How to Pitch a TV Script

Be prepared to write several drafts of your pitch.

You've written a TV script and now you want to have it made into a show. There are lots of writers competing for a limited amount of air time but the good news is that TV companies do need scripts to make new shows. If you prepare well and persevere, it is possible to sell your script. Different production companies work in different ways so there is no single way to pitch a TV script, but certain elements of preparation are universal and essential and can dramatically increase your chances of success.

Instructions

Creating Your Pitch

1. Research your market. Get to know production companies who make shows like the one you're pitching by watching similar shows and noting the production company credit at the end. Read trade journals such as "The Hollywood Reporter" to learn about current market and audience trends.

2. Make sure your script is in correct industry format. Screenwriting software such as Final Draft can help you format your script.

3. Give your script a meaningful and memorable title. The title should capture the imagination and tell people what the show is about. Consider the titles of existing shows and think about why they do or don't work.

4. Write a treatment. The treatment is the basis of your pitch and describes your script, including the genre, setting and characters of the show. Treatments are usually five pages or less and act as a guide to the show you are pitching. Include any selling points, like current trends or any talent you may have attached to it.

Delivering Your Pitch

1. Practice delivering your pitch to someone you trust. Ask her if she understood and liked the idea. If any questions arise, adjust your pitch accordingly. Keep your pitch brief.

2. Go to writers' groups and industry events like film festivals and writing conventions. Talk to people in the industry about your pitch. This helps you develop a network and can give you a way in when contacting production companies.

3. Call the production companies you researched and ask them for their submission guidelines. Submit your treatment or script according to these guidelines. Remember that each company is different. If you are successful at this stage, you will be invited to come in and pitch your script to a development executive or development team.

4. 

   Show the people in the room that you have confidence in your idea.

   Dress smartly and arrive early, as if you were going to a job interview. This is where you sell your idea and your skills as a writer. Bring several copies of your script and treatment to hand out.

5. Talk confidently and passionately about your script. You've done the preparation, so now is the time to sell yourself. Describe the look and feel of your show and tell the story in a way that engages the people listening. Answer their questions and be flexible if they make suggestions, but don't become distracted. After all, you are here to pitch your show.

Tips & Warnings

• If your pitch is rejected, try again. Make more calls and book more pitches. Shows can be rejected many times over before they are sold.

• Many elements play a part in whether your pitch is accepted or not. The timing may not be right for the production company's current slate or the commissioner may just be having a bad day. You can deliver a high quality pitch and still not be successful. This doesn't mean you can't try again.

References

• Script Doctor Eric: Putting a TV Pitch Together
• The TV Writers Vault: Spec scripts

Resources

• Done Deal Pro: The Business and Craft of Screenwriting