifically talking about Masters of the Universe: Revelation . There have been other non-Netflix examples though of the same approach (Ghosbusters 2016, Halo on Paramount+, anything Star Trek the last 15 years, anything Disney Star Wars except maybe Mandalorian or Rogue One).

[@Amocoru]

Netflix needs to go back to whatever they used to do. Everything they do now is just trash.

[@buddabudda]

30 second pitch meetings are TIGHT!

[@Star_Joker]

Yeah yeah yeah.

[@kulikevl5312]

I made a reference too, but I didnt put it here. Whoops, whoopsie!

[@jean-mi1825]

How long do you need to say: 1_Heroe are LGBT, and/or females, and/or Black characters (ESPECIALLY if it wasn't the case in the original material, if it's an adaptation). 2_villains are straight white mâles. NETFLIX doesn't need more information to greenlight a project...

[@greglawson1969]

😂

[@kulikevl5312]

Lol the comments that didnt get the references

[@mixedbagclips2511]

Pitch meeting: Diverse cast. Netflix: let’s do it! Good Story, great acting, directing… nope. Just make it diverse and pander to certain demographic….

[@grizzly228]

So you don’t know what diverse means? FYI. It means multiple demographics.

[@Jay-ru3hx]

@@grizzly228 the demographic refers to the people that only care about that (or are just interested in that as opposed to the other things he contrasted it with)... Not the cast or content. Understanding words requires definition AND context. A demographic could be a diverse one....

[@grizzly228]

@@Jay-ru3hx the original comment (speaking of context) says “make it diverse and pander to certain demographic.” My point being that that statement is literally incorrect.

[@bretbuckley704]

@@grizzly228 In today's age "diversity" just means less white people, or no white people. It does not mean "multiple demographics" like you want to think it does. They've proven this a million and a half times over, time and time again. Even outside of the entertainment industry, companies go out their way to make it that way too. I wish they would just cut the shit with the fluffy terminology.

[@astraldemise]

Hahah you are sooooo right. The whole “diversity” word just means less white people. And more women and blacks. Nothing to do with talent or making a better movie. Hollywood has turned into finger wagging/preachy instead of just entertaining.

[@calvin624]

Netflix hasn't engaged me in years, I don't know if it's fair to say their quality has dropped in recent years but the amount of content which speaks to me certainly has.

[@JodyBruchon]

When I started seeing "Originals" I was done. I don't want your "originals." I want the catalog I was paying for. I get that other companies pulled their titles to start their own streaming companies but I don't care. I paid $12 a month for access to basically everything. Now I get movies with torrents and use Plex because even if Netflix happens to have something I want to see, I have to assume it'll be gone by the time I can watch it. Piracy is going to explode.

[@theecharmingbilly]

I'd say the quality has dropped because they've lost so much, yet their original content is 90 percent fluffy sugar filler... The vibe stays the same. At this point I have to think those with subscriptions are travelers, parents who need an hour, and those who forgot they had a subscription.

[@SpuddMacgyver]

Everything they do has gone down for sure. Like they only have season 1 of a 3 season show. Stupid things like that.

[@Christobanistan]

@@JodyBruchon What torrent sites are you using?

[@matthewkemp594]

Netflix and Amazon both follow a data-driven model of deciding which projects are going to be made. They attach key words to every book, TV show and movie they have available. They track what people watch, look at the keywords associated with that content, and then recommend more stuff with those keywords. More importantly, they can assign a dollar value to making a show/movie with those keywords associated. When the likely dollar value of a potential project exceeds the necessary budget by a set percentage, you approve the project. Obviously, based on their recent output, this process does not prevent projects from being heavily politicized or utter garbage. It is, however, a great way to find unserved markets.

[@jJeanpaulDigital718]

Can you discuss this in more detail or recommend more business n filming in the industry

[@NeverForget1776]

Those is why it's critical you have control/ownership over the data, the process or technology that these decisions are based on if your goal is to change society. We keep getting politicized garbage bc those who control the algorithms artificially inflate ideas they want to promote, to be seen as widely shared and if anyone questions it just call them crazy conspiracy theories

[@AlexeyShort]

The problen with the art (which movie is) you need to track not consumers behavior. You need to track creators. Period

[@James_Bowie]

Netflix, etc, are essentially servants of robot computers. It's a race to the bottom. Garbage in, garbage out.

[@notyourproblem474]

So, basically like an entertainment algorithm? It's a practical method, but their movies are getting shittier.

[@ChrisBournea]

Very informative interview. Jeff told the painful truth that he spend more time marketing than he does making movies.

