Hey Pitch Gurus,
They say success leaves clues right? Well, I’ve found a clue that I think will be beneficial for us all.
I believe we can make our dream of getting our projects on air and in theaters a lot simpler if we pay attention to the clues left behind. I also believe to catapult the process of having our TV shows or films made, we have to give ”them” what they want. “Them” meaning, the networks, studios, and production companies.
I’ve said this before but will say it again, the really smart content creators aren’t just creating projects arbitrarily, they are finding out what the need/want is and creating around it!
Creators, I know you have those dope stories you want to tell so badly, and I’m sure they are great, but perhaps to get through the doors, you should consider giving them what they want, first. Then once you are inside, tell all the other stories you have in your vault.
We should be thinking, “What is the need of (fill in the blank network, production company, studio…)? And let me create a project that they want!”
Shonda Rhimes was on to something. It’s a lesson she learned during her pitching journey, too. In the excerpt below, Shonda realized “making a pilot” meant giving the network head what he wanted!
“….The second time around, I was much more targeted,” Rhimes says, “because I didn’t just want to write a script [that didn’t get filmed]. I wanted to make a pilot.” So she asked the studio what ABC head honcho Robert Iger wanted, and was told he was interested in that old network TV staple, the medical drama…I just said, ‘If Bob wants a medical show, I am going to write a medical show.’”
“….The second time around, I was much more targeted,” Rhimes says, “because I didn’t just want to write a script [that didn’t get filmed]. I wanted to make a pilot.” So she asked the studio what ABC head honcho Robert Iger wanted, and was told he was interested in that old network TV staple, the medical drama…I just said, ‘If Bob wants a medical show, I am going to write a medical show.’”
I don’t know, I just feel we should seriously wrap our creative minds around this approach. I mean, we would still create from our own creative lenses; tell the stories they want through our experiences and perspectives, right? So why not? Let me know your thoughts on this in the comments below.
Back to the point, I was making…
You may be wondering, “Well, how do I know what they want? I don’t have relationships with these people, Squeaky!” The answers to this question are out there, trust me! All you have to do is a little research on google (he knows it all!) and the company CEO’s or head of programming has most likely spilled the beans in a town hall or on a panel somewhere and there is probably an article or a Youtube video covering it. (Click the link to listen to HBO CEO, Richard Plepler discuss why he decided to seek fresh, new voices for their programming.)
For instance, I would love to create for HBO, (in fact, I have a project that I’ve since created specifically for them), but I did it based on my research and what I learned about the direction they were going in. Here is what I learned about HBO while doing some research on them. They may be:
Changing the model a bit and broadening premium cable…
On the scripted side of things, HBO may be looking to strike the perfect balance between hyper-focus and mainstream popularity.
Producing content targeted towards many, many consumer niches
~The Observer
HBO remains a top destination for artists with provocative new ideas… A leader in cutting-edge content. The race-themed horror tale “Lovecraft Country,” is a great example of their mandate in pushing boundaries.
It has also relied on semi-stand-alone programming known as the anthology series – concepts into which new ideas and personalities can be inserted every season, which appeals to high-end film talent wary of a grueling series commitment.
~Chicago Tribune