Just wanted to let you know, I’m hosting and moderating Mediabistro’s “Pitch Slam” next Monday, October 5… and for anyone working on an idea for the next “Royal Pains,” “30 Rock,” or “Kitchen Nightmares,” this is an incredible opportunity!

Here’s how it works: we bring in a panel of TV industry experts… you show up and pitch your idea to the panel… the panel gives you feedback on your pitching technique, your presentation, your idea, etc. 

You also get to watch everyone else’s pitch—and they get to watch yours—so it’s a terrific way to learn about pitching, and what people respond to, even when you’re not in the hot seat.

It’s been a while since the last “Pitch Slam,” and we’ve got an incredible panel lined up…  Jill Young, a creative executive at The Littlefield Company (former NBC president Warren Littlefield’s production company with ABC Studios); Alan Moore, an alternative/reality TV agent at APA; and BJ Ford, a TV literary manager/producer at Roar Entertainment, one of the hottest new management firms in Hollywood.

We’ll be doing pitches for all kind of TV: comedy, drama, reality, and everything in between.  So if you’re interested, here’s the scoop… hope to see you there!

PERFECTING THE TV PITCH + PITCH SLAM

Pitch Your TV idea to Producers and Agents

So you have an idea for the next Mad Men or The Big Bang Theory? Do you want to be the new Larry David or Damon Lindelof? Do you think you're ready to run your own hard-boiled procedural or sexy soap? Well, before you can create the next great TV show, there's something you gotta do first. Pitch it!

In this pitch slam -- limited to 20 attendees -- you'll have the chance to pitch your TV idea to a panel of television's top agents, execs, and producers. Whether you're developing TV's next big comedy, drama, or reality show, this is your opportunity to bounce it off some of Hollywood's smartest, most influential buyers and sellers.

Everyone who signs up will get one chance to pitch their idea to our panel of guests, followed by a round of feedback. While we can't promise you'll sell something, we do promise you'll get top-notch, no-nonsense constructive criticism guaranteed to make your idea -- and your pitching skills -- better, stronger, and more sellable.

Panelists will include:

-- Alan Moore, alternative/reality TV agent, APA

-- Jill Young, creative executive, The Littlefield Company/ABC Studios (Keen Eddie, Love, Inc., Like Family, Do Over)

-- BJ Ford, manager/producer (TV Lit), Roar Entertainment

Click HERE for more information…

WHEN: Monday, October 5, 7-9 pm

WHERE: Los Angeles, CA (details to come upon sign-up)

COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)

TO SIGN UP: Call 212-547-7890 or click HERE

http://www.mediabistro.com/courses/cache/crs5146.asp

Sunday, September 27, 2009 12:07:53 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [1]

This seminar will help take your idea from seed to sale. After all, selling your show isn't merely the first step in bringing your vision to life; it's the most important step. What are networks looking for? How should a pitch be structured? When's the best time to pitch? Do you need a franchise? Does attaching talent help?

We will break pitching into three stages: honing your idea, crafting the pitch itself, and getting your foot in the door with producers and executives. We'll examine different kinds of shows and the necessary elements of each. We'll then discuss how to structure a pitch to make it accessible to producers, writers, and executives. Lastly, we'll explore the business of pitching; not only how to gauge the marketplace to make your idea irresistible, but how to navigate television's labyrinthine network/studio system and what you can expect once you get there.

In this seminar, you will learn:

• The necessary elements every show -- and every pitch -- must have
• The difference between different types of shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
• How to structure a pitch, both verbally and as a written document
• Who you want to pitch to at networks, studios, and production companies
• When to attach actors, writers, or directors to your idea, and when not to
• What to expect when you're in the room, making your pitch, and what happens when you leave

Click here for more information...

WHEN: Tuesday, July 28, 7-10 pm
WHERE: Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call 212-547-7890 or click HERE

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 8:55:59 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]

This seminar lays the groundwork for anyone wanting to break into the lucrative world of reality TV. We'll look at various types of reality shows and what makes them tick, from docu-dramas and docu-soaps (The City, Keeping Up With the Kardashians ) to game shows and elimination-style competitions (The Biggest Loser, Big Brother, Top Chef, Survivor) to personality-driven and "aspirational" series (Dietribe, Ruby, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).

We'll then discuss how to conceive, develop, and sell your idea. What are the critical elements of a pitch? Should you attach talent? Does your series work as a strip? We'll explore how to structure your reality pitch and get it to the right people. Who are the major players? When should you attach a senior producer? What networks are best for your concept? Whether you're a writer, producer, or host, reality television's waiting for you.

In this seminar, you will learn:

• The differences between reality shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
• The critical elements every reality show and pitch must have
• How to structure a pitch both verbally and as a written document
• How to pitch to networks, studios, and production companies
• When to attach hosts or producers to your idea, and when not to
• What to expect when you're making your pitch, and what happens when you leave
  

Click here for more information...

WHEN: Tuesday, July 7, 7-10 pm
WHERE: Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call 212-547-7890 or click HERE

Saturday, June 27, 2009 7:08:57 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]

• Which types of shows the networks are looking for
• Where to pitch and who to pitch to
• How to write a synopsis that captures producers' attention
• How to create compelling characters
• How to generate ideas for a season's worth of episodes
• What to include in your pitch -- and what to leave out
• How to write a saleable pilot

WHEN Monday, June 15, 7-10 pm
WHERE  Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE or call 212-547-7890

PRICE
$65 ($50 for )

And here for your viewing pleasure is a preview scene from FOX's upcoming half-hour comedy, Sons of Tucson, which was bought as a spec script written by Princeton college buddies Greg Bratman and Tommy Dewey...

Sons of Tucson

Tuesday, June 02, 2009 8:38:06 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]