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HOW TO SCREW UP A BIG MONEY MOVIE PITCH

Copyright © 2002, Lenore Wright

I don't usually publish material from outside writers in this column but this story touched me to the heart. It dramatizes all the elements of a good movie:

~ A hero facing a once in a lifetime opportunity.
~ A bold, courageous (if misguided) effort.
~ A heartbreaking conclusion.

Here it is...

HOW I SCREWED UP THE RICHEST PITCH IN THE WORLD... On the way from Banff to Toronto

Reprinted with permission of Mike Slawomir Cecotka

Banff, Canada – International TV Festival

This year John Cleese from Monty Python's Flying Circus, David Suzuki from the Discovery Channel, and A+E Network (USA) received a special recognition award at the Banff International TV Festival. The reason I say all this is to let you know that this was not a Mickey Mouse operation. Before I get to my 10 minutes of fame at Banff, I'll give you an overview of the richest pitch in the world.

April 29, 2002, was the deadline for submitting ideas to the festival. The beauty of this festival is that you are chosen based on a one page synopsis -- no names of your parents and shoe sizes, no multiple copies of this and that.

Once you are in, it is fast – 10 minutes and you can walk with $50,000 (first prize).

Literally hundreds of thousands of dollars are given away during this event. I was one of six finalists to present my idea at CTV Document. You present your pitch in front of 30 to 35 commissioning editors form TV stations around the world (People who will sign the cheque!). This year the decision makers were from Canada, USA, Australia, UK, Germany and France. Behind you, hundreds of audience members watch you getting fried on two large screens.

So there I was ready to make my big pitch. When I initially got the email that I was going to be one of the finalists I decided to put my whole 3-minute pitch on video, so just in case I passed out or threw up from nerves I would be able to pull myself together and be ready for the Q+A session.

My story centered on the true story of a former Polish spy, trained by the KGB, who defected to Canada and was eventually hired by the Canadian Secret Service.

I prepared stock footage with music and a voice-over of an actor reading the diary of a former spy detailing why he escaped communist Poland. Then I prepared a storyboard trailer with music and an actor doing 10 voices with accents explaining how Richard became a Canadian spy.

My conclusion was that I really made the wrong call on using video footage. I thought that I would impress them with the variety of my video clips. It was all too cluttered and confusing. What they were waiting for was a story and as many details as you can squeeze into 3 minutes.

One person asked, “Sorry I do not follow the story, can you highlight it again?” So I started again, but it was too late, the first impression was made, no second chance.

Of the three winners, two did not even use audiovisual material. It all came down to who had the most interesting story to tell. No matter how much flash you have, it will always come down to story.

After the presentation I did have complements from audience on how great the story was; but one major opinion was that the story was too risky and too political for Networks to do. Well, you be the judge of that, go to www.forgottenspy.com/.

If I could turn the clock back I would not use video at all. I would simply tell them that “Forgotten Spy” is a true story about a former Polish spy, trained by the KGB, who escape communism by hijacking a plane. He offers his skills to Canadian Secret Service and then… Did I get your attention -- maybe a little?

All in all I do not regret coming back empty-handed… Disappointed yes, but no regrets. Another credit card dead for the cause, but at least I will not wonder for the rest of my life what would happen if I did not go. It is all a part of life one moment you are up, one moment down; but if you are not willing to take a chance nothing is going to happen. You cannot expect a different outcome if you are doing same thing every day.

P.S. Anybody can enter. Outside Canada – make sure you have a Canadian co-producer attached to your project. The 2002 third prize winner was the Australian/Canadian team --> $20,000. (Contact Mike Cecotka by email mike@101filmmaking.com or check out his website => www.forgottenspy.com/

A special thank-you to Mike Cecotka for sharing this amazing experience with us. I look on it as a redemption story -- Mike learned a lot from this because it cost him so much. SCREENWRITERS MUST BE STORYTELLERS FIRST...

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About the Editor:

Lenore Wright has 15 years experience writing and selling screenplays in Los Angeles and New York. For free marketing tips and tools SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter Script Market News by sending a blank email to newsletter@breakingin.net

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