Film Production and Pitching

1. PITCHING YOUR
NEW FILM IDEA
ASSIGNMENT 2

2. TASK
Your task is to come up with a brand new idea for a film
which you will be pitching in class.
We will be judging your idea as a group and deciding
whether we would like to commission your film to be
made!
Your film needs to be innovative and inventive.

3. Film Production Stages
Development
Pre-Production
Production
Post-Production

4. Film Production Stages
Development
Pre-Production
Production
Post-Production

5. Development
 Finding finance:
1. 100% Financing - a studio or other backer gives 100% of the film’s budget in
return for full ownership of the film
2. Multi-party financing - the independent producer typically raises finance from a
host of sources
 Script Development
 Stars (getting actors)
 Director
 Other key crew
 Role of the Producer

6. Development -Securing finance
 Present ideas/pitch to potential financers - typically a major film
studio, film council or independent investor
 Can be a complex and very lengthy process
 Must attract potential investors
 Generate confidence in the film’s ability to create revenue
 Returns can be enormous - but very risky!
 The higher the film’s profile, the more likely to attract investors
 Only 1 in 10 films make a significant financial return
 If the pitch is successful, the film will recieve a “green light!”

7. Development - The ‘Package’
 A script treatment - Much lengthier than a pitch, for a feature
film, will usually be 10 + pages which outlines in detail the storyline,
(from scene to scene), characters, locations, general “look and feel”
of the film
 Generic profile of the film - to help investors “place” the film in
marketplace (potential audience, genre etc...)
 Proposed budget - rough guide to price
 Key Personnel - stars, director, DoP etc...
 Potential spin offs, merchandising, marketing strategys
etc... - ways in which the film can generate a profit!

8. Pre-Production
 Finalizing script
 Scheduling
 Budgeting
 Casting
 Crew contracts
 Storyboarding
 Location scouting
 Equipment hire

9. What you need to discuss in
your pitch
 Title of your film
 Genre of your film – make sure you are taking into account the codes and
conventions of the genre
 Target audience / demographic
 Budget needed for your film – you need to justify this
 Release date – Summer/Winter/Autumn/Spring – explain why (you might
want to research other films of the same genre to find out the most effective
time to release your film)
 A synopsis/overview of the storyline
 Characters – Give a brief profile of some of the main characters and which
actors/actresses you would ideally like to cast for these roles…
 Settings & Locations that the film will take place in
 Discuss a potential BBFC rating for your film and explain why.
 What is different/innovative about your idea and why should we commission
it?

10. Film Pitch Examples
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9LSYV0b6bI
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44XP7f3-JL8

11. HOMEWORK
Finish your pitch ready to
present on Wednesday!!