Pitch Practice

Writers/Creators may now sign up for pitch practice at Auckland Table Reads.

(please read details about pitch practice format below)

Pitch Rule #1: Practice, Practice, Practice

Pitch Practice Format:

The length of your pitch can vary based on who pitch is intended for and length of project. As a general guideline, ATR works with the times below:

5 minute pitch – typically for a platform such as Roadmap Writers or Stage 32, speed pitching events, or contests.

10-15 minute pitch – this is a good length pitch for a 1/2 hour TV show or a web-series etc.

15 – 20 minute pitch – standard length for a 1 hour TV show or feature film.

When booking a pitching session with ATR, please select allotted time on the form based on pitch length as suggested at top of booking page.

We highly suggest creating visual slides (with little to no text) to go along with your pitch. Projector provided by us on the night – simply let us know it’s needed ahead of time.

NOTE: For pitch practice, it is not required to have pitches memorized. It is perfectly acceptable to have notes in hand.

Suggested Elements to INCLUDE in your pitch

  1. Why you? What is your personal, emotional connection to the story? Give some amazing/funny/interesting/eerie fact your audience might not know.
  2. Why now? What about this story is relevant to today’s audience?
  3. Give a version of the logline with a smooth transition, i.e. “which is why I wanted to tell the story of…”
  4. Have a powerful/funny opening scene
  5. Introduce the main character if they aren’t part of the opening scene, including backstory but ONLY if necessary. What’s their normal life? What do they want?
  6. Who else is in the story? Side characters, love interests – who matters to the main character and why? Tell them as part of the story, not a laundry list.
  7. Tell the major plot points of the pilot/feature, illustrating that there is more than one story going on. What are the subplots? B story or C story for TV? Be brief!!!
  8. For TV, is there a “mic drop” moment at the end? Is it clear how this will be sustainable? Is there a moment at the end that will keep the audience coming back?
  9. For Features, is there and exciting climax and a surprising yet inevitable/satisfying ending?