[@BlakeRidder]

I would take Will Smith with me to a Netflix pitch meeting

[@copysulting]

He'll slap you too....

[@BlakeRidder]

@@copysulting are you jealous of my films? 😅

[@copysulting]

@@BlakeRidder lol I don't think you got the joke bro..

[@James_Bowie]

I wouldn't take that loser anywhere. Sucker hits a guy half his size.

[@southlondon86]

“Sorry Mr Smith we’re not interested” “Keep my name OUT your ******* MOUTH!”

[@ponrix]

They must be easy to please because there is so much garbage on Netflix. I mean the originals are worse than 1990s sci-fi channel.

[@thejawgz6719]

Lol, not quite.

[@blutopfer2700]

Yeah it was super easy, barely an inconvenience

[@PaulStore800]

1990's Sci-Fi channel is amazing what are you smoking!? Do you know what I'd do to get a show like Stargate SG-1 with its writing and atmosphere to be made again? Unspeakable things. It was probably the best time for that genre. Now? Not so much. But yes, you're right, they are worse than that period and genre by a huge margin

[@MrThomasHart]

"It's not about the story, but about the marketing" Yeah, and that is why everything now is utter shite

[@hiplessboy]

I love this man and his candor and wisdom and directness.

[@phoenixr6811]

Every part is helpful love listening to Jeff Deverett he is the man☺

[@marcoestiercol6112]

Pitcher: "Vikings but with all black female gay cast" Netflix: "Approved!"

[@myrongunnar1518]

This!! And it was all down hill from there....

[@retroboomer3197]

95% of everything that Netflix produces is trash. I quit Netflix years ago. Just after the first season of Stranger Things I realized that I didn't like anything else on their platform, so why should I give them money? I miss the old days when they were more like a video rental store.

[@daviddechamplain5718]

Having to subscribe to a gazillion streaming services to see one exclusive on each will end up being worse for the consumer than cable.

[@discman15]

"do all the female characters demean and humiliate and upstage and assault all the male characters? Okay then yeah we'll do it"

[@MR3DDev]

The thought of even doing this terrifies me. I got into doing filmaking after watching love dead + robots and seeing adult animation is still a thing people like.

[@BalrogSlayer00]

In recent years it’s been getting even bigger. I’d love to make a sci-fi show but animated as well

[@TroySpace]

You kind of have to do this "elevator pitch" with novels. Your idea has to fit within one or two sentences for a publisher, because they see vast numbers of pitches. Eg my novel's "Formula 1 in space with a team fighting back against colonialism." Or something. Still working on that. Now if somebody says "colonialism, what's that got to do with F1" you might be able to hook some interest with a brief synopsis. That is, if they don't just toss your idea in the bin.

[@brycepalmer4942]

The point is that unless you fund it yourself and distribute it yourself to enough people to show them that there’s a market, that you might as well forget about Netflix because 99% of everything they make is from within now.

[@kulikevl5312]

Wow wow wow wow wow....wow.

[@NeverForget1776]

What the interviewer doesn't make clear at the start is that the Netflix original pitch is for a movie not yet made where as the other pitch is for an already made movie you're trying to sell. With that understanding it's logical why Netflix isn't interested in the story just the marketing and potential audience numbers. The content is done so the story/content is fixed so it's the rest that matter. You coukd have the best made movie in history but if there isn't enough of an audience for it why would Netflux care what the story is? I don't think this results in more bad content, that comes from believing in bad data/sources. Bigtech, mainly social media, has tweaked algorithms to artificially promote certain ideological beliefs as being widely shared when they aren't. This is so as to convince the majority they are the minority and thus need to rethink their stance because most humans seek to be a part of the perceived majority. Its a psychology game. This has lead to industries like movies and series making garbage that few want. These industries have relied on source data that I'm the past has worked because it wasn't being tampered with.

[@KratostheThird]

Very well said. Netflix is pushing their agenda too forcefully.

[@KratostheThird]

@Rheumattica How it is nonsense?

[@SI-qp7cm]

In a decade or so, when people lament the state of the arts in general, they will look to this sort of thing as the reason. We turned creativity into an enterprise, then into a corporation. Now the corporations turn out rubbish cardboard cut outs with no soul on a treadmill. The question is what medium will the true art be distributed through because it certainly will not be a streaming platform.

[@thereal_SonnyLaguna]

I've learnt so much from this sort of thinking. Thank you!

[@filmcourage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@filmcourage]

Which part of this video is most helpful to you?

