What Executives Want To See In A Pitch - Carole Kirschner

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In this Film Courage video interview, Career Coach and Author Carole Kirschner explains when executives hire writers, it can be for various reasons. If someone pitches a show and impresses someone from the network with their presentation, the executive will likely want to work with them. When executives are tasked with finding writers for a TV show, they want to ensure that the writer is not difficult to work with and that their skills align with the show's needs. To be hired, writers should focus on key elements during pitches, such as compelling characters and their growth, a strong hook that sets the show apart, an emotional connection to the project, vividly describing the world of the show, and demonstrating a clear understanding of the series' potential beyond the pilot. Pitches should be rehearsed, timed appropriately, and sound conversational to engage the executives. Common mistakes to avoid include being unprepared, excessively detailing the pilot story, and focusing solely on selling rather than telling a captivating story.
Carole Kirschner spent fifteen years as a television development executive. A former Vice
President of Television for Steven Spielberg's first Amblin Entertainment and a Comedy
Development exec at CBS, she’s had the privilege of working with some of the most
respected writers in the industry.
Switching to the other side of the desk she became a consultant and created and runs
the CBS/Paramount Writers Mentoring Program, which has helped launch the careers of
more than eighty television writers of color, including 14 showrunners. Because of her
work with CBS she was asked to help writer/producer Jeff Melvoin as he developed the
curriculum for the WGA Showrunner Training Program and as the Director has been
running the Program for 18 years.
Ms. Kirschner, through her career coaching practice, Carole Kirschner Entertainment
Career Strategies (carolekirschner dot com) works primarily with screenwriters who are
stuck or need help navigating the political landscape. She recently launched the
successful online course, “How to Pitch a TV Show That Sells” and is gearing up for her
new online course, “Get the F Unstuck: Break Through and Create Your Ideal
Hollywood Career” in late spring. She is also an international speaker and her book,
Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment is
taught in colleges across the country.
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#entertainment #movies #losangeles

[@LaurieWoodwardauthor]

I love the comments about the inspiration story. We are each so unique with our own inspiring moments and these experiences lead us to create. Thanks!

[@derrickedmond6461]

So thankful for people like Carole! I'm about to pitch my television series in front of industry execs and a live audience at the ATXTV Festival and my pitch includes all the elements Carole spoke of! Also super thankful for channels like Film Courage, it has been one of my go-to resources for all things writing, developing and producing and hopefully one day I can share my experiences on this very channel. See ya'll at work!

[@5orgen51]

This will help with my next job interview

[@Bax365]

This is incredibly insightful. Thank you! 👐

[@filmcourage]

Thanks for watching Bax365!

[@ladyjatheist2763]

Now THIS actually HIT THE MARKS! Thank you! A THOUSAND Thanks!

[@daveq646]

I find this applicapable to all industries

[@filmcourage]

Yes indeed!

[@corpsefoot758]

But I mean … what the hell kind of “emotional connection” do executives expect you to have with staplers or ceiling lights lol I find movies to be a different sort of item, generally speaking

[@ScriptDoctor]

In my 17 years in this industry I have never heard of an executive wanting to hear a pitch beyond 5 minutes in length regardless of the format. Pitching is a combination of selling and fishing. Think of yourself as an owner of a restaurant who is also a waiter. You're using the menu you've created to keep the customers coming back to buy your dishes. Your story is the restaurant and each dish is like a character, so you want to be brief and to the point. If you as a writer can't convey your characters, your story, and your goals between 2-5 minutes, then you're not a good storyteller. Why? Because if you need more time, it means your story is too complex or convoluted, and/or you as a writer can't prioritize what is important regarding your show or film. From their perspective, if you can't tell a good story synopsis in a couple of minutes, then you're not going to be better if you have more time. This is film and television. Some scenes are 2 minutes or less, so you have to be able to do your set-ups and pay offs in that timeframe. Now this isn't to be conflated with the time spent after you do your pitch. If you pitch your story and nail it in 2-5 minutes and the exec or executives you're pitching to have questions that open up a dialogue that goes 20-30 minutes, that is a different beast. Because that is a build off of your pitch. This is where we get to the fishing analogy. You have to bait the hook and cast off in the right direction if you're expecting to get a nibble. If you've got them asking engaging questions, you've got them hooked. It's how you answer those questions that will determine if you reel them in to a sale or not. So practice your concise pitch, and get friends to help you practice with answering questions so you can be prepared and relaxed with answers. But I will say this as I've seen it on both ends. If you're spending 10-15 minutes pitching a pilot, or 30 minutes pitching a feature where you're the one doing all the talking in that time, you're not going to be getting a deal. If anything you'll get crickets, a thankyou and a "we'll be in touch."

