Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds : The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read

by Hauge, Michael

• ISBN13: 9781932907209
• ISBN10: 1932907203
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-01
• Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions

Summary

Your career can be made in 60 seconds - if you make the right pitch! Master the Elevator Pitch, even when you've got less than 60 seconds. Get your screenplay or Novel read by the major power of Hollywood - guaranteed!

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	xiii
INTRODUCTION	xvii
The 60-Second Pitch	xvii
The Cardinal Rule of Pitching	xix
The Primary Objective of All Story	xx
The 8 Steps to a Powerful Pitch	xxi
Caveats, Disclaimers, and Excuses	xxiii
PART I: PREPARATION
Chapter 1: THE 10 KEY COMPONENTS OF A COMMERCIAL STORY	1	(12)
Hero	1	(1)
Empathy	2	(2)
Setup	4	(1)
Opportunity	5	(1)
Outer Motivation	6	(2)
Conflict	8	(1)
Character Arc	8	(2)
Issues	10	(1)
Antecedents	10	(2)
Passion	12	(1)
Chapter 2: DESIGNING YOUR PITCH	13	(16)
Selecting Your Key Story Components	13	(2)
Opening Strong	15	(2)
Accolades	17	(1)
The Power of "What if...?"	18	(3)
Dropping In Antecedents	21	(1)
Adding Details	22	(1)
Pitching True Stories	23	(1)
Mistakes, Blunders, and Bad Advice	24	(5)
Chapter 3: PRACTICE	29	(4)
Trial Runs	29	(2)
A Shameless Plug	31	(2)
Chapter 4: TARGETING YOUR BUYERS	33	(18)
Contacts and Referrals	34	(1)
Interviews	34	(1)
Articles and Reviews	35	(1)
Screenwriting Directories	36	(2)
Publishing Directories	38	(1)
Video Dealers	39	(1)
Book Dealers	40	(1)
Pitch Fest Lists	40	(2)
The Internet	42	(4)
Fiction Writing Websites	46	(2)
Telephone Research	48	(3)
Chapter 5: PUTTING THE TOOLS TO WORK	51	(6)
Targeting the Right Executive	51	(1)
Pitch Fest Research	52	(1)
The 10 Steps to a Powerful Hit List	53	(4)
Chapter 6: SECURING OPPORTUNITIES TO PITCH	57	(22)
An Editorial Comment...	57	(1)
But Wait, I Have One More Rant...	58	(1)
Referrals	59	(1)
Pitch Festivals	60	(4)
Conferences and Book Fairs	64	(2)
Query Letters	66	(4)
Emails	70	(1)
Phone Calls	71	(2)
Elevators	73	(1)
Two More Opportunities	73	(6)
PART II: PRESENTATION
Chapter 7: GEARING UP	79	(10)
Protection	79	(1)
Clothing	80	(1)
Props	81	(1)
Business Cards	81	(1)
On-the-Spot Submissions	82	(1)
Leave-Behinds	82	(2)
Anathemas	84	(1)
Unnecessary Worries	84	(5)
Chapter 8: ESTABLISHING RAPPORT	89	(6)
Common Experience	89	(2)
Acknowledgment	91	(4)
Chapter 9: REVELATION, REQUEST, AND RESPONSE	95	(10)
Awkward Segue #1	95	(1)
Awkward Segue #2	96	(1)
The Win-Win Question	97	(1)
If the Buyer Says YES	98	(1)
If the Buyer Says NO	99	(2)
If the Buyer Has Questions	101	(4)
Chapter 10: BEYOND THE 60-SECOND PITCH	105	(16)
The 10-Second Pitch	105	(3)
Pitch Meetings	108	(2)
Pitching Episodic Television	110	(3)
Pitching Everything Else	113	(2)
Marketing Other People's Stories	115	(1)
Pitching to Your Boss	116	(5)
PART III: EXTRA STUFF
Chapter 11: THE PITCHING TEMPLATES	121	(8)
The Genre Film Template	122	(1)
The Personal Experience/Fictional Story Template	123	(1)
The Combined Personal Experience/Fictional Story and Genre Template	123	(1)
The Real Situation/Fictional Story Template	124	(1)
The Love Story Template	124	(1)
The True Story Template	125	(1)
Two Sample Template Pitches	125	(4)
Chapter 12: "The Best Pitch I Ever Heard": EXECUTIVES ON PITCHING	129	(40)
Chapter 13: THE BEST PITCH YOU'LL EVER GIVE	169	(4)
INDEX	173	(10)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR	183