[@coffeefrog]

When he mentioned whether you already have your target audience or not. It reminds me that no one is going to see my work if I don’t steep myself in my target audience beforehand.

[@choatican]

All of it. Its motivated me to write a letter to Elon Musk demanding he fund a movie production company that is motivated by the opposite of the process described in this interview. Jesus.

[@oskararnarson]

03:08 - 4:37

[@chrisd7733]

I would like to see an in-depth interview with Jeff giving us more of his marketing strategy from start to finish. He's right that nobody knows this but the information is like gold. So more details please about several promotion strategies and his planning process around marketing.

[@bobpowers9637]

Last 3 minutes but it was all helpful

[@marioluxxor]

“It’s not about the story at this stage, it’s about marketing” this is the reason why so many “originals” are so bad bc it was never about the story. They should talk about the story for the first 30 mins. And if you succeed then you can talk about marketing for the other 30 mins. #justsaying

[@frostgamez9368]

Netflix is terrible, only decent thing I’ve seen on there is The Witcher series but 99% of the originals is just awful. I don’t understand why people say they’re good

[@hackiest]

Netflix is an abomination to the industry and more importantly the film goer. People gorge themselves 24/7 on forgettable C grade 'content' and have no will to wait a few months for an epic movie that they could talk about for years to come.

[@KratostheThird]

Absolutely agree. That C grade 'content' is just insulting to the viewer.

[@Jay-ru3hx]

"Netflix original" heh... Remember when you found out that show you used to watch on TV or Hulu got picked up on Netflix, then you turned it on and see: "a Netflix Original..."?

[@SilviaHartmann]

This was super interesting! Pls bring him back to talk more about marketing and networking in specific communities!

[@kenlieck7756]

Anyone who has formed a band or made a film that got no promotion from whoever they signed up with knows that every element Deverett addresses here is precious.

[@IndieFilmCommunity]

We think so too Ken!

[@hansjuker8296]

T.V. is a sewer pipe fed directly into your living room.

[@southlondon86]

Breaking Bad?

[@RL-cp1cx]

Can't wait for Air Bud: gymnastics to come out

[@chazieo]

This is really good to know. As a up an coming director/screenwriter, I’m still trying to get my first feature off the ground. This is so refreshing to know. Thank you! I always had an ideal number for my project an how I would break it down. I wasn’t to far off!

[@filmcourage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JelloFluoride]

He's crazy if he thinks we don't know about this already. What cinema needs is more creators to be pissed off by this, not tips on how to conform and sell out.

[@lyricarol]

Hmmm. Retirement without financial worry sounds good to me. Call me a sellout.

[@JelloFluoride]

@@lyricarol okay, good luck making anything good.

[@grumpycat_1]

This entire interview explains why so few good stories get made... "Its all about the marketing" This is what is wrong with modern entertainment and why so much garbage gets made. Jeff's advice might be accurate and correct and how to get on Netflix but maybe indie filmmakers should just stop pandering to them and just make good movies??? If your selling a movie you already made and have to build your audience and do all the marketing Jeff does .. what exactly do you need Netflix for?

[@gwendyp125]

😂was looking for Ryan but this was a cool video

[@ViktoriaEvans]

This interviewer is freaking awesome!

[@seanpurdy8230]

Seems like the era of film making when writers and prospective directors like James Cameron and John Carpenter are more or less dead and gone. It's always painful and depressing when all of us out there with great ideas and stories essentially know that either we find a few million dollars lying around in a back alley to make our dreams come true or simply accept that no one steering around the big three is ever going to take a chance on anything other than a Chinese market pandering or superhero crap.

[@KratostheThird]

Very true. That's why I've come to absolutely detest DC Universe and Marvel fanboys because they are just contributing to the superhero crap that's plagued the movie industry in Hollywood for the past decade or so. Movies like The Shawshank Redemption, Goodfellas, The Matrix and countless others from the 80s - early 2000s are more entertaining and original than practically any Marvel movie made in the past two - three years. But try to point out any of these movies to these fanboys and they will just deny everything you said, despite having hard evidence that some real creative filmmakers and writers were involved in those films.

[@colodro44]

My question is where did he get the money to FILM the projects? This is all about pitching a film that was already funded and shot. Who funded it?

[@filmcourage]

Jeff talks about how he finances (and finds distribution at the same time) in this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnTWoISbhZd9h5o

[@ClintSmithHere]

This is great info. I been seeing a lot of people say get representation, but how do you do that? Like a entertainment lawyer? And how do you know who to trust? I googled it, but they all have good and bad reviews obviously.