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

You're talking about a HOOK... should be in the first couple minutes YES>>> However, the overview can take almost as much as it takes. Q and A and all... If you can't HOOK an audience in the first 30 seconds, you should take a serious view of your work before you go pitching... simple as that. It's not to say you're going to flop, but past 30 seconds if you can't have ME asking about something, then you're probably on a downward spiral... I SHOULD at least be asking SOMETHING in that first 30 seconds... Does that help? Make sense? I hope??? ;o)

[@graywilliams_77.]

Reading books has really skyrocket the way I think about investing. Indeed, no one has ever got rich by saving money. If you want to become financially free, You need to Invest.

[@susannicky]

@@graywilliams_77. Yeah, You're Right! I've been quite unsure about investing in this current market and at this point I feel it is best not to work alone. How do you think I should go about investing for retirement?

[@RobKnoop-c7x]

Your comments make more sense than the dozen self promoting gurus. I've driven talent, directors producers, in Canada. And all want, visuals and vocal or Lines, Scenes. As what does a audience remember is great quotes and or Scenes. Thanks again. Good Luck

[@sandijerome]

Excellent video - you mention an online course, "How to Pitch a TV Show that Sells" - could you give us the link to that?

[@arzabael]

Its about you being someone that others like to spend time with

[@mitrapatterson6568]

Excellent. You make it seem so possible 😮

[@flirtwd]

Carole is the truth!

[@Todd_Writersroom]

I like the once upon time but - nice vibe!

[@Wordsley]

These Rock!

[@ccwoodlands1565]

Forbes magazine said there are only 3 questions you need answered when hiring someone: Can they do the job? Will they love the job? Can we get along with them?

[@samphelps856]

Thank you

[@Jjrmtv]

excellent advice

[@filmcourage]

Thanks for visiting!

[@JayTaylor3dollarfilms]

Thanks 👍🏿🙏🏿

[@myklantnymuwe]

1:08-3:05, 7:45-1:39

[@snellavision]

"Pretend you're talking to a 5 year old" Because it's the mental age of the average studio exec?

[@HaleyMary]

I wondered about that wording, too. What's wrong with talking to people like they are intelligent? I would've thought it would be an insult to talk down to people, as though you are assuming they are stupid.

[@rubywilkk]

@@HaleyMary ik this is old now but i think its more about having wonder and excitement (not giddiness tho). if u talk to them like ur just there for their money, its not interesting for them, but if i pitch like youre telling a story, like your idea is WORTH telling, then thatll get you further

[@grantgreyguda]

👍 👍

[@jonathantrauner3742]

Adin Boyer of American Idol who has Autism made 2023 American Idols Hollywood week

[@jonathantrauner3742]

Sia now has Autism

[@jonathantrauner3742]

VERACIOUS // My weaknesses limitations mistakes and setbacks do not define who I am. I define who I am for myself. Greatness and excellence lies inside of our hearts. // My greatest failures and adversities make me unconquerable and unbeaten. Indestructible and potent champions give everything they got to be winners. // What motivates me most to achieve greatness excellence and success is my perseverance and resilience. I am not weak and nothing. I am a winner. // The greatest champions and contenders survive through the worst knockouts and obstacles, and then they win. I am more powerful than negativity. I am victorious. // I want to one day live in a world where all non disabled people treat disabled and autistic people with love dignity empathy kindness and respect. // Do not give up after enduring the greatest defeats knockouts and losses. Everyone has a hero film to direct. Turn on the film camera. // Stellar singers songwriters artists and filmmakers create masterful symphonies and films after being doubted. Persevere and overcome. // In the future, we will emerge into superheroes and heroes. Megastars and superstars exterminate negativity. Heroism films get made after setbacks. // Greatness and excellence can be accomplished after experiencing the worst heartbreaks and defeats. Superheroes never give up in wars. // Nothing is impossible to overcomers triumphers and triumphant heroes. Greatness excellence and success can be earned. Who will we become?

[@christophmahler]

One word: *_relevancy_* . If a story and it's characters is _detached_ from to the state of affairs, nobody is going to watch _the stupid show_ . Why did people sit through 'Games of Thrones' e.g. when they haven't even read the novels ? Because they realize themselves trapped in a world with manipulative usurpers, manouvering for supremacy while ignoring a mythic, apocalyptic threat. In the end, the _banker's offspring_ - _'all honourable men'_ - who ran the show had no resolution in mind - but that is the auspicious bond between the audience that had hoped for a glimpse into their fate and will now strive _blindly_ to reenact a better outcome.

[@byjacquelineb]

🤍✨

[@Thenoobestgirl]

My story is about coming of age and taking reluctant responsibility in a racial war-ridden kingdom, in a wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey epic political fantasy setting, with magic and grey characters who all love and hate each other, and best of all: Corgis. Is that a good start? 😂