I have been the guy taking the pitches three times.

For the most part, what you have is a very low level, very low paid
assistant or intern hearing close to 80 pitches in four hours. Like
most finished scripts, most pitches are terrible. It gets depressing
and the mind starts to wander. Oh the crap I have had to hear....

The good news is the assistants and interns get a bonus if they bring
in a writer with an excellent script, so there is an incentive to pay
attention.

These pitch fests are a money making business. The main reason
agencies show up is because they are paid. The main reason companies
like Dimension, Lionsgate, Thunder Road and Searchlight is they are
paid. But if they find a client or a great writer, that's good business.

So a writer at these fests is at a disadvantage - even more-so than
trying to get that first meeting in the office. Most of the writers there
have no clue about the business, so a good writer is fighting for time
with all of the total, clueless newbies. The people assigned to hear the
pitches get really, really tired hearing the same "this film meets this
film" pitch and the "my life story" pitch and the "prequal/sequal but
better" pitches and, of course the pitches that aren't pitches.

If you are really, really good - and I mean amazing - you will stand
out. If you have a very marketable script, a catching log line and an
amazing pitch - and I mean MUCH better than most pros - you will
have a shot at getting that in the office meeting.

To me, these pitch fests are just a way for the organizers to make
money off the hopeful. This one - The Great American Pitchfest - is
not a scam. But you need to go into it knowing that the primary reason
for it's existence is NOT to give you a shot. It's to make money off of you.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Thanks for the heads up. The pitchfest also seems to be a good place to take classes, that's another money generator for the guys running the fest.

RJSchwarz

Yep.

Writers and actors are always looking for an easier way in than the standard. Those
two types more than others. And there are many people and groups who are willing
to take money in order to show the way. Classes, books, lecture series, industry
mixers (for a fee) and these pitch fests all take a lot of money from very untalented
writers.

I can't say for sure, but in my anecdotal experience a pitch fest doesn't have a higher
rate of success than paying your dues. some writers get in, but some writers get in
without ever going to a pitch fest, too. With hard work and some luck, a good writer
finds their way into the business. Many are hoping that spending money will help
lady luck along.

Let us know your reaction after you attened.

I will. It seems to me that a pitchfest has value in (a) get practice pitching, and seeing others pitch, and the responses (b) you can get a view of what production companies are like, or at least who they choose to represent them (c) It could be faster than the cover letter route since that is a mail slush-pile and this is an in person slush-pile at least you don't have to wait and hope they read it.

RJSchwarz

Okay the pitchfest was this weekend. Saturday was free classes on how to pitch and maximize the experience combined with going over the list of production companies and agents and such attending so you can pitch to the most receptive audience for your project.

Then on Sat you show up and get in one of 50 or so lines. Each line equals a table (with production company or agent) inside the big room. Every five minutes a new batch is sent into the big room to work their magic at the table. Cowbell rings and they leave and another batch goes in.

You leave behind contact info or a one-sheet (one page with details on your story) if they ask. That way the production company folk can remember better when they have to pitch the better ones to their boss. Then if the boss likes the idea (or in some cases the one hearing the pitch no doubt has the authority) they email a request for you to send in the script (or possibly more info, I haven't got there yet).

Some of the people were easy to pitch, others obviously didn't want to be there. I'll followup if I get any response at all.

RJSchwarz