[@ramicald]

I lived in England and traveled all over Europe for 2 years. More than half of Europe is “Poorer” than South America

[@gemmini8389]

This Explains why most movies suck these days. Marketers think "Feminism" in movies will sell, meanwhile story tellers want to express actual stories. Most movies these days are about what might sell as opposed to what a GOOD STORY is. We don't have good stories as much anymore. No Story just a bunch Content that should sell!

[@JourneytoGao]

4:11, wait what? You have 2 million views on KZbin, why does Netflix want to buy it, because why would anyone pay to see it if it was on KZbin free? How does Netflix know that the audience hasn't already sold through? I'm missing something here...

[@spakuloid]

Netflix: As long as it's not a disaster - fuck it. I mean make it. I mean, you got in here right? You must be qualified... for something.

[@dejib.3930]

This guy is great.

[@nayaleezy]

The only good content on Netflix comes from Korea 🇰🇷

[@stevestevens8749]

If you saw the numbers -- you might ask for more money.

[@jean-mi1825]

With Netflix, before anything else, you have to tell them: Who's the LGBT character. If it's an adaptation, which characters have been race/gender/orientation swapped, to make it more woke and inclusive. Confirm the baddies are straight white mâles. You've got these, you've got your money !

[@bigbanknewyork3655]

Have you pitched them to verify this?

[@21stcenturyhiphop]

@@bigbanknewyork3655 nah, they're just obsessed with this so called " woke agenda", when 95% if the industry is still white...

[@Wordsley]

These Rock!

[@skemsen]

I thought this was one of Ryan George’s Pitch Meeting videos 😅

[@grantgreyguda]

👍 👍

[@Alucard9692010]

Pitch meeting: Black Washing, Diverse cast, write out white people out of they own history, you slay queen, white man suck, Cuties ... Netflix you had me at black washing.

[@toniod]

@6:21... Pass...

[@anonymouse364]

It starts out hopeful- make a good story, have a hint of a gimmick, follow the right channels for the story..and then gets more cynical and "sellout-ish" as Jeff goes on. I think his other videos are good, but the substance of this one seems to be "make movies as a commercial commodity, not something unique."

[@waynesanders1406]

757 uplikes, 0 downlikes. Jeff Deverett still undefeated champion of Film Courage

[@Christobanistan]

KZbin doesn't show dislikes anymore.

[@TheWalkingDavid]

I’m from Oklahoma, and I had no idea he shot that movie here! Maybe I could meet this guy if he ever comes back!

[@robert.inhisimagewinter6953]

I can’t even get a call returned with 2 true life stories. One about drag racing and a horror story. Both true human from childhood to late adult hood.

[@ThePopbanks007]

Your pitch just put me to sleep.

[@James_Bowie]

To a producer, being 'true' doesn't matter a fig. And anything based on real, living people requires releases up the wazoo, which can be a big red flag unless you are a known player in the biz.

[@southlondon86]

@@ThePopbanks007 I’ve got a million youtube followers. Have you awoken now?

[@jamesdean8785]

More of these please. Never heard BTs of pitch meeting etiquette

[@cristianaguayo9956]

I’d like less people who think this way. “Oh whatever, the story is fine I’m sure. Think about marketing.” That’s how we end up with mediocre movies and recycled material. This kind of guy is why all movies now are either inferior remakes or corporately heavy-handed messes.

[@listomachine6198]

I got an idea I wanna writer a story it can be called “holy shit team he knew all along”

[@eris9659]

I looked up this guy's filmography and instantly figured out why Netflix doesn't like him.

[@lrockyfan5106]

Why?

[@WiLyO8]

‘

[@janetlowden5960]

Might as well know the truth.

[@pikiwiki]

Thanks!

[@filmcourage]

pikiwiki! Thank you so much for supporting our channel. Jeff is great, we love to see you finding value in this interview!

[@ThePlaceForThings]

this was great. loved the pizza box promotion concept. would love to see a follow up video about niche marketing tactics like this for building audiences for films

[@NotAnnaJones]

Great interview. ❤️

[@sunlightpictures8367]

This is gold!

[@BrekkaJones24]

How to avoid saying "lgbt anti-white agenda" for 21 minutes

[@mojo6112]

This guy does not look depressed because of the directness and stricness of the world. He seems like he accepts it for what it is and he makes it his goal in his pitches to offer something valuable rather be a just receiver and expect everyone to support his dreams and aspirations. I don't see this video as depressing, disappointing or frustrating. I see it as enlightening and wise. Life is